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Portrait of a Young Man in a Cave
Portrait of a Young Man in a Cave
zackdezon


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Tunnels and Caves (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
Location: Dripping Cave, Aliso & Woods Canyon Wilderness Pk.
Date: Aug 8, 2009
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/160
Galleries: Nature, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Aug 8, 2009

Big thanks to Les (AperturePriority) for inviting me on this hike in Aliso & Woods Canyon Wilderness Park's "Dripping Cave," and for bringing along his daughter (holding an SB-600 off camera left) and her boyfriend (pictured). Thanks for humoring me and not getting peeved by my constant presence in the way of your shots :D

Additional lighting provided by an SB-900, bare off-camera left on the ground.

PP was heavy; let's just say I used both Photomatix AND Topaz (Bad Zack! Bad!).

Hopin' for above a six, as per usual.

Statistics
Place: 28 out of 93
Avg (all users): 5.9118
Avg (commenters): 7.2857
Avg (participants): 5.6757
Avg (non-participants): 6.0000
Views since voting: 850
Views during voting: 300
Votes: 136
Comments: 11
Favorites: 2 (view)


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AuthorThread
08/17/2009 06:34:18 PM
Greetings from Andi via the Critique Club

First Impression: I hate the title with a passion and truly don't understand why people title images like this? Why, oh why didn't you use something like 'Cave Man'? that said this is a stonking portrait and as a few commenters pointed out its more of a portrait shot than a cave shot.

Composition: Spot on, the subject is nicely composed on the right of the frame and you view past his right shoulder into the depths of the cave.

Subject: The challenge topic is caves/tunnels but this is more of a portrait of somebody in a cave and the cave is secondary to the subject in this shot. Of course it meets the challenge but not as well as many submissions.

Technical: Absolutely brilliant imho, as a portrait this is stunning, the lighting is spot on and I love just having half of his face in good light. The placement of your model and level of focus are also just right - a good job.

Final thoughts: I gave this a 6 during voting and tbh thought you would have finished a couple of tenths over 6 but am guessing I, like many felt the cave was secondary to the overall image? I need to be careful here (being a bloke) but going back to my thought of titling this Cave Man I think he should have taken his shirt off (it would have saved him getting mud over his t-shirt as well).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/17/2009 08:46:51 AM
This was the only 10 I gave in the challenge. FABULOUS
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/17/2009 12:26:40 AM
Different approach to the subject and a good one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/13/2009 01:26:20 PM
Terrific lighting and expression....7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/12/2009 07:26:36 PM
Really like the lighting and the "mangy" look of your subject really adds to the image. If I were to ask for more, it would be to see more of the cave.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/11/2009 09:03:24 PM
I love this picture. I even added it to my favorites. A little fill light on his left cheek is desirable, but even without it, I love it. But here is my issue. The challenge is Caves and Tunnels. Although he is in a cave, the subject matter is not a cave. The cave serves only as a backdrop. He isn't even interacting with the cave. Sorry, just one of my peeves. If the challenge was portraits, I would give it a 7 or 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/11/2009 06:57:10 PM
he looks like he lives in the cave almost like a wolfman.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/11/2009 12:19:40 AM
Nice portrait. Love the lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/10/2009 05:46:20 PM
I like how the facial tones agree with the background cave tones (and also the texture, somewhat). The dust/dirt on the front of the model's shirt really helps to blend with the overall feel of the walls and ceiling. Excellent portrait, Zack!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/10/2009 04:59:17 PM
Love the lighting and the grungy processing. Technically very well done but as I've commented on a couple other shots, the subject to me is the man and not the cave. Still meets the challenge to me but the shots I rated higher were also technically well done but the cave/tunnel was the primary subject in them. Beautiful shot overall though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/10/2009 08:42:28 AM
So unexpected to see a face in this challenge. It's awesome! Your use of texture and the monochromatic colors, not to mention the perfect shadow and light play. WOW - I rarely give 10's but this is ACE in my opinion. I'm giving one out for this fine image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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