Old Beggar * Vikas [ 2nd Place ] by Canon DSLR Challenge

Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2004 > Old Beggar *
Vikas
[ 2nd Place ]


August 8, 2004	Vikas

This Old Beggar was sitting by the side of the road, resting against a wall and smoking. Took this shot in the evening with an overcast sky.

other sizes: small medium original auto

Please do not delete, update, or otherwise edit others' entries
* Submitter retains all copyrights *

Canon DSLR Challenge		11-Aug-2004 06:32
Thanks Olaf. Regarding the no shoulders thing, I purposely did that since this shot just somehow begged to be shown thus. I have wanted to do a shot like this and I know that this can be unsettling for some but on the other hand, I think it gives it that certain je ne sais quoi quality which I was looking for. I realised that this shot would cause some people to do a double take and maybe even be spooky for some since no shoulders are visible but I deliberately went with this treatment. Regarding the highlights, the weren't there in the original (couldn't be since it was taken in the evening with an overcast sky) but then when I used the Channel Mixer the photo seemed a trifle flat, so played around with the RGB channels/levels/curves to give it some highlights to make the photo more interesting. Cheers. Vikas.

Edward Hahn		11-Aug-2004 00:28
Excellent shot; a great model, and excellent tonality and lighting. (*) Why blackout the background? -Ed Hahn

Olaf.dk		10-Aug-2004 20:47
OK, two things, of which one is really minor: the highlights seem to be blown on the ridge of the nose and in the bright spot on the forehead - but as I said, I consider this really minor. The other thing is more disturbing: There are no shoulders to be seen - just a face floating in empty, black space. I am not mentioning this because the challenge is called head and shoulders, but rather because a head detached from its body is somewhat unsettling. I still like everything else about the image - and as I wrote below - I agree with all the positive comments from the others! --Olaf

Canon DSLR Challenge		10-Aug-2004 06:54
Olaf, sorry but I always forget to put an * on my headers, please go ahead and say what you like/dislike about this pic. Cheers. Vikas

Olaf.dk		10-Aug-2004 00:37
While I agree with all the positive comments below, there are a couple of things I would like different in this shot, but as you haven't put an asterisk in the title I will keep my mouth shut. Well, not quite because I have to say it is a great shot - a classic Vikas. --Olaf

Guest		09-Aug-2004 23:30
This face seems to stand out in 3D. His eyes appear very wise. A master. =Paul

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-Aug-2004 11:51
Thank you Shu, appreciate it. Jon, regarding sharpening, I shoot in RAW, turn off sharpening completely, turn on Full colour/luminescence smoothening and then sharpen in the lab mode. Thats pretty much it. Cheers. Vikas

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-Aug-2004 11:20
Very impressive in the B&W detail and the eyes are hypnotic. Shu

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-Aug-2004 07:12
Thanks Falevine, Scott, Byron, Jon, appreciate it. Lonnit, you make me blush so. :-) Thanks for your wonderful words. Vikas

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-Aug-2004 04:49
Absolutely perfect control of contrast Vikas! Those eyes are so alive. What technique do you use for sharpening? There's no halos what-so-ever. Of course this is really an entry in the Head and no Shoulders challenge! ;-) - Jon Stern

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-Aug-2004 04:33
Ok, Vikas, I happened to view your girl shot first, now I feel vindicated. ;) THIS is a true Viks!!! This is the LIFE you normally capture. Your talent is so far beyond the other shot. You are the Master and again you prove that here. And you can just do this stuff in the street huh? I'm shaking my head. Why aren't you incredibly famous? You have sooooo much talent - I am so in awe of you. ~ Lonnit

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-Aug-2004 23:52
Mirror, Mirror On the wall.... Kind of spooky looking. Love it. -Byron

Scott Hopkins		08-Aug-2004 15:08
A wonderful shot...I love you B&W's. They are some of the best around!

falphotography		08-Aug-2004 14:52
Very effective! falevine