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Icarus
Icarus
Yo_Spiff


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2009-03 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date: Mar 20, 2009
Aperture: F6.3
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/500
Galleries: Sports, Panoramic
Date Uploaded: Mar 15, 2009

 A paraglider prepares to leap off of a mountain.

I took the cable car up to the top of the mountains on my recent visit to Albuqurque and took a short hike around the mountain, at least to where the ice on the trail got too dangerous. (Next time I go prepared for hiking!) When I returned to the area near the tram, there were 3 people preparing to paraglide off of the mountain. Naturally, a fantastic photo-op. I have quite a few shots that show a little more action, or showed the chutes in flight, but I really like this one the best. I don't think anyone will fail to understand that this man is preparing to leap off the mountaintop or realize how high this is.

False HDR from 3 RAW conversions, edited the sky/background and foreground on separate layers, a little bit of clarify, but not enough to give it the unrealistic cartoony look. Cloned out a small shrub that appeared to be coming out of the guy's back.

Pre-challenge notes:
Always hoping for a killer shot and a 6+, but considering how tough freestudies are voted, a high 5 will be good to get out of this.

I expect the some critiques relating to my choice of composition and crop. (An easy guess there, I almost always get a couple of those.) Not sure what else could be critiqued about this. Perhaps someone will suggest I should have entered an in-flight or takeoff shot.

It's got a great landscape, action, and communicates clearly what is happening. I'm pleased with this one.

Post-challenge notes:
Almost nailed a 6. It hovered back and forth across it for most of the week. Many of the late voters thought it was just ok, and some 5's pulled it down in the last couple of days. Freestudies are always tough, and this was a good score for one. Hitting the top 1/4 of the challenge was a strong showing for me. Looking over the challenge results, I see a lot of great shots, which I gave high votes to, that came in under mine. Freestudies are tough indeed.

Statistics
Place: 110 out of 475
Avg (all users): 5.9394
Avg (commenters): 6.5714
Avg (participants): 5.9307
Avg (non-participants): 5.9677
Views since voting: 2179
Views during voting: 248
Votes: 132
Comments: 14
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 01/05/2013 04:11:25 PM
There's a nice sense of calm in this person's posture. They're taking a moment to enjoy the view, to take a deep breath before the plunge. Nicely seen and presented.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 01/05/2013 12:09:31 PM
At first I thought this was a champion bag collector... Awesome image, Steve. Didn't realize paraglides looked so silly before being deployed :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 01/05/2013 12:06:13 PM
I had no idea about the amount of baggage required for this type of flight! Wow - great shot! (When I saw the thumbnail I thought it was a dance costume :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 05/17/2010 04:11:17 PM
I really love this shot. The moment I saw it I knew it was Sandia. Such a great place up there!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a55
Sony DT 50mm f/1.8 SAM
 04/08/2009 09:46:30 AM
So you did take the long tram ride to the crest & just look at the perfectly awesome shots you got. This is excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 04/08/2009 12:36:28 AM
Notice how the parachute paradoxically makes him seem heavy. This is a poem!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 04/08/2009 12:35:52 AM
I adore this photo. The title was a brilliant stroke. I gave it an 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D2Xs
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 04/07/2009 11:38:11 PM
Happy Landings I hope!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm FinePix 2800Z
Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D
 04/04/2009 05:08:08 PM
8 - Good perspectives captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
 04/03/2009 08:42:22 PM
Nice. It conveys both expectation and some hesitation of jumping. (I wonder if you have the sequences of him taking off...)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D90
 04/01/2009 05:23:46 PM
love the title, briliant
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 ED-IF
 04/01/2009 02:04:00 PM
love it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D700
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED
 04/01/2009 09:49:53 AM
Great title. I can feel the anticipation in this image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 04/01/2009 12:26:21 AM
Very cool. I think he may jump...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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