Challenge:Road (Basic Editing III) Camera:Nikon D70 Location: Cardsound Bridge, North of Key Largo, Florida Date: Jan 14, 2006 Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter: 1/2 sec. Galleries:Panoramic, Transportation Date Uploaded: Jan 16, 2006
I arrived at Cardsound bridge at about 4:30 a.m. to get a shot of the full moon setting beyond a sailboat that was anchored offshore (see my portfolio for the sunset shot). I was disappointed that the moon wasn't going where I had expected it to. As I was walking back down the other side of the bridge to reposition, I noticed that the moon was coming into perfect alignment with the centerline of the bridge. I immediately thought of this challenge and got to work on plan B.
Getting this shot was nerve racking! I had to wait for cars to pass and then run out to the road, set up the camera and tripod, and lay down in the middle of the road. Looking through the viewfinder, I couldn't tell if a car was approaching from around the curve behind me. I've done this here before and listned for cars, but on this occasion a cold front was advancing and I couldn't hear anything except the wind rushing past my ears. I was able to get a lot of detail because it was just before sunrise and it wasn't as dark as the image appears. I opened in RAW about 75% lower on exposure, cropped and just kept adjusting the levels, brightness/contrast, reducing the saturation and lightness of blue and cyan, dodging and burning, over and over again, and finally slight sharpening.
POST CHALLENGE: Being new to challenges, I didn't pay attention to the fact that this challenge was a basic editing challenge. I just went to work, habitually post processing without thought to the differences in rules. I even listed dodging and burning in the Photographer's Comments when I submitted this entry (duh?).
I apologize to everybody for disrupting (however slight it was) the challenge. I have certainly learned my lesson and will carefully consider the criteria for future submissions.
Disqualification Details
Spot editing is not permitted in 'Basic Editing.' Please review the challenge submission rules.
Statistics
Views since voting: 4383 Views during voting: 457 Comments: 41 Favorites: 12 (view)
My first reactions to viewing this image where "Wow" and "with all the crazy drivers down here in S. Florida this photog has got to be a brave & crazy man":-) This is a very stunning image! Within your 'widescreen' composition I absolutely love how you included the railings on the bridge that along with the centered yellow dividing line just leads the eye directly up to the full moon seen off in the distance. The road, the railings and the yellow dividing line act like a runway that we travel down at high speed to then launch onwards and upwards off the ramp to that far distant moon. Love the title which is a direct reference to the Honeymooners. The show was before my time, but I have seen some of the famous snippets so I truly hear Gleason's character sputtering "Straight to the moon, Alice! Straight to the moon!":-)
Being new to challenges, I didn't pay attention to the fact that this challenge was a basic editing challenge. I just went to work, habitually post processing without thought to the differences in rules. I even listed dodging and burning in the Photographer's Comments when I submitted this entry (duh?).
I apologize to everybody for disrupting (however slight it was) the challenge. I have certainly learned my lesson and will carefully consider the criteria for future submissions.
Kudos to you for taking the DQ with a grain of salt. Best of luck to you in future challenges.
Sean
And that you took it on Cardsound... OMG, you should get extra points just for the bravery of that! When I lived down there, we used to go fishing under the bridge all the time. And travel to/from the keys doesn't stop just cuz it's night time. If anything, they drive faster! ;) Nice to see someone on here from my hometown!! :D
Being new to challenges, I didn't pay attention to the fact that this challenge was a basic editing challenge. I just went to work, habitually post processing without thought to the differences in rules. I even listed dodging and burning in the Photographer's Comments when I submitted this entry (duh?).
I apologize to everybody for disrupting (however slight it was) the challenge. I have certainly learned my lesson and will carefully consider the criteria for future submissions.
beautiful...
creative, composition is wonderful with your leading lines..
this is one of those shots that stops me from simply voting and makes me smile..
adding to favs
I like this photo. Nice perspective and concept. The title illustrates a sense of humor. The colors are appropriate. It seems a tad bit grainy, but that's to be expected in low light conditions. Overall, an excellent photo.
I had such an enormous urge to do a photo like this and drove around at 1 am one morning looking for roads that promised ideal moonsets. Didn't find anything that worked in my neck of the heavily-wooded state of CT, but here's proof that the concept works. Nice execution.
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