I wasn't planning to shoot any more this week since I already had good scores in two challenges, but the idea was too cute to pass up. I went out and bought satin sheets for the silky contrast and set this one up just before the deadline. Originally, the top sheet was flat, and I was going to use the wrinkles to "draw" a scene with clouds and everything (which is why I hadn't ironed the bottom sheet). It was taking way too long, though, so I scrapped that idea and just shaped the sheet around her.
I had to work fast because it's difficult to hold perfectly still for very long (I had a TV on in front of her as a distraction). Nothing tricky with the setup: shape the sheet into wings and make the bottom look like it's flowing, then brush the hair back to match. A single monolight with 60" shoot-through umbrella was placed high at top left for soft, diffused light. I had my wife and other daughter pulling the edges of the bottom sheet to reduce wrinkles, but it was hopeless. If it wasn't so close to the deadline, I would have put more detail into the shapes... and maybe remembered that the kids have some sheets with clouds printed on them. Doh!
Processing: Levels, Curves, Channel Mixer conversion to B&W, slight toning in HSL. As a final step, I sharpened with USM, then applied a large radius Gaussian Blur and faded it back to give the image a little bit of dreamy soft focus.
Statistics
Place: 3 out of 182 Avg (all users): 7.4390 Avg (commenters): 8.7632 Avg (participants): 7.0357 Avg (non-participants): 7.5906 Views since voting: 14609 Views during voting: 585 Votes: 205 Comments: 108 Favorites: 52 (view)
I really like the shot. It gains with the look of the actualy sheets in some way, making it look more like a found image rather then a carefully designed one.
Congratulations on your ribbon. Despite your concerns over the details, I think this is a stunning shot with the ribbon well deserved. Your artistry with use of the sheets is simply amazing. The silver tone works perfectly for this. It's incredible what you can do pull off at the last minute.
This is probably one of the coolest images on the site - and the conecept is so simple yet beautiful - the motion "wind" type feel is great. ANotehr fantastic idea. Your monarchy continues at DPC ;P
Dude!! You are SMOKIN' hot right now!! Great work. Something seems a bit different about your shots lately, to me anyway. Maybe they just appeal more to my tastes? Whatever it is....great job (as usual!).
Congrats on making it to the finals of DPL. You produced some great pictures this week. I think this was my favorite of them. It looks like it's embossed.
The tonalities on this are breathtakingly lovely. In many ways I think this is the best shot of yours I have ever seen from a purely photographic standpoint. Lots of times you get ribbons with fantastic concepts and workmanlike execution, but this time the execution is absolutely superior. Congrats.
I must sound like a broken record since I use the word "creative" every time I comment on one of your photos. But seeing how it's mainly your fault, I'm forgiven. ;-)
Another very creative photo...congratulations on winning the yellow ribbon!
Hey, Shannon. Great job. This one really stands out. I'm glad you didn't remember that your kids have sheets with clouds on them. This is perfect the way it is.
Congratulations, you are a mad genius, as stated below, and have a nice family to assist you. Great concept and results. It really bothers me not seeing the end of the tail to the right. It reminds me of a wedding gown train, cut off.
So do we all dream of Fying and Angels? All top three seem to.
So your name is listed more times on the front page than DPChallenge. Maybe the url should change. I guess it begs the question has anybody had 4 ribbons on the front page at one time? Unreal.
Btw, is that a plotter print she's laying on or is that an actual sheet? :P
I didn't vote in this challenge, but this one absolutely stuck out for me. While I may disagree with some of your strong opinions, this is just beautiful and dreamy. Fantastically done. ;)
seriosly, your going to have a mob after you if you keep this up. Congrats on the beautiful image, and ANOTHER ribbon (3 in a row!?!??!!!?!?) and im so jealous of you.
re: wrinkles -
I originally voted a 9, and it would have been 10 if not for the wrinkles. But at the last minute I bumped it to a 10 because I realized that the wrinkles made it look more "real"...
Wrinkles on a portrait backdrop are bad, because the attention isn't supposed to be on the backdrop.. but I think in this case it looks more like a real bed, and it made me think of an ordinarry little girl who just happens to be asleep dreaming, and the wings and dress came about in her dream. Awesome. :-)
This is just fantastic. Seriously, I love this picture... I plan on stealing your idea and doing on with my oldest daughter. If I could give you a 20 I would. I really hope this ribbons and I really wish this had been a advanced editing challenge for you... I know those wrinkles have to be driving you mad! 10
Clever idea that is well executed & beautifully photographed. Fits the theme well. Were you flying yourself?? Have you tried it with a little less highlight above and left of her head--perhaps a little on her face?
Finally, something creative, beautiful and fits the challenge!!!
Come to think of it I believe this is Scalvert's photo, I shouldn't be surprised. I will be surprised if this doesn't win blue, it certainly deserves it.
Perfect 10. Most of the photos in the contest had little or nothing to do with the challenge...except tying 'dream' into the name ("I dream of trees", "I dream of water","I dream of bugs on flowers","I coincidentally dream of fireworks around the Fourth of July", etc...) Something creative like this is what I believe they had in mind when they came up with the challenge.
What a good idea. I love the white on white. The creases in the sheet look like something out of an old painting. Overall I think this is fantastic, actually.
stunning...it's images like this that make me wish the allowance was for 720 pixels instead of 640 as your frame really suits this but diminishes the size of the image itself...not to worry...10 from me
Soaring on Wings of Silver
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