The Image: Used the fisheye. Took this at an abandoned factory on the way to my church. The reflection worked for me. The puddle is only a couple of inches deep, yet looks 3D. It's so shallow that you can see the broken ashphalt under the base, yet it looks like that cracking is on the reflected ceiling.
The Edit: Lots of layers/masks with colour adjustments. I used variations on Photoshop to get the slimy green and masked off the rest so it remained normal. then I desaturated the background. Some dodge and burn, some blur and sharpening. I wanted it to be abstract and look almost 3D like you could jump into this, even though the water is only a couple of inches deep.
The Prediction: It could either do well when people see it as a 3D looking image, or it could bomb. I am guessing the latter: 5.8453
[Dec. 14th, 2009 06:31:09 AM]
After 6 hours: WOW! Almost 7.0000 with 30 votes. Could be a good week for me :)
[Dec. 20th, 2009 05:31:26 PM]
A few hours to go and at 7.1348. Another total surprise as you can see by my prediction. Thanks everyone.
POST: This was such a great surprise. Two ribbons in 7 days is wonderful, especially a BLUE. Thanks for all the votes and comments everyone :)
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 90 Avg (all users): 7.1747 Avg (commenters): 8.3333 Avg (participants): 7.1346 Avg (non-participants): 7.1930 Views since voting: 9506 Views during voting: 511 Votes: 166 Comments: 59 Favorites: 23 (view)
I selected this as a favorite 3 years ago, and unlike many of those shots, this still holds a real fascination for me - your processing really set this apart.
such an interesting image .. i love how it took a while before i realised what was going on .. it really is exceptional with amazing depth and colours .. CONGRATS ON THE BLUE .. :)
I didn't vote in this challenge but looked through the submissions and this picture popped out, it's amazing what you did with the reflection. Very well done. Congratulations!
Great job. The green makes this quite an eye catcher. I think it might be nice to see the tire as more of its natural color though. The pieces of wood don't bother me and I don't think the tire should be drastically changed, just a small amount. Fantastic shot.
One of the few in this (difficult) challenge hoisting above a documentary level and showing skill for creativity and composition.
Your use of reflection (including the colors) is really great here.
Wow! I don't know how heavily processed this is, but I really like the effect of the green. Really striking. Nice tones in the back, and good detail / sharpness in the garbage and graffiti. A really nice image.
This is my pick for the blue. Colour, detail and composition all perfect. Add to that the interesting and complex scene captured... standout image of the challenge. Originally gave this an 8 but on further viewing during commenting, I'm bumping to a 9.
One of my two top picks for this challenge.
I wish it wasn't quite so impossibly green, but then again, perhaps that is what it truly looks like.
It is a fascinating shot with so much going on, and yet it isn't overwhelmingly busy.
Great reflection, great shot.
This is my favorite image in this challenge. IMO, it's the hands-down winner, regardless of its placement at the end. It shows creative vision on an incredible level, a lot of good fortune for it to be there in the first place, and you to find it, and skill and knowledge to shoot it and post-process it in such a manner. A veritable masterpiece in my eyes. Thank you for this magnificent piece of work!.....10
Excellent. Eye catching and striking. Fantastic use of reflections. Real urban decay visible here. 10
Ps. I must share this with you. I just came across this image on a Dutch photo site I am also a member off and I just had to post a link for you. It is uncannily similar in concept to your's.
//www.footo.nl/foto/219244
I'm sensing some masking here. It looks like you desaturated the back wall or converted to a sepia tone, but in the water reflection on the upper left I see the bright red graffiti shining through in the green water. You really should have left the vivid wall colors as they were. But otherwise, it is a really great find. No vote, I'm in this one.
Nice use of the water to include the view of more of the building. My guess is that the green tint of the reflection was the color of the water, but maybe you chose to process it this way for effect.
INTO THE ABYSS
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