gyaban doesn't know it, but he shamed me into entering this challenge. So of course, it was VERY last minute. I had a vague idea of the tableau I wanted to create, and had nothing in the house I could use to make it, except for the mirror and the "stars" (which are part of a fiber optic hair decoration). I raced out to the toy store for a ducky, the craft store for props, and raced back, hoping that I could create something challenge-worthy with this bizarre assortment of items. In my mind I was going to cut out a circle in the starry background, cover it with tissue paper, and use my SB600 with a snoot on it to create the moon. But time was running short for so much craft so I just cut a circle of tin foil and stuck it on the bg. I used a white reflector camera right to get the moon to "shine". Thought about cloning out the visible optic fibers but the fear of DQ got to me.
One rubber ducky
Red item: rose on her head
String: tie around her neck
Vegetable: carrots in the bg
3 light sources: the moon (actually window light), the twinkling stars, and reflector on the right
converted from RAW
denoise
focused the face
adjusted levels, contrast
blurred the moon and the moon reflection
levels and contrast on the moon
dodged and burned reeds and carrots
shifted the hue of the flower to make it redder
[Jan. 23rd, 2011 01:18:54 PM]
Yeah, about that title... Referring to The Who's song, and intended to refer to the squeaky noise these duckies usually make when squeezed. This one, ironically doesn't squeak, but will tell you if the water is too hot. Although not by squeaking. The light source comment - a momentary lapse of confidence, since the lighting was so subtle I didn't want any DNMC comments and instead ruined an otherwise perfectly decent title.
[post-challenge]
Who'd have thunk my ducky would place 5th? The silliness was too much fun, and all your votes and comments, killer. Thanks.
Statistics
Place: 5 out of 66 Avg (all users): 6.5714 Avg (commenters): 7.8182 Avg (participants): 6.0952 Avg (non-participants): 6.7619 Views since voting: 3211 Views during voting: 398 Votes: 147 Comments: 29 Favorites: 0
Big congratulations on your 5th place and high score!!!! This is so adorable. I love the way you used the carrots and the fiberoptics. The whole thing is so well thought out, built, composed, and lit, that I can't believe it was a last minute effort. You're awesome.
OOO... now I'm not sure about the last min entry thing.. LOL.. This is really good! I stand by my initial comment.. Congratulations on your top 5!!!! Your on fire girl!
OK, how does it tell you if the water is too hot?? Nice set up, beautifully done, and congrats on a star! I don't like that it moved your kitties off your top five, but I show seven across so I still see them. Besides, you're getting so good these days that replacements of your top five are fast and furious. :-)
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