When the challenge was announced, I immediately thought about depicting some kind of anatomic anomaly (deformed body, additional or missing parts, etc). However, while it was quite tempting to go that route, it was to be expected that most entries would do so too, so I decided to take some risk and do something different. After giving it some thoughts, I decided to show a "normal" person from an anatomical point of view, and put the strangeness in the scenery, outfit and attitude. I knew this would cost me some DNMC comments and votes, but I surely can live with that.
So I grabbed my camera bag, went out, and found the local lake to be frozen: I decided to use it as my main set. I took a few photos, mainly panoramas (just to have very high resolution versions of each portion of the lake, in case of some late idea), and went back home.
I also had in stock some sky photos taken the day before: I blended everything together. About 6 sky photos and 6 lake photos were used.
From there, I defined the position and attitude of the main subject, and my wife and I started a shooting session. We rapidly realized that what I had envisioned would never be possible to achieve in one shot. In fact, I used 9 different photos to compose the jumping woman: left leg, right leg, left arm, right arm, hairs, face, and 3 other ones of the floating dress. Nothing drawn nor painted, just photos. I added the branches around the frame for some added mood, and that was it.
Despite the number of different photos blended together, I think the result still looks somewhat "believable" and consistent. At least I hope so. Moreover, despite what some have commented, I believe she does look very strange (would you witness such situation in real life and say "Oh, look! a perfectly normal looking woman in dress jumping bare-foot on the frozen lake and staring at us"?), without taking the path of mutated bodies or heavy deformations, which was my goal.
ETA: Thanks a lot everyone! I'm very glad this one won.
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 53 Avg (all users): 7.8069 Avg (commenters): 9.1667 Avg (participants): 7.3333 Avg (non-participants): 7.9153 Views since voting: 6463 Views during voting: 503 Votes: 145 Comments: 62 Favorites: 11 (view)
Congratulations, Christophe - and Mrs. Christophe. I love the way you two work together. It's a beautiful, and strange, piece of photography/art. I'm very glad it wasn't necessary to do it all on location.
This is really believable blending and hard to believe it's a composite of so many photos.
I really like how the clouds seem to be "pointing" to the model. Was this an intentional effect? If so, how did you get that effect?
Thanks a lot! Yes the clouds pointing to the model was a deliberate effect. I organized the different photos for that, by carefully choosing them were clouds were adequate for that. When needed, I also rotated / mirrored some shots. Moreover, I added some rays of light coming from the center to enhance the visual impact.
Very dynamic, strong and beautiful, probably my favorite of gyaban fantasyland :). Congrats on the ribbon!
I thought this one would divide the voters more, in terms of challenge topic... obviously everyone had their jaws dropped :).
Technically amazing and everything comes together extremely well! Love the mood and the tones too. I was one of the ones who thought it may not have been strange-looking enough, especially after going through all the super-strange looking entries, but I find this to be one of your best creations regardless of the challenge theme. The only thing I would have done differently was to make sure her hair extensions (in black) which seems like they were added in photoshop match the color of her actual hair (I am looking at the roots) which seems to be brown. I pick out these things because I usually zoom as much as possible in order to study a photograph more precisely (ctr-mouse wheel on mac as you know). Did I notice that correctly? Your dedication to your work is inspiring, Christophe. Oh, and of course when I offer an opinion on your images, I always consider what you are capable of so my critiques are based on gyaban-standards which are extremely high!
Thanks a lot Allen. Don't worry about saying what you really think about my images, critiques are always welcome, especially when they come from talented persons, and when they are not gratuitous (i.e. I tend to ignore "this is not photography" comments, since I am obviously not going to change what I like to do to suit everyone's tastes). About her hair, it actually comes from a single photo, but I also noticed that color problem. I applied a darkening filter on it: I suppose I may have moved its mask inadvertently. Will check and correct when time permits. Thanks again!
Amazing that the hair is from a single photo. Impressive! Oh, and of course this is photography. It is an art and camera is just a tool you use which allows you to get to wherever you want to get. As long as you have to use a camera to create your final product, then there is photography involved. In this case, it is not only photography but a lot more.
Technically amazing and everything comes together extremely well! Love the mood and the tones too. I was one of the ones who thought it may not have been strange-looking enough, especially after going through all the super-strange looking entries, but I find this to be one of your best creations regardless of the challenge theme. The only thing I would have done differently was to make sure her hair extensions (in black) which seems like they were added in photoshop match the color of her actual hair (I am looking at the roots) which seems to be brown. I pick out these things because I usually zoom as much as possible in order to study a photograph more precisely (ctr-mouse wheel on mac as you know). Did I notice that correctly? Your dedication to your work is inspiring, Christophe. Oh, and of course when I offer an opinion on your images, I always consider what you are capable of so my critiques are based on gyaban-standards which are extremely high!
Thanks a lot Allen. Don't worry about saying what you really think about my images, critiques are always welcome, especially when they come from talented persons, and when they are not gratuitous (i.e. I tend to ignore "this is not photography" comments, since I am obviously not going to change what I like to do to suit everyone's tastes). About her hair, it actually comes from a single photo, but I also noticed that color problem. I applied a darkening filter on it: I suppose I may have moved its mask inadvertently. Will check and correct when time permits. Thanks again!
Technically amazing and everything comes together extremely well! Love the mood and the tones too. I was one of the ones who thought it may not have been strange-looking enough, especially after going through all the super-strange looking entries, but I find this to be one of your best creations regardless of the challenge theme. The only thing I would have done differently was to make sure her hair extensions (in black) which seems like they were added in photoshop match the color of her actual hair (I am looking at the roots) which seems to be brown. I pick out these things because I usually zoom as much as possible in order to study a photograph more precisely (ctr-mouse wheel on mac as you know). Did I notice that correctly? Your dedication to your work is inspiring, Christophe. Oh, and of course when I offer an opinion on your images, I always consider what you are capable of so my critiques are based on gyaban-standards which are extremely high!
Great inclusion of the distant trees, like graveyard fence posts. The vignetting with trees is also great, as is the icy lake telling the story.
Its kind of funny to see you field questions about light sources and shadows. As well as anyone ever could, you have attention to detail, and the images are fantasy- don't people know about faerie light?
The light on her right appears to be backwards, but that is irrelevant given the overall quality of the result. Amazing! Congratulations!!
Thanks a lot! In fact the sun being right behind her, she should theoretically be quite dark. As a consequence, I decided to deliberately add (virtual) frontal light sources (mainly from her right). And since the sun's reflection appears right between her 2 feet, I went for that choice, which looks strange from an analytical point of view, but was what worked the best in my eye. Choices, choices...
Sorry, I meant to say her RIGHT LEG (only) but I omitted the word 'leg'. I think the overall lighting is perfectly coherent except for her right leg. Again, major nitpicking here as the photo is spectacular.
The light on her right appears to be backwards, but that is irrelevant given the overall quality of the result. Amazing! Congratulations!!
Thanks a lot! In fact the sun being right behind her, she should theoretically be quite dark. As a consequence, I decided to deliberately add (virtual) frontal light sources (mainly from her right). And since the sun's reflection appears right between her 2 feet, I went for that choice, which looks strange from an analytical point of view, but was what worked the best in my eye. Choices, choices...
There are a lot of EMO and / or Goth chicks out and about these days, visible in "normal" walks of life :) But one with three eyes...now that would be weird(er).
Thanks for your comment! I sure hear what you say, but my point was simply that looking strange does not necessarily imply wild physical mutations. Of course it was a valid option, I just chose another way which I believe is a valid one too, even if not being the most extreme one.
WD on the Blue...again. Wonderful PP work and dedication.
With reference to the "I believe she does look very strange (would you witness such situation in real life and say "Oh, look! a perfectly normal looking woman in dress jumping bare-foot on the frozen lake and staring at us"? Off course that would be weird. However you see her every morning without purple rings around the eyes and make up :) so the contrast between her in normal every day life and this look is more noticeable to you than I.
In context to the challenge however she is hardly weird(er) than some of the other entries and that is how I chose to vote this. There are a lot of EMO and / or Goth chicks out and about these days, visible in "normal" walks of life :) But one with three eyes...now that would be weird(er).
Artistically and technically you are (for me) the most complete photographer. I love your work and the time, thought and effort you put into it. This image is my all time favourite. Many, many congrats on your well deserved blue, Christophe.
Thank you so much Irene, such comment coming from such photographer... I'm speechless. You just made my day. Thanks again.
Artistically and technically you are (for me) the most complete photographer. I love your work and the time, thought and effort you put into it. This image is my all time favourite. Many, many congrats on your well deserved blue, Christophe.
Congratulations on the well deserved blue, Christophe! I was certain this would be the winner!! Ha, and I originally thought this was alexkc's, by the looks of the bg trees I'd seen in some of his shots and the style. Great work!
Your wife must be getting pretty good at that makeup, Christophe! Amazing job as always, was wondering how you did the frozen lake. Very cool LOL. Huge congrats on the blue.
Fabulous work, yet again. Congrats on your ribbon. You know though, don't you, that pretty soon, they're going to need another page for all of your ribbons. Either that, or it will take 15 minutes to scroll down through them all! LOL. Really, congrats...well deserved.
Nicely done, G. You didn't overload with gratuitous effects. You created a simple but highly energetic composition. Ironically, this is the least "frozen" of your photos. It is charging right at me.
The lighting here is amazing. I'm guessing there are multiple image from multiple locations here. But they might have been from one shoot. It's perfect.
Not sure how strange this is though. That is the only thing I can think of that might hurt your score here. It's fantastic.
I haven't had a nightmare where I couldn't move for a while....I am sure I will tonight......I'm looking behind her for the monsters......thanks alot. 10
Technically adept photo-shopping, with good base images to work from. But I wouldn't say she looks weird, certainly normal when compared with other images in this challenge, I mean the Rocky Horror Picture Show has been around for decades and this has that feel to it.
I am not really understanding the "strangness". It is a strange situation, but she looks pretty average, maybe a little anemic... But I am sure you will win, because well, you are gyaban.
Christophe you've gone and had your wife stood in the local lake again... No stool this time though levitating or flying instead, I knew instantly it was yours, super processing as always getting to easy for you....
Frozen
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
