DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Avatar Korra in Episode 948743 - Finale
Avatar Korra in Episode 948743 - Finale
CNovack


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: DQ Deja Vu (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Location: In garage with studio lights
Date: Sep 22, 2013
Aperture: 11
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/100
Galleries: Portraiture, Action
Date Uploaded: Sep 24, 2013

 466157.jpg

So I saw the challenge and thought of JulietNNfabulous work with the fire dancer


But I wanted to make it a bit different. Keeping some elements while changing others is a risk with the purists I know, but one that I take with eyes open. Especially, if it is one that gives me an opportunity to do something special for my youngest daughter. She's the one in Matryoshka , My Music Box , and Rainy Daisy Days . My children are growing up fast.

So the Fire Dancer made me think of the Avatar and the Legend of Korra. I asked my youngest if she wanted me to do her fire-bending & water-bending in her Korra costume. In the show Legend of Korra, the Avatar is tasked with bringing balance to the world he/she lives in. So what better yin/yang symbolism is there than fire and water? My daughter liked the idea very much and agreed to a photo shoot. She donned the costume I made for her last Halloween and posed with some karate moves she has learned.

The next step was the fire. I bought this grill stick with some mop like strings and some lantern oil. My idea was to soak the cloth strings in oil, light it on fire, and wave the stick in circular patterns while firing off the studio lights. Did I mention that I did this in the garage?

I did clear everything out of the way and we moved the cars out in the driveway. The family came out to watch with my youngest still pleading to do the fire trick. I told her absolutely not as it is too dangerous. I lit it on fire and began to spin it. The practical upshot is that I nearly missed getting any good shots because it burned too good. Some of the cloth string pieces on fire were melting burning and coming off of the stick.

On the white cloth that covers the soft box there is a small piece of melted string permanently attached to it now. Then the flames started to travel up the stick...time to make a beeline outside and drop it on the cement ground!!!!

I'm sure the neighbors think I'm crazy.

I felt that I might not have gotten enough. So, the next hour I spend coiling string, cloth, and paper coated with oil and set it on fire on a black ceramic tile in the garage. I got about 2 dozen more shots of flames. When I looked at the shots full size I ended up using the first 5 shots I got from the burning grill stick. All that work and I stank up the garage for 2 hours!

The water was another trial. I tried several different attempts from wine glasses to glass bowls to dropping water on a tile. Several hours later, I had a greater appreciation to those who take stunning pictures of water splashes.

But none of the shots had the right 'flow' of water. So, off to the garage with the black cloth, buckets of water, and camera. I used the high tech technique of throwing the water in the air with the hope to capture a splash with the studio lights:-) The floor was very, very wet by the time I was done and got several satisfactory shots to work with.

Once that was done it was time to review all the shots I took and pick out what I needed to put it all together.

Statistics
Place: 7 out of 41
Avg (all users): 6.7284
Avg (commenters): 7.6667
Avg (participants): 6.2273
Avg (non-participants): 6.9153
Views since voting: 2008
Views during voting: 260
Votes: 81
Comments: 12
Favorites: 0

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
Nikon Z7II
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 10/04/2013 10:23:38 PM
Beautiful lighting and excellent take on the original. Congrats on the TT.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
OM System OM-5
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko
10/04/2013 08:09:46 AM
Excellent take on the original! Hard work and dedication pays off! Congrats on the high marks!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSLR-A580
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 10/04/2013 12:43:41 AM
Thank goodness for expert editing, right :) Congratulations on the excellent finish, Chrystyne.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark III
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM II
10/04/2013 12:22:13 AM
Wonderful work Chrystyne. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Fujifilm X-T1
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R
 10/03/2013 10:02:14 PM
Wow. Neat effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)
 10/03/2013 07:27:34 PM
I like your fire/water variation — I have some pictures of people performing with fire but nothing nearly as good as this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5DS R
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
 10/02/2013 05:41:28 AM
A cool perspective, nicely executed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
 09/30/2013 04:35:32 PM
This is wicked.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
 09/29/2013 06:07:11 AM
Good
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
 09/27/2013 03:08:37 PM
Too cool! I think the expression is nice, but not quite right for this photo, and that white thing behind her is a distraction.

Should be top ten for sure. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 09/27/2013 03:05:42 PM
Very cool! I love the water/fire combo. Oh, and the groovy hairdo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 09/27/2013 03:47:38 AM
Outstanding!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Theme: Classic / Light / Dark
Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 10/15/2026 03:17:11 PM EDT.