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Buddhist Ceremonial Drummer
Buddhist Ceremonial Drummer
BHuseman


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: ABC...LMN...XYZ (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-40D
Lens: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Location: Beopjusa Temple, Songnisan, Republic of Korea
Date: May 10, 2008
Aperture: f4
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/60
Galleries: Performance, Action
Date Uploaded: May 10, 2008

 First, I have to say that if this pictutre doesn't do well I think I will be crushed.

When voting begins on this challenge it will be 1 PM on Monday the 12th of May here in Korea. The 12th of May is Buddha's 2552nd birthday. It is a national holiday here in Korea and for that reason this weekend the spousal unit and I went to a very unique Buddhist Temple to photograph the temple with all of the lanterns set up for his brithday. While we were there these drumers began banging on the large drum and ringing the bell to signify the end of the day before they went to pray to Buddha.

At first I didn't think that I would photograph the drummers, but then I figured I better not miss out on the opportunity. I headed to the drum without even planning on putting an image in for this challenge with a shot, and then it hit me....drummer......buddhist drummer.....what goes before drummer......ceremonial....that's it, Buddhist Ceremonial Drummer. Now I am in high gear, I ditch the landscape lens and thrown the 85mm prime in its place and get off to the side of the drum. I photographed several images of each of the drummers before I saw one set up to ring the large bell. I then moved into position to capture that action as well.

I have spent half of my 14 year long Air Force career here in Asia and this is the first time that I have seen the monks drumming like this. It was a treat to witness and to photograph. So for all of that, I will be crushed if this doesn't do well.

PP was pretty simple. I opened in ACR with the recovery sliderat about 90%, the fill light up a bit as well as the blacks, and then I cranked the calirty. Following that I ran Nik Vivez and brought the tones down on the robe, and the drum, while brightening the skin tone a bit because the recovery had adjusted that. Then I used Nik Color Efex 3's Pro Contrast. That left the image brighter then I wanted so I used a levels adjustment layer and moved the middle slider down a bit. Then I used Nik DFine 2.0 for noise removal, and copied that so I could selectively sharpen the monk and the drum. Resized, added the border and saved for web.

Overall I am happy with my image and will be crushed if it doesn't do well.

Statistics
Place: 54 out of 194
Avg (all users): 6.1149
Avg (commenters): 6.5000
Avg (participants): 5.8400
Avg (non-participants): 6.3973
Views since voting: 1081
Views during voting: 211
Votes: 148
Comments: 8
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS R8
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 05/18/2008 05:22:09 AM
Good one, but the righ part of the image is competiting with the subject. If your crop about 1/4 right, you obtain something much better IMO
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Canon EF 22-55mm f/4.0-5.6 USM
 05/16/2008 11:40:12 PM
Good title - fits the challenge. I wish the hand wasn't so blurred though. Otherwise I like your photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
 05/16/2008 12:42:09 PM
wow I like this shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D90
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
 05/16/2008 08:38:26 AM
Love the sense of motion in the blurred sticks, while still retaining good sharpness in the rest of the photo. Nice job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S
 05/13/2008 05:06:58 PM
the calm on the face is fabulously captured
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7 V
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
 05/12/2008 10:07:39 PM
Cool -- nice texture on drum.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1
Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro
05/12/2008 04:54:05 PM
Extra points for a title that actually makes sense!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 05/12/2008 08:30:43 AM
The motion blur is fantastic. Good composition. The light are in front of his face is a bit of an issue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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