I've always been fascinated by magicians and their tricks. I don't really know how they create their illusions, but I would imagine I had a similar approach on this one. This shot required significant planning time:
- First, the setup had to be designed on the paper. Several versions were studied, until a realistic option (technically and financially) appeared.
- From there, I researched on the Internet the hardware that could be used to achieve the wanted result
- Bought everything
- Built the setup
- Performed many tries, for numerous adjustments: position of my body, angle of the camera, lights, etc. About 700 shots were realized over 2 weeks. 3 of them were satisfactory. Funny fact, the submitted entry was the very last file on the memory card... Makes me feel a bit more comfortable about all the times I thought "It was ok, but let's do just ONE MORE session" ;-)
Of course, one shot, no montage, no borderline processing. I decided to play safe after my recent disqualifications.
Light setup:
- 1 softbox from the left
- 1 softbox from the lower right
- 1 gridded strobe on the wall, from the upper front
- 1 speedlite from the upper right, pointing on the legs
I am quite happy with the result, and I think this is definitely a progression for me: the non-empty background or the tea motion are interesting features that were lacking in some of my previous shots. I sure hope you'll enjoy it!
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After challenge edit:
Thanks a lot for all the fantastic comments! It is so meaningful to me when talented photographers like my work.
Statistics
Place: 5 out of 325 Avg (all users): 6.8874 Avg (commenters): 8.5600 Avg (participants): 6.7456 Avg (non-participants): 7.3243 Views since voting: 4757 Views during voting: 307 Votes: 151 Comments: 57 Favorites: 20 (view)
Thank you! However, the fake room solution wouldn't work here, the tea wouldn't flow to the "ground". So the trick is something different this time ;-)
Hmm, so much for my theory, I figured you the "flowing tea" was plastic or something! Keep up the great work.
Tea is absolutely real. And hot :-) I drilled holes in both the cup and the spoon and screwed them together, but it wasn't very waterproof: I regularly had hot tea on the fingers, which was one of numerous reasons for a missed attempt.
Thank you! However, the fake room solution wouldn't work here, the tea wouldn't flow to the "ground". So the trick is something different this time ;-)
Hmm, so much for my theory, I figured you the "flowing tea" was plastic or something! Keep up the great work.
Fantastic. I gave this an 8 on first review and would have bumped it up if I'd gone through the entries a second time as I often do.
So you bought the materials and built the setup? Does that mean you are on you knees in a fake room you built? OMG, I'll never compete with that much prep, even though in a case like this I see it is worth the effort!
Thank you!
However, the fake room solution wouldn't work here, the tea wouldn't flow to the "ground". So the trick is something different this time ;-)
Fantastic. I gave this an 8 on first review and would have bumped it up if I'd gone through the entries a second time as I often do.
So you bought the materials and built the setup? Does that mean you are on you knees in a fake room you built? OMG, I'll never compete with that much prep, even though in a case like this I see it is worth the effort!
Wow! I love your story of how difficult this shot was to get. It makes me appreciate its creativity and flawless execution even more. Congratulations on being rewarded for a job very well done!
It's good to see you moving away from the featureless backgrounds, which I always thought were limiting your shots. This one is exceptionally nice. Apparently there are some voters who don't recognize the evolution and think this is the same ol' same ol', as evidenced by the 18 low votes, but in the end your distribution is heavily skewed towards the positive. Well done!
I have sat and studied your shot and the one place in the photo that is interesting to me is near your arm and tie - as if a bit of minor cloning or cleaning up was done.
Thanks a lot for your kind comment :-)
In fact, the only processing that was done near my arm and tie was some hue adjustment (the tie was originally red). This is probably some poor masking that you detected: I spent much time on it, but the colors were so different that it really was challenging.
This was my only 10 in the challenge. A wonderful example of creativity and photography as art. I was certain this would be the blue but it's nice to see another great image of yours as a comeback after the recent DQ's. You are truly an inspiration. Keep it up!
ETA: My profile view shows 9 images wide.. I see you have 8 blues and 1 red on your profile as I see it... you'd better try harder next time and reach for that full spread of blue across the page!
This is a great shot all around. Well done and delivered. Your work is inspiring!
As others have said, I am also wondering about the low scores. It does seem some people must have voted 'illegally' and voted as if your shot broke some rule.
I have sat and studied your shot and the one place in the photo that is interesting to me is near your arm and tie - as if a bit of minor cloning or cleaning up was done. Maybe that is what people see? No idea - but no matter - it is against the rules to vote down based on a belief that the image doesn't meet editing rules....
i really cant understand all the low votes .. the only reason i can think of is jealousy .. you are in a league of your own .. your photographs always so imaginative and wonderful .. if you're not revered already you will be .. i think of old masters and then i think of you .. seriously .. i love your work .. !!
reckon this should'v beaten that silly old robberfly by miles .. but i'll count my blessings .. it'll probably be the only time i beat gyaban in a challenge ..
congrats on something amazing and the hm .. :)
As bohemka noted, back with a bang. The amount of time and though you put into your images is so amply evident in the phenomenal results you achieve. Bravo, Christophe. You are truly my hero. Welcome back.
It's a measure of your success that I can look at this and just take it for granted. "Ahh... the gyaban image."
However, let me try to pull back from casual acceptance and try to appreciate anew. With that lens in place, the astonishing achievement of pulling this off is brought back into clear focus. I know you normally trick our eyes by making floors look like walls, but here with the pouring tea, you've added a new confounding element. Your dedication to crafting these images is just astounding. Even took the trouble to see to the coordination / coloration of the pot, tie and socks!
I gave you an 8 on my first pass, but really - what was I thinking, this is just in another league in terms of dedication and execution. I have corrected my error and bumped to a 10. I hope you haven't had many people fall into the state of casual acceptance as I did. We only have to stop and think about really trying to pull this off ourselves to be treated to a great big reality check.
Bravo. This isn't the sort of image I would normally 'favourite', but I have because really do admire the craft and talent so much here.
Great stuff, sir. Great to see you back with a bang. Nicely color coordinated, by the way. Always impressive technicals and another head-scratcher. Very well done.
Oh, I thought you were suspended (no pun intended). I can imagine how your setup looks, but i still wonder how you managed to let the tea flow into the cup (and where the remote shutter is).
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