Let me begin by saying that I do not smoke. When I initially saw these to open challenges I was leaning torwards the camera SP using our olympus 2020 and taking an IR shot in a mirror. On the way home from taking some test shots I had an idea for stupid that entailed alot of safety pins and the appearance of many piercings on the face. And then smoking came to me. Odd line of thought I know but the smoking seemed to fit well. An incredibly stupid habit yet portrayable in a non funny way. I was afraid anything I did for stupid would just be silly. This idea I hope does well as a serious subject amongst what I expect to be a bunch of silly shots.
The line on my shirt is the outline of an iron on. I tried a couple of other shots with it inside out but they didnt come out as nice and I was really getting sick (literally sick) of hanging out in cigarette smoke so I end with this one. Taken in my garage lit from above and out front with a regular light bulb and the light from the lighter. Camera on tripod and timer set. I lit just as it was ready to shoot.
Post process - crop, levels, desat, NI, USM, border, resize for web.
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Post Challenge - Thanks for the votes and comments of support everyone. This shot was riding below 6 for most of the week only to pick up .2 in rollover - which is awesome. I had really hoped for at least top ten with this one, but what can you do. My garage still has the wretched stench of cigarettes in it. Thanks again all!
Statistics
Place: 10 out of 99 Avg (all users): 6.1601 Avg (commenters): 8.4000 Avg (participants): 5.8750 Avg (non-participants): 6.1993 Views since voting: 2859 Views during voting: 593 Votes: 331 Comments: 29 Favorites: 0
Congrats on the 10th place finish. The lighting is superb. It makes the act of smoking an intimate experience...which works really well with the topic. I don't see how anyone could vote this a 1, 2, or 3 (unless they are smokers and think this is DNMC). Obvously the majority thinks your image is right on...as I do.
Nice Shot. Congratulations on your 10th place finish.
Well what more can I say… you received lots of good comments.
The line in your shirt and some of the blown whites around the hands were the only things that I could comment on. And in Basic Editing, there’s not much you could do about it.
Too bad your timing didn’t catch the red glow of the cigarette being lit. (But being a nonsmoker, drawing in would have been a real chore…or even made you sick…)
Everything else was really well done. I liked the framing, lighting, colours, focus and DOF.
Hey, this is really good. Nice placement, and kudos on the more serious approach to the challenge title. Lighting is very appropriate, and the tight composition seems to work really well with the focus on the diagonally opposite thirds
Trading post...
Congrats on the top 10. You've really conveyed the seriousness of this dirty habit. The dark background adds to the feeling that you have to hide out to smoke now adays too.
Very nice work, Tim. Almost top 10 and deserved to be higher. Lighting on the face is perfect and I like the blown-out flame as it draws the eye. Composition is dead on, too. Great shot!
I see by other commenters that I was not alone with my thoughts of how your photo should have placed in the challenge. I still think it was the best photo.
I agree with the other comments, as this is definately underrated and definately deserved to get a higher score. I also am pleased that you don't smoke. I really like this one a lot Tim, and you are constantly giving us some excellent examples of photography..... Thank you very much.
I missed this one in the voting. . but I can NOT figure out why this one doesn't have a blue ribbon under it!! Definitely the best subject for the challenge, and the most interestingly done! For ths challenge, this is the most underrated photo ever. This is great!!
It will be interesting to see how this "political statement" type image does with the voters. I imagine an inverted bell curve - either they'll love it or hate it. ;^) Personally, I like both the "statement" and the image. The exposure on this is right on the money. Very challenging shot to get just right. Good detail in the face, and sharp as a tack. Well done! My top pick for this challenge.
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