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Runaway Mower
Runaway Mower
nGallahan


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: 100 Meters (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D3
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 G ED
Location: Box Elder, South Dakota
Date: May 27, 2011
Aperture: F/16
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/80
Galleries: Humorous
Date Uploaded: May 27, 2011

 Well, there are certain limits to my stupidity and while the photo would have been better with some motion blur on the blades, I simply wasn't willing to put my life at risk to get that shot :)

I was thinking about taking the engine off and finding a way to hand crank the blades, when it wasn't as bright and sunny out, but I really wanted the rich colors. Sometimes you just have to make some compromises.

To shoot the image I utilized three flashes. Two to light my model up and one for the blades. I used 550 cord and some tent stakes to prop the mower into position.

I did a bunch of post processing on this image. I imported into Lightroom 3, then fine tuned the white balance, exposure, added clarity and then began deleting all of the dirt spots from the photograph. I wanted a really bright, almost comic look, so I added a bunch of fill light and then some graducated filters to adjust the brightness in certain areas. I then worked on the shaprness and adding a bit of clarity to give it some punch.

Once I was done in Lightroom, I exported as a TIFF and took it into Photoshop. This is where I removed some distracting elements such as some twiggs above my models left shoulder, and also one of the ropes attached to the mowers left tire to keep it in place. I alsow worked in some maskings to really enhance the colors and did some cloning around parts of the image to remove some minor haloing due to the extreme sharpening. I also dodged my models face a little bit to give him some added punch.

All in all it was a great shoot and although the blades aren't blurred, the colors and safety were worth it :)

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Post Voting
Thanks for all the great comments and my first favorite! I love DPC!!

Statistics
Place: 9 out of 141
Avg (all users): 6.7287
Avg (commenters): 8.3000
Avg (participants): 6.7581
Avg (non-participants): 6.7015
Views since voting: 3381
Views during voting: 312
Votes: 129
Comments: 15
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 06/06/2011 10:53:14 AM
I love it! It makes me laugh.

Well done on all 'counts!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
 06/06/2011 03:20:48 AM
Oh believe me you're ready :). This was one of my 10s, fantastic shot! No motion blur needed, the scene, the crop, the light, everything is just the way it should be.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D3
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED
 06/06/2011 12:19:36 AM
Thanks for the kind words Kenkid! I still have a lot of learning from you and all the othe great photographers on DPC before I'm ready for a blue :)
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D700
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 06/05/2011 11:08:28 PM
Dude!!!! Ok...back to look again. If this doesn't take a ribbon...and it should take Blue....It should be the highest non-landscape shot in the whole bunch.

Good Luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens
 06/03/2011 06:15:56 PM
Totally bizarre. I love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 06/02/2011 09:57:06 PM
Ha! Fun shot. Great expression. Filthy lawnmower. Good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
 05/31/2011 11:31:38 AM
Hope this gets votes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 05/31/2011 05:11:58 AM
interesting perspective, would've been much more effective if the mower's blade was spinning though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 05/30/2011 10:29:34 PM
Ha!! Nicely done. Crazy colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D5000
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
 05/30/2011 05:40:22 PM
Great, creative shot. Potential for a ribbon.
My only critique is that the colors look TOO bright and fake. Expecially the blue sky, but I still like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
 05/30/2011 02:44:53 PM
Delightful suburban action shot. The way you set this up is very creative. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/30/2011 11:06:16 AM
Very creative and funny, good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D700
Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon
 05/30/2011 05:08:11 AM
Great perspective. Clever and fun shot. Nice one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D90
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR
 05/30/2011 01:28:46 AM
Love this ,Whacky, origional idea, Done Very well!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-50D
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon
 05/30/2011 01:05:28 AM
I love this, clever ,and nice color and comp
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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