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Peppermint Love
Peppermint Love
giantmike


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Valentine's Photo (Expert Editing*)
Camera: Canon EOS-50D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Location: Madison, WI
Date: Feb 14, 2011
Aperture: 6.3
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/60
Galleries: Emotive, Still Life
Date Uploaded: Feb 14, 2011

 I saw some photos similar to this near Christmas on flickr, and I knew what I was going to shoot for my 365 project on Valentine's Day. Much to my surprise, this challenge comes up, so I get a 2 for 1 deal.

My setup included placing the candy canes in the snow, propping the camera on a tripod, and trying out dozens of different lighting styles. Unfortunately, mother nature wasn't playing nice, and kept the sun behind the clouds (I was hoping for a nice sparkly shot with a good shadow). So I had to get out my flash and a variety of different modifiers/angles until I got something I liked.

I'm no expert editor, so I'm guessing this may fall in the standings compared to what some creative people will come up with.

Post Processing:
* White Balance
* Increase Recovery, Black Point, and Brightness
* Topaz Adjust
* Topaz Detail
* Increase Definition
* Increase Saturation
* S-curve
* Burn the shadow slightly to make it pop out ever so slightly
* Export as TIFF
* Resize to 800 px
* Sharpen Edges
* Save as JPEG

Statistics
Place: 7 out of 56
Avg (all users): 6.1111
Avg (commenters): 7.7500
Avg (participants): 5.8286
Avg (non-participants): 6.1890
Views since voting: 1956
Views during voting: 375
Votes: 162
Comments: 12
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 04/03/2012 05:48:56 PM
i like it nice job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a1 II
Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS
 02/22/2011 06:13:09 AM
Great idea & well done! I always find it difficult getting the texture in the snow. Congrats on the top 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 02/22/2011 12:13:39 AM
Sweet. In every sense of the word.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D3000
 02/17/2011 08:35:36 PM
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Nikon D300
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED
 02/17/2011 03:53:17 PM
love. makes me smile.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Casio Exilim EX-Z80
 02/16/2011 05:18:42 PM
LOVE.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D90
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR
 02/16/2011 11:00:43 AM
Did a very nice job handleing the snow and shadows.. love that you retained the little crystal glistening ice... The only thing that bothers me a little about his is the snow in the forground is a tish out of focus, it confused my eye, because you have a leading triangle to the heart but my eye wanted to go to the side of the heart where the focus is criper on the snow.. Over all though this is one of my fav shots, you've done well with the comosition, light, and shadow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
 02/16/2011 10:58:53 AM
Creative! The natural lighting is nice and I enjoy the light shadow the candy canes cast on the snow. Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D90
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 02/15/2011 02:09:18 PM
Very sweet and simple and great idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 02/15/2011 11:35:03 AM
Very inventive. Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2011 09:09:58 AM
I love this! So simple but beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM II
02/15/2011 07:37:27 AM
Very creative, especially because of how our weather has been... Great picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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