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Part of Me
Part of Me
jrdawson


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Shadows IV (Advanced Editing V)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Location: Vancouver, BC
Date: Aug 2, 2007
Aperture: F1.8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/15
Galleries: Self Portrait
Date Uploaded: Aug 3, 2007

 I went bicycle touring for 9 weeks once, on my own... except I was not alone. Everywhere I went, my bike went with me. It was no longer a tool or vehicle but a living thing. It was my baby. It had moods, feelings, good days, and bad days. If I took care of it, it would take care of me. Every day before starting my ride, I'd go over it, looking for problems. And during the day, while riding, it would speak to me. It would tell me what it needed and how it felt. It was and is a wonderful friendship.


Technicals:
So I can't take credit for the idea. I saw this once in a portraiture book I got from the library. However, I thought that the author did a horrible job on that photo and I've always had it in the back of my mind to try to do a better version. So, here's my take.
This wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to do (thank God for advanced editing). The entire scene is lit with a single 200 watt incandescent bulb. The bike is suspended on a bike repair stand. I placed a jacket over the handlebars so the empty wall over my right should be be a uniform color and not have funny handlebars sticking out of my shoulder. I'm holding a reflector in my right hand to help light that side of my face.
Editing wise didn't produce huge changes but just many many small changes that slowly make the photo that much better. I selectively desaturated the wall behind me (it's actually an off-white wall). I brightened the wall over my right shoulder so it looks like unshadowed wall (remember it was in shadow from the jacket). I darkened the shadow of the bike using curves and a layer mask to prevent the wall itself from getting too dark. I also did some Noise Ninja, sharpening, and a bunch of contrast/brightness edits on different regions to even out the lighting.
I'm fairly happy with this shot, especially since it's a self portrait with tight cropping. I didn't crop the original image so I just had to stand in EXACTLY the right spot - which is fairly hard to do. If I could have convinced someone else to pose, I probably would have realized I was shooting 1/15th of a second in F1.8 which gave me a narrow focus range and required complete stability while shooting. A re-shoot (if I were to do one) would include changing the F/stop to 4 and increasing the ISO to keep the speed fast enough to not show any motion.
I predict this will break into my top 4 photos, scoring around 6.4.

Statistics
Place: 12 out of 128
Avg (all users): 6.4636
Avg (commenters): 6.8462
Avg (participants): 5.9796
Avg (non-participants): 6.6961
Views since voting: 1331
Views during voting: 286
Votes: 151
Comments: 16
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Nikon D700
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 08/13/2007 08:41:14 AM
This is really appealing, amazing considering it's a self-portrait. Congrats on making the top 20. Thanks for all the technical detail in your comments, too -- that's a generous way of helping your fellow photographers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-20D
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM
 08/13/2007 07:51:21 AM
WOW -- Made your front page! Very deserved as you pulled off the shot both technically and "story"-wise. Good on you, mate.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D40X
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED
 08/12/2007 11:11:50 PM
The helmet and the shirt give me an idea to what you do but the shadow of the bike is key to this photo. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-20D
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
 08/12/2007 07:13:46 PM
I like the idea of this. good shot
Nikon D810
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR
 08/12/2007 01:36:29 PM
why did you cut his head off?
Nikon D700
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
 08/12/2007 02:41:40 AM
Very cool shot.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 08/11/2007 06:09:38 PM
The shadow does appear a bit secondary to the image, but does look 'a part' of you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark III
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 08/10/2007 06:16:27 PM
cool idea for the challenge, well shot, nice balance
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM II
 08/08/2007 05:32:41 PM
Very good use of shadows - you met the challenge very well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens
 08/07/2007 09:45:51 PM
Excellent and effective presentation. (9)
 08/07/2007 11:19:06 AM
excellent job
Canon EOS-20D
Canon EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM
 08/06/2007 10:46:07 PM
What a brilliant idea! Very well executed.
Canon EOS-20D
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 08/06/2007 10:52:29 AM
Nice interpitation of the challenge, colorfull and easy to understand
Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 08/06/2007 08:47:36 AM
I think this is just grand.
Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Pentax
 08/06/2007 06:56:55 AM
Very nice! Like the idea!
Canon EOS-30D
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
 08/06/2007 01:11:37 AM
Excellent idea the best I've seen in this challenge so far,10 from me
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