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Sinuous Salamander
Sinuous Salamander
Blue Moon


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Diagonal (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon PowerShot S2 IS
Location: my backyard
Date: Nov 27, 2006
Aperture: 2.7
ISO: 50
Shutter: 1/1250
Galleries: Animals, Macro
Date Uploaded: Nov 27, 2006

 Taken right after a break in the rain. I was looking around in my backyard just looking for something that would look good diagonally like a vine or a flower. Didn't find much, so I started poking around under the rocks in my backyard like I used to do when I was a kid. And just like when I was a kid, I found little salamanders who had come under the rocks to protect themselves from the rain.

Most of them were hibernating, so it's quite easy to just pick them up, place them, and pose them how you want. I chose a backlit leaf as the 'foreground' because of the lovely color and detail you get from silliouets. I didn't realize until editing, that the leaf had feather-like diagonal lines in it, so I was pretty stoked about that.

Shooting wasn't too difficult except that I had to cycle through a few salamanders because they would wake up a little bit, twitch, and then fall off the leaf. After they fell, I couldn't find them because of our deep grass, but I'm sure they're fine :)

I think I could've made this better if I was allowed to do advanced editing...like get rid of the blotchy look on the leaf, remove a couple of spots, and outline the critter a little better. Oh well...
Hope people like it, especially with my disgustingly low scores lately -__-,

Statistics
Place: 35 out of 345
Avg (all users): 6.1576
Avg (commenters): 7.2000
Avg (participants): 5.8929
Avg (non-participants): 6.3800
Views since voting: 1191
Views during voting: 234
Votes: 184
Comments: 11
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
Nikon D3s
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
 02/02/2007 01:04:17 PM
Looks like a plastic salamander
Nikon D7200
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 12/07/2006 08:39:01 PM
I would like to be able to say "You Suck", but I guess I can't with this shot. Nice job and congrats on the 6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D70
Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon
 12/06/2006 08:26:29 PM
Too cool, nice shot! Love the color and I think the shadow makes for a strong set up. What can I say 6-10's Way to go.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 12/06/2006 07:49:03 PM
The curve of the salamandar's body and water droplets are beautiful. Congratulations on your 6+ finish, very much deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D80
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX
 12/06/2006 05:58:04 AM
Ooo like the silhouette of the salamander
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS-60D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 12/01/2006 07:25:45 PM
I really loved the way you did this shot. Highly inventive.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS
 12/01/2006 12:07:21 PM
well composed, could be sharper
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Ricoh GR III
Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC
 11/30/2006 01:12:56 AM
Intriguing; salamander looks like a shadow (assume he's in front of the plane of focus), his shape suggesting the f holes on stringed instruments, and the treatment of the leaf veins (framing) is fine. Could wish for left hind leg to be more cooperative, but them's salamanders.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Pentax *ist DL
Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF
 11/29/2006 11:38:56 PM
Cool idea. Original. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D70s
Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG for Nikon
 11/29/2006 06:54:54 PM
Love it. Nice silhouette. The salamder lines contrast perfectly with the veins of the leaves.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 11/29/2006 10:00:53 AM
Wish I could see that other back leg but this is an interesting perspective and a nice, curvy diagonal.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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