Very fun photo shoot!
Last night around 2am while I was working on scholarships (I turned in 21 of them this morning, *whew*, 2 and half hours of sleep ). While at school, I thought of this idea. To have the duck on the beach with the grapes following it and the ocean and sky in the background. I originally wanted to shoot it like a migration, but the conditions changed that around. So I called my dad and asked him to get the stuff (camera, tripod, grapes, and duck). After Track practice we had to be at a Post-Hawaii-Trip get together (had a slideshow of photos show), so in between the end of practice and that, we went out to shoot this.
The weather throughout the day was very odd. I got the idea when I saw blue sky and saw this kind of setup in my head. Then it was raining. I was disappointed. Then it was sunny again. At the beginning of Track, it was raining, and we went out for a warm-up and they called us back in when it started hailing. Then it went to overcast (like you see here) and that's how it stayed for this photoshoot.
We (my dad and I) had a little pre-photo discussion before heading out. He bring down the stuff, we would setup and I would start shooting. I was thinking: ok, water is down there, got ducks, got grapes, sky looks a little bluer towards that direction, got the flash, natural lighting and flashlight, make sure to use large DOF.
When we got down there, we found a spot, set up quickly and began shooting. Partially way through my dad mentions 3 light sources (he was holding the flashlight). "Oh yeah, turn on flash. Arg wet, try not to get camera wet. Hey! Seagulls!" The seagulls must have been pretty hungry because as soon as we arrived, the were following us around. Many of the photos I took had the seagulls flying or doing other things, but many of those either had too many grapes (from feeding the seagulls) or no flash, so light source was messed up.
During the photo shoot my dad starts yelling "Water! Water!" Sure enough, I look over and there is a huge sneaker wave a few feet from me. We ditch the scene and begin running up the beach, pursued closely by the wave. Also turning and looking for the now gone duck. The wave receded and the duck showed up a few feet from us, along with two grapes. Well, that was the end of the shoot.
Editing: crop, colors, size, contrast, usm
Thanks to my dad for supporting me so much!
SDG
Statistics
Place: 2 out of 125 Avg (all users): 6.9741 Avg (commenters): 8.7778 Avg (participants): 6.6575 Avg (non-participants): 7.0584 Views since voting: 11021 Views during voting: 744 Votes: 347 Comments: 44 Favorites: 4 (view)
I don't remember how I came across this rubber ducky challenge, but I just read your entire story, which was very amusing. The things we do to get the shot.
Thanks for all your votes and comments! I find it interesting that this image would almost score as high as some other shots that I prize much higher (it beat out 'Cannon Beach' and was a short ways from beating out 'Adrift'). But I guess that is the nature of the website, that the photo is creative, and meets the crazy challenge rules. In my own opinion, this isn't that great of a shot, it is just alot different from other shots in the challenge.
As far as setting up and taking it, the hardest part wasn't the shoot, it was probably my dad having to go and get everything. The photoshoot only lasted 5 minutes. I took 23 images in that time, only 7 with the flash on, and only one of those only had five grapes. I think this is one of the craziest shoots I've been on, and it was a ton of fun to do.
and old woman like myself can appreciate your youth...AND your father..lol...awesome talent and attitude you have there young man...Love your quote in the profile...you are your father's son (he MUST be something else to participate so indepth in your interests) and his efforts are not in vain...you seem to be very talented and gifted...good luck...AWESOME pics
I like this photo, but something strikes me as odd... can't quite put my finger on it ... wait... the seagulls aren't eating the grapes! ;-) Love the lighting for this, and I love the composition. Great details in the water and sand.
This is a very bizzare challenge, but I feel you've came up with a brilliant way to make this list of mandatory components in the photo useable and creative. I think however it would've been better if you'd make the duck face forward. Very Very Creative. Im not going to give you a ten, because the photo isn't very visually appealing, (well it is, but the whole challenge isn;t that great), but i will rate this photo the best out of all of them.
Flock Together
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
