The pose? Lets just say that I was very sore the next day. Was the hardest shot i've ever had to set up including having to mount lights to my ceiling using duct tape and a make-shift black cloth to the wall, also using duct tape (BTW I think duct tape should be on the list of equipment every indoor photographer needs to have)...
I had an idea of a pose i was going to do when i started which was completely different. I was very upset with the lighting which led me to duct tape lamps to the ceiling. Then that led to me mounting the black cloth to the wall as a background. Then i tried some crunching poses which didnt seem very interesting. (All the while i had finally perfected the exposure for my setup). Crunching led to sitting which led to stretching and about an hour and lots and lots of sore abdominal muscles later I had finally 'discovered' this pose. The time tested method of trial and error.
Now I just had to get a shot where all my limbs were stationary, which isnt all that easy when the camera remote control has to go into one of the hands. And if you notice the only thing im balanced on is my left leg, which was on a stool (not visible bcos of the shadows), my left hand isnt holding on to the ground. I had a lot of wobble shots, fell off the stool a few times, my black background came down a few times as well, and lights fell of the ceiling many many times (glad to report none of them broke). After almost an hour of trying to get the perfect shot of this pose I told myself i would take 3 more shots and then call it a day. This happened to be the 4th and final shot I took.
In retrospect the shot looks really classically inspired. Almost like something from a greek mythology or a renaissance painting... maybe its my art background working subconciously in my mind.
Anyways my goal is to do better than my entry to the last nude challenge. A really ambitious goal, but hey i can at least say i tried :-)
My falling backdrop outtake (didnt manage to get a falling lights outtake as well :-p )
Update -
This is a real fantasy!
OMG! Thanks everyone for all the great comments, feedback and everything! Still pinching myself... My highest score ever, lots of personal records, and I cant believe I beat out the greats like heida and grigrigirl (congrats on the 2nd and 3rd respectively with really great shots) and drjones (congrats on the top 10)... Thanks DPC! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Wow!
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 118 Avg (all users): 7.9065 Avg (commenters): 8.9485 Avg (participants): 7.8617 Avg (non-participants): 7.9171 Views since voting: 64136 Views during voting: 1855 Votes: 492 Comments: 189 Favorites: 136 (view)
I just want you to know that this photograph and the situation in which it was taken is EXTREMELY Modivating for me. If I had looked at this just alone without the history of it - I would think, "Wow, this is WAY out of my league. I'll never be this creative or able... I'm sure it took forever and lots of money."
studied fine art at columbia and just found this site and am absolutely facinated with the level of the artists on this site. Your work is truly inspiring - love this shot!
I usually view this site in order to learn about technical aspects of photography, or about what is appealing to other people. I rarely expect to see something that I consider truly beautiful, and I almost never expect to see something that is worth remembering. Yet, I have found both here. I love the best in man, and it is that which you have captured. Your picture is Romantic in the sense that it shows the ideal, what man should be, and what he has the capabilities to achieve. That's why I love it. You are showing something worth seeing, and you are showing it in an appealing way. You deserve the ribbon, but more than that, you deserve my admiration. This is the kind of picture I hope to take someday.
hehe great story- I knew it was you! (and not because I recognized ya! I'm actually begining to notice peoples styles!!!) Glad you got the blue, gave it a 10 myself!
hmmmm.. art history background coming in thru the subconscious? And here I thought you were trying for the same pose as the sistene chapel creation of adam!! gotta admit, it's very classic :0)
Gee...you must have had a really good camera. (ducks the flying fist.) Seriously...a lot of work and creativity that paid off in a anazing shot that I (and many others) had pegged for #1. This shows the human body as and artform in a classic and dramatic way. Very, very well done! Congratulations on not just the blue, but a great comments, personal bests, and most of all - the awesome photo.
Well Nick: here you lead the pack of the heavyweights and nose them out of the BLUE to establish a new benchmark and the raising of the stakes to a higher level, higher than ever before.
Your image is sheer poetry in the layout, pose, lighting and composition. You picked a classic theme and did you polish it to achieve an uncanny perfection.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BLUE! A new Master has been born!
Congratulations! There wasn't any question in my mind which image was the best in this challenge. This is an absolutely incredible image. Very nicely done!
Amazing shot! Congratulations! Makes you really think how much the models of classic painters used to suffer after reading your ordeal during the shooting.
Body of a god, and it would seem the photographic skills of one too. And I mean that in a totally heterosexual way :) Seriously, incredible work. Genuinely look forward to your future efforts nico.
Fantastic shot, Nico! Let's see here... you beat your personal best like you wanted to, so mission accomplished. In the process you knocked me out of first for that lens and second for the camera. So congratulations, ya' bum! ;-P
>>> Quote: Nico Blue: Anyways my goal is to do better than my entry to the last nude challenge. A really ambitious goal, but hey i can at least say i tried :-)
Beautiful body expression. Your model is very talented and your eye for the shot is excellent. Nice work. I consider this art rather than a photograph.
It's great how the light, pose and negative space work here. A classic pose with classic lighting, the only thing that makes it look like a photo is the detail and sharpness. Perhaps a little bit softer might work even better. 10 anyway, one of two.
One of the best in show, I'd say top three or at least five in the end. And, believe me, I don't easily say that. Have voted on most shots by now, commented on many, but only seen one or two that are destined to beat yours, I think. My second 10.
Excellent control on both the model's and photographer's part. The lighting shows off the form very well. The only thing that keeps me from giving this the highest score is the darkness of the lower leg and foot. It is a picture that I could only dream of capturing though. good job.
Beautiful, classically artistic image. Nice lighting, especially on torso. Tiny bit soft and indistinct at the extremities (right hand in particular), hint of jaggies on top of right thigh, but overall very classy work. 8
I am coming back to comment on this. It is amazing! It is by far my favorite. I came back and it says this photo has been validated, I don't know why it would have to be validated. I hope this takes the blue. Good luck.
Great image. I like this technically, but the sheet/cloth while a great way to hide things, and add subject matter, I think it shouldn't droop off the knee, and should look like a rope all the way across. It's just a bit distracting. Good Luck.
Touching the old classical style of Raphael and Michaelangelo. Great lighting form and grace to make this a superb entry for the connoisseur who loves works of art. Bumping up.
wow! certainly one of my favorites. Tastefully done and an awesome job with the composition and lighting effects. I have a hint of who's entry this might be. In any case I congratulate you in advance, this one will surley make #1 or the top 5, no doubt.
I usually try to leave comments with some substance, but all I can say is Wowsers!
...no wait, this is nice, real nice. Great lines, great lighting, great focus. Splendid composition. Just an awesome tone/feeling in the image. The cloth draped about is an excellant finishing touch. Only small nitpick upon further study, perhaps having the cloth uncovering the end of the foot, perhaps not, I do find this a superb nude study. Overall- Wowsers!
Very nice image. Perfect lighting and crop. Minor-minor-minor: looks like the outstretched hand is slightly oof. How's that for being a nit-picker. Overall extremely well done.
if this is nico_blue, someone needs to give you a wedgie for being (a) talented, (b) intelligent, and (c) beautiful. the pose and the lighting are spot on, and how ever do you keep your figure?
I love the lighting in this shot, the sheet seems a bit out of place for me (maybe a piece of silk, not quite as bulky and perhaps a different color to blend a bit more (hope that makes sense) but I still like it a lot and it is one of my favorites in this challenge. Good luck
Hey Nico - This has to be you! LOL I think this is one of your best self-portraits yet. (Even if you're not Nico - but I still think you are - this is GREAT!) 10
Oh My...this is quite an image. Stunning photograph! Beauiful model, beautiful lighting, incredible composition...easily in the top 3 if not the winner. I wish I could give it a score higher than '10'. <10>
I'm going out on a limb and saying this is a Nico shot. ;-) This is a beautiful study. The lighting is perfect and the use of the drape is very nice. The portrayal of movement is lovely. Very well done.
Great pose and lighting. I really like the definition given by the shadows on the body. The sheet is wrapped very well and adds to the flow of the pose nicely.
Well Nico, I'd kinda hoped you'd find someone else to use your expertise on, but this is an excellent effort nonetheless. Lighting is spot on - which is particularly impressive given that I'm pretty sure you don't exactly have a fancy set-up at your disposal. 9
Trying to guess who's this is... Hmmm... Good use of light and shadows. Not my cup of tea, but admittedly very artistic and one I am sure will do very well.
this image is jut fantastic. Perfect lighting, which of course is most important in a nude . So tasteful and fluid. Looks like we will have another male nude on the front page :)
Great pose! Lighting and subtle use of color also works very well. Only detail that I would have preferred different is to have the model's toes uncovered, in symmetry with the outstretched fingers.
Quasi una fantasia
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
