* Post-challenge: Thanks for the great comments, everyone! :) As far as the latest questions - yes, I very well might make a print available soon. :D Also, I do have a couple suggestions as far as circular polarizers go. I think it really depends on how much you want to spend. My general advice is to try and go with a multi-coated Tiffen or Hoya if you're on a somewhat limited budget. Either one will probably run you between $40 and $75, depending on where you go. Promasters are decent, but I don't believe they're multi-coated. If you want a REALLY nice circular polarizer, go with a B+W or Heliopan. For a 58mm CP, a local place quoted me about $100 - $125 for either of those. They're pricier, but the best quality out there from what I've heard. Personally, I'm going with a multi-coated Hoya. :D
While I had a fun time shooting this, I also learned an important lesson. When it comes to filters, you REALLY do get what you pay for. After discovering that my old circular polarizer had somehow been scratched, I had to pick up a new filter in a hurry on the way out to the shoot. In a rush, I gave in to better judgment and picked up a Sunpak circular polarizer from a local electronics store...
Although the photos looked awesome on the LCD while I was out in the dunes, the "quality" of the filter became evident when I pulled the pics off my camera when I got home. I realized that every single one of my photos (all of which I used the circular polarizer with to enhance the sky) had what appeared to be a pixelated sky - despite the fact that I was shooting at ISO 100 in good light. Also, the dark pattern I got in the sky was REALLY obvious, even for a circular polarizer.
To combat the sky problems, I cropped out most of the sky and converted to B&W using a Channel Mixer adjustment layer to deal with the overwhelming blue tones (since desaturation just enhanced the "pixelation" throughout the sky). You can still see the dark banding and not-so-smooth sky though. If I were to reshoot this, I would just opt for no circular polarizer at all...
The cool "skull" is something I found the morning of the shoot while looking for photo props in the mall. Saw it and had to have it. :) For the shoot, I drove out to Glamis (Imperial Dunes). I had a friend hold a cheap windshield reflector just outside the left edge of the frame to add a little fill lighting on the dark side of the skull.
The moral of this whole photo - DON'T BUY CHEAP FILTERS! ;)
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Well it wasn't hard for me to tell this was the number 1. Two things I want to ask/mention. One, when it comes to the polarizer, I've also ran into this, having bought two now. I'm still not happy with the second, which I spent significantly more on "Promaster". Could you recommend a good one? Two, will you be making the Print available, I think it would do well? Adding to my favs. Again, great image.
sweetness - couldn't have done it better myself. Except maybe move the skull to the right about 6 inches..heh. You've got somethin' going and I want it. Maybe it is the driving to cool locales part I am too lazy about.
Congratulations for this very strong pic !
Quality and details are well present and reflecting the natural light on the left side of the skull was a clever idea !
Great result !
Pol
Good trick, to win the "Death" theme with something that's never lived. You know your stuff. You have an awesome place nearby to shoot this kind of images.
I like this shot a lot. It has sharp focus and the contrast is IMO spot on. I like the lines of shifting sand and the dunes in the background.The scull is perfectly placed and quite unusual. 10
What the heck kind of skull is that!!?! This is an amazing photo and great for this challenge. I love everything about it. Wish I could've thought of something like this.
A Dark Past...
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