help... me... plea... * by Daveed V. by Canon DSLR Challenge


08-OCT-2003	Daveed V.

Imagine yourself alone at the hour of your greatest need.

Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel
1/8s f/4.0 at 25.0mm iso200 hide exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

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* Submitter retains all copyrights *

iso3200		19-Oct-2003 22:55
I like the concept and your execution. Nothing bad to say really. For my taste, as a straight shot, I'd prefer it all in colour - the opposite to Jim! Angle of shooting adds a sense of drama overall.

Guest		18-Oct-2003 04:23
I think that this shot has so many signals going on, thoroughly telling a story. I LOVE the transition to B&W and the halftone dots. I also love the lighting. There's something I want to say, but I dont' want to say it b/c I don't want to take anything away from the incredible job you did. Maybe it only bugs me because the shot is so professional, as if done for an advertisement, so I surprised that with all the attention to detail that this one thing was missed. Here it is, call me neurotic, but... I don't think a person in this situation would fall this way. People generally don't fall backwards, right? Especially if they were on the phone - they'd be more apt to be leaning in towards the phone. This shot implies that it's too late for this person. To me I interpret it that they never got the call through, meaning that they were probably dialing, confirming that they would have been leaning forward to dial. I would guess they probably would have fallen to the 10:00 position, if the shot were a clock face. They would have started going forward and then likely have reached out to the couch for support, and then collapsed in front of the couch, perhaps on thier left side. To sum it up, this picture would be perfect, IMO, if the body angle were changed. I'm certain this shot will be getting some of my voting points though! Awesome, awesome job. I'm literally clapping right now. :) ~ Lonnit

Daveed V.		15-Oct-2003 18:19
Thank you all for your comments. Earl: I am not familiar with that commercial, but when I asked a friend about it, he chuckled and agreed with you. He said it's about a device sold for circumstances just like this? Scott: I'm glad you expressed that, since that was my purpose--thanks! Specifically, I meant for the B&W to symbolize life draining away, and for the halftone screening to suggest the loss of significance of the event when reduced to a newspaper story. Jim: The early plan for this picture was to be all B&W with harsh contrasts. The first few shots used flash with positive flash exposure compensation. The idea was to emphasize the brutality of the fall. However, I never found quite the right contrasts. Then I remembered that it's not about the fall, but about the fear and desperation of being alone in such circumstances. So I switched to the normal lighting of that place and I wasn't too fond of the various B&W reductions I teased out of that (part of the problem, I think, is that the gamut of hues in the actual colors is not very broad; so channel-specific techniques don't affect the resulting intensities much).

Earl Waud		15-Oct-2003 17:08
First let me say, I like it. It's very creative. But I keep hearing that old TV commercial "help! I've fallen and I can't get up." :) E-

Scott Hopkins		15-Oct-2003 16:35
I like like the transition to B&W....It gives me the feelling that it is too late for the person on the floor.

Guest		15-Oct-2003 06:17
Hi Daveed, This is a great idea with an important message. Also makes me think of how many people are always in need and always alone. I think I would like this more in all b&w, but this does call attention to the person. Nice job. Jim (shutter)