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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 19: Hands (Hosted by Adam Clutterbuck) >> Challenge 19: Hands Eligible (Hosted by Adam Clutterbuck) > The Story of the Opposable Thumb and the Toys it Built*
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09-JUL-2004 Jonathan Nissanov

The Story of the Opposable Thumb and the Toys it Built*

Canon EOS 10D
1/200s f/27.0 at 135.0mm iso100 with Flash hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time09-Jul-2004 23:26:09
MakeCanon
ModelEOS 10D
Flash UsedYes
Focal Length135 mm
Exposure Time1/200 sec
Aperturef/27
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modeaverage (1)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Jonathan (Yoni) Nissanov12-Jul-2004 01:27
Another thought, I really should have gone for a stronger spotlight on the hand to really make the two 'in the spotlight'. Perhaps a visible cable running between them.
Jonathan (Yoni) Nissanov12-Jul-2004 01:23
Thanks. It is a composite-good eye. I wish it was not, but knew I couldnt pull it off as a single shot and didn't try. I don't have a second camera (just sold my film camera) and I dont have a second flash so I couldn't do it as a single. Reflection with grab of both even if I had a second flash couldn't work because of the flash reflecting off the mirror. I couldnt see an effective way to reposition of the mirror to avoid the flash. I see your point about the skew (indeed unintended). As far as tone and contrast, the biggest problem I ran into is proper illumination of the camera with the flash. I really wanted a theatre like spot light without getting flare (I am imaging the camera off a mirror). I had to jack the flash to 3+ and then crank brightness & contrast in PS. I did want separate lighting on the hand to give equal focus on the two subjects the thumb and the tool and the link to be conveyed by the remote, but yes I know there is too great a difference. By itself, I feel the hand to be ok but not the tone on the remote or the cable. The cable is also not properly positioned, but cloning it out really made it clear to be a composite.

Curiously, I tried placing the hand on the other side. Then the image went completely dead. I didnt give it enough breathing space along the width to better position it. I was forced to put it on this side to give it assymmetry. Perhaps it would have been better further up. In par, the negative space is messed up by the cable crossing the image.
Canon DSLR Challenge12-Jul-2004 00:22
Perhaps wrong, but I think this image has a couple of unintended forms of tension. The difference in lighting, tone, and contrast between the hand and the camera/tripod makes it looks like a composite image. Also, the modest skew does not look intentional; to me, there is a "No Man's Land" between straight-level and obviously/significantly skewed to achieve some intent. And, lastly, the proximity of the hand to the camera/tripod makes them compete more than complement. I'd put a bit more negative space between them. I think the concept has merit, just a few opportunities for increased grab. My two pennies. --Joe