this awesome old Japanese man stood in front of my camera while i was taking a picture of something else so he could get my attention, shook his camera, smiled, and pointed to it indicting "is it ok if I take your picture." I laughed, so he took it, then I pointed my camera at him while he made an embarrassed "oh my! you want to take myyyyyy picture too?" look. we thanked each other then i went home and charbroiled his face in photoshop and laughed about it for a while before it was suggested I call this picture chimney sweep even though it has nothing to do with that. i like it, though.
i was a bit nervous and taken by surprise when taking his picture so the focus is on his nose, not his eyes. his eyes were also incredibly dark from being shaded from his eyelids so I did a pretty poor job brightening them up. they are way softer than I would like but this is my first full face portrait of this kind so I don't expect a good score
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't insanelyyyy surprised the day voting began and the first time I checked I had a 7.5. I'd also be lying if I said I hadn't been constantly checking this score ever since then.
i was going to dismiss this picture and submit a more creative shot of myself that I spent a while taking and editing but I wasn't happy with it at all when it was done. I was looking through my pictures and spotted this guy which I had initially dismissed and remembered jaded_youth's free study entry from last month that I was really impressed by the editing with.
//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=443683
I decided to give it a go with the dodging and burning, taking a long time and doing little small increments that I thought looked better and better each time. It could certainly be said that I overdid it, but that's okay. I like riding the line of "too much" and "just right" and someday I'll figure out how to stay on the "just right" side more often.
As always I'm reallllly impressed by the other entries and still completely surprised to be on the front page. Thanks a bunch for all the comments and votes and for shattering any and all expectations I had about this picture!
Statistics
Place: 2 out of 491 Avg (all users): 7.3333 Avg (commenters): 8.5000 Avg (participants): 7.2014 Avg (non-participants): 7.4393 Views since voting: 10122 Views during voting: 523 Votes: 312 Comments: 75 Favorites: 17 (view)
OOoooo!OooOO!! My name is in your notes!! :D awesome! I'm so honored. You did a phenomenal job. far better than mine. and I think it's great that you didn't focus on the eyes. this way the hat and skin and all those closer features are in perfect focus. Fantastic D.O.F. too. Congratulations. It's well deserved.
I just realized how funny this is that you called it chimney sweep and I just made this shot yesterday before reading your notes and knowing you were inspired by my pic. thats some odd coincidence.
Nooooo.... these people are giving us a bad name!
Them and their neck-hung camera, wearing possibly baggy pants or bermuda shots, with socks and shoes! and let me guess, some fishing hat to top it all off too? LOL
ok, i gotta say, I really thought the subject to be some dirty person (dirty, physically) but after reading your comments, it became clear you edited it this way - wow, what skills! great work. and congrats on the ribbon!
I was laughing so hard while reading your photo comments. Your story gave this cute old man a lot more character than just another subject. Congratulations on your ribbon! :)
I had a feeling this one was going to get top honors! Congratulations on such an emotive, well done photo! I just love the sparkle in his eyes and the look of contentment on his face!
AWESOME! great job man. I LOVE that photo and your getting the credit you deserve. This is undoubtedly a good sign for team POP 'N FRESH. We're ganna rock the house! or atleast the newbie sectiong ;) but yeah, congrats man.
Chimney Sweep
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