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Challenge: Out of Balance (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2010
Camera: Nikon D90
Lens: Nikon AF Nikkor -S DX 18-105 f3.5-5.6
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Date: Jan 9, 2011
Aperture: 16
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/160
Galleries: Portraiture, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Jan 9, 2011

 So, this is my attempt at making lemonade from lemons. I had two shoots this weekend - a very successful one yesterday (might make the FS), and a second shoot planned for today. The model called and confirmed yesterday, so I struck yesterday's set and set up across the room for today's shoot. This morning, the model sends me an email that she has food poisoning and can't make it...

I had a very specific image I wanted to try with her, and was very disappointed that I wouldn't get to do it. So I decided, what the heck, I was here, and I might as well try a self-portrait. As this was a semi-nude, I was a bit apprehensive. But after some test shots, I determined I'd survive the experience.

This isn't exactly the image I aimed for either, and is, in fact, one of the test shots. I'm not wearing the black opera gloves I eventually put on. Those images I'll use elsewhere because they also turned out great. But in this image, the pearls and lighting and pose all just worked great and yet it was slightly skewed so it gave me the idea of entering it for this challenge.

A further challenge was the challenge itself, since I didn't quite get what "out of balance" meant - and quite honestly, I still don't. But I cropped the image in a way that felt "out of balance" to me, and processed it with both Silver Efex (push process 1) AND Topaz (color blast) at 83% opacity, and it produced this really cool, "unbalanced" combination. So, I still don't know if this is out of balance but I'm really pleased with the result.

convert from RAW
denoise
crop
Silver Efex
Topaz
some dodging
some cloning out wrinkles in the skirt
curves
levels
contrast
save for web

I have no idea what the title means.

[Jan. 10th, 2011 11:15:54 AM]

Holy crap, I just looked at this image on a different monitor and the left side is HIDEOUS!!!! Horrid streaks of YUCK! Dang - gotta calibrate my editing monitor...

[post challenge]
My usual drop right before turnover. Almost made the front page with this :-)
Thanks everyone for such fabulous comments, and of course, the votes.

Statistics
Place: 13 out of 133
Avg (all users): 6.1870
Avg (commenters): 8.0769
Avg (participants): 6.1389
Avg (non-participants): 6.2549
Views since voting: 1676
Views during voting: 281
Votes: 123
Comments: 27
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
OM System 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO M.Zuiko Digital ED
 02/17/2011 03:40:19 PM
your lemons are as sweet as ... never mind the lemonade .. !!
this is excellent johanna .. its a stunning sp and a wonderful image .. I LIKE IT .. !! ..:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 6s+
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 01/17/2011 11:20:17 PM
I thought you nailed the out of balance aspect, and did it so elegantly. I love the drape of the skirt. I even like the color, but my experience with slight green/blue tints has been negative with the voters (I've quit using them on DPC). I had no idea this was you. It makes it all the more special, knowing it is a self portrait. I gave this a 10 and still think it deserves a ribbon.

P.S. No streaks show on my monitor.

Message edited by author 2011-01-17 23:21:20.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
OM System OM-1
Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO
 01/17/2011 10:29:24 PM
lovely composition, Johanna, beautifully unbalanced :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
XIAOMI Redmi Note 8 Pro
 01/17/2011 09:42:30 PM
Well done :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 01/17/2011 06:16:33 PM
Terrific job, Johanna!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon
 01/17/2011 08:02:50 AM
Look at you!! Top 20. WOOT
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D700
Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon
 01/17/2011 04:27:30 AM
Fabulous image. The flow truly escapes the frame. Beautifully done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 01/17/2011 12:59:00 AM
Ooh la la! And no streaking at all on my monitor - very clean!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
OM System OM-5
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko
01/17/2011 12:22:48 AM
gorgeous..... and you look so I don't know.... unbalanced!! he he he that was a jk but seriously, the picture totally rocks AND fits the challenge. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5DS R
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
 01/17/2011 12:18:55 AM
Congrats again on another fine and personal image, loved it, I was one of 14 ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 01/17/2011 12:16:26 AM
I gave this a 7 in voting... I love how you made it so OOB! LOL!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital
 01/17/2011 12:05:17 AM
Howdy neighbor! I thought this was gorgeous but I was not a big fan of the color. Was that part of the OOB plan? Good lord, you have nothing to fear with doing an SP. You look great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 01/16/2011 10:12:26 PM
Beautiful portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
 01/16/2011 06:45:18 AM
The shadow on her back is magnificent, as is the photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 01/14/2011 03:35:20 AM
Johanna? this is really pretty, love the lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D5000
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 01/13/2011 10:28:20 PM
Maybe you did it on purpose but I don't like how her waist fades to white and the edge is lost. Beautiful pose and I love the silky look of the black.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSC-RX100 VII
 01/13/2011 09:00:26 PM
DNMC - not unbalanced to me BUT a good photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2011 08:22:37 PM
Very artsy, great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 6s+
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 01/12/2011 01:15:23 PM
Stunning creation ... beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Coolpix S640
01/11/2011 12:20:08 PM
beautiful. great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+
Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA
 01/11/2011 10:15:51 AM
I'm not voting in this challenge. Very elegant photo of a very elegant lady, i like the shadows of the pearls on her back, i'm sensing movement at the bottom of the images or maybe its slightly out of focus although it doesn't do it any harm. I think this fits this very ambiguous challenge very well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7200
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 01/10/2011 05:32:20 PM
Excellent all the way around. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon
 01/10/2011 08:23:40 AM
So pretty. I like the hint of green to the duotone.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF
 01/10/2011 07:49:08 AM
I love this shot - 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS
 01/10/2011 03:14:35 AM
very good lighting, nice detail, love the color
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens
 01/10/2011 12:29:53 AM
Very nice image. Definitely off center, but I'm not sure it's out of balance. Still, a fine image. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 01/10/2011 12:22:27 AM
Very elegant, and beautifully processed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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