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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2005 > 3rd Place
breakfast of champions *
by Michael Puff
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18-DEC-2005 Michael Puff

3rd Place
breakfast of champions *
by Michael Puff

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
1/30s f/5.6 at 35.0mm iso200 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Canon DSLR Challenge27-Dec-2005 21:43
I didn't recreate an existing Rockwell. I shot a scene, that happened in real life, in my own kitchen, and as I was shooting, it dawned on me that if Norman Rockwell was in my home that day, he may very well have been inspired to paint this image. BECAUSE the image reminded me of his work, I decided to process it in a manner that would be reminiscent of his work. To my knowledge, he did not create any such piece of art that was in any manner similar to my scene. I was creating an original Lonnit, when I simply noticed it was like that of another artist. That is a far cry from recreating another artists work. This image, repeats the concept of an egg on a plate and bent spoons representing an egg and sperm. This is a recreation of that concept but done in a different way. Because it is so different from the original, and personally, I think it is better, I see just cause in recreating it. If he used the exact same materials, in the same composition, it would have been, IMO, an inane waste of time and a complete ripoff of the original. This is not dissimilar to the point of most new inventions - the concept is to improve on an existing idea, or find a new use. Same applies here, and it was very well done. ~ Lonnit
Guest 22-Dec-2005 09:10
I'll try again now Ive remembered to log in properly.
Superb!
ctfchallenge22-Dec-2005 09:06
Superb!
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Dec-2005 19:14
Forgot the key element in my "phase stability" story. Neither knew of the other's work. At the time there was no contact between Russian and American physicists. Ann C
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Dec-2005 19:11
Wow. Nothing like coming late to the party. Phew! I love this. I love the clean clear effect. And I did see the other one on Dpchallenge. Now about reuse of ideas. I cannot imagine a rule that said you had to invent every idea you had from scratch. Usually there is a fertility (pun intended) involved with creating that is born of the atmosphere of experiment and play. Creating something from nothing does not imply something completely different from everything else anybody has ever done. (In photography think of all the heart shadows on books - a zillion versions each with its own take on the subject.) Personally I believe the Michael never saw the dpchallenge version of this but really, does it matter? Taking his take on its own merit I think it's great!

BTW I do know of a case in my personal history where two physicists came up with a new principal called "Phase Stability" (stick with me on this... it is related). One was in the US (my father) and the other was in Russia (Vladimir Vexler). They did this at the same time and completed their work within months. They both received international recognition for their work. So I know that this is possible.

Bottom line - I love this. Ann C
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Dec-2005 10:54
Lonnit, it's difficult to understand your comment about not being able to see re-doing someone else's work, given your Rockwell recreation. Seems to me it's all good fun and a lot learned in the process.

Michael, I know you to be one of the most straight-forward (and least affected) persons I've ever talked to. Given that you hadn't seen any of the other versions of this idea, I think you're pure brilliant to have thought it up. Well done, Michael, both for the way-cool image.... and the tongue-biting ;-) nlc
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Dec-2005 01:31
As with bands who do cover tunes, I see no reason to re-do someone else's work (if you are aware you are making a recreation - often, multiple people come up with the same idea without prior knowledge of the existance of another) unless you are going to make it different/better. Otherwise, why bother. I don't know if you came up with this idea on your own or if you were trying your own interpretation of another's, but what I do know is that this image is far superior to the other one posted. It has taken the original idea and perfected it. There are multiple technical flaws in the other that do not exist in yours. Yours is clean, professional, and if I had to find fault with it, the only thing I could possibly come up with is that I would like a bit more black around the top and right sides to place the egg a bit more towards the upper right intersection of thirds. Kudos on a shot well done. If indeed the other person's image was thier original idea, I'd like to add additional kudos to them for such a wonderfully creative idea. ~ Lonnit
Guest 20-Dec-2005 19:18
Same for me. First version. And by far the best of the 3 posted here.
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 23:42
This is the first version I saw, untill the other versions started to show up. But this one beats the other ones hands down. nice work! -Cat
Guest 19-Dec-2005 23:06
Oh my goodness. This is the best ever. So well done.

Not to mention damn funny!
Guest 19-Dec-2005 19:24
great idea!
Guest 19-Dec-2005 18:35
Of those three, this one is definitely the best. The black bg makes it really pop. :::hugs::: LOL
Guest 19-Dec-2005 17:21
David, thanks for that version too. I really like the metal spoons. Apparently the subject is every bit as popular as images of the Golden Gate Bridge...who'd have thought it, LOL.

I don't normally share "out takes", but folks may be interested in seeing the 3 versions I created here: http://www.pbase.com/mtpuff/inbox While the composition was always fixed in my mind, use of color and materials was not.

Michael
Guest 19-Dec-2005 14:23
this is one of the first images i clicked in this gallery and inspite of the fact i like your execution, dpchallenge image crossed my mind almost immediately. considering it won in very recent past, i can understand Britt's response and i am sure she did not have any intentions to debase your image.
btw i like the cleanliness, simplicity and the sort of 'perfection' of your image much better than any of the other two posted. -Abstract
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 13:40
Michael.
I'm puzzled that you think Britt was belittling your image. I don't see that in what she wrote at all.
I think we all know it's very easy to misread sentiments - and to sometimes write things that when you read them back you can see come out all wrong.
Let's all be friends, eh?
:)
Phil
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 13:31
My intent was NOT to "belittle your efforts," but to point out that A) this has been done before very recently, very close-by and that considering we are all being accused of sh*t we don't do, I may as well throw you into the mix, and B) yours actually looks better than the others I've seen. I never once said your images sucks eggs, (so to speak.)
No personal attack was intended here.
~Britt
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 13:23
Michael...

I think your execution in this photo is great...but...as with others...I've also seen this before...infact more than once...a quick seach on google images produced:



I think I've also seen it on photo.net in pretty much the same arrangement...I don't want to imply that the photo you took is copied or influenced...but you should be aware that there are several others who've done similar things... and...as with a photo like this...it is very memorable when one sees it. then again, we shouldn't pick on you...as there have been winners in the past which people think are "original" but are also very similar to the ideas of others...

Anyhoo...I like you implementation the best...and whether it is or isn't influenced it is a great shot and rather funny each time you see it.

Cheers,
:-D
Guest 19-Dec-2005 11:45
Thanks all for the compliments and Traveller for the superlative comparative critique, LOL.

Britt, although your intent was to belittle my efforts, I genuinely enjoyed seeing the dpchallenge image and thank you for posting it. I don't visit dpchallenge with any regularity and likely would not have seen it. Whether you choose to believe it or not, I had not seen Inede's image until you posted the link and it is not the source of inspiration for this image. I believe my track record in the STF and CSLR challenges will show that I have no shortage of both good and mediocre ideas on my own. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 10:16
I love it. An excellent concept and good work with the lighting and the lighter - or whatever you used to apply the heat :) Jim H.
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 08:41
A genuine "Laugh Out Loud" moment. I'm so glad I wasn't eating at the time.
Excellent.
Phil
Vikas Malhotra19-Dec-2005 06:58
Great execution Michael, very well done I have to say. Cheers, Vikas.
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 06:03
Well, since I'm in a fairly jovial mood, let me take a pop at this.

First, your spermatazoa look heathy and fecund....lol
Likewise, there is a healthy robustness to the egg.

Conversely, lnede's sperm look, to be charitable, deformed, lost and without their intended strong forward purpose...lol. There also is...not so much the problem...but the unconscious idea that the sperm are black, the egg white.

Lastly, your background is much better, cleaner. Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 05:38
Michael, what a wonderful execution...if not conception. Your's is certainly far, far better than the one pointed to by Britt...but since I just wrote a damned long post on this subject of creative inter-play...I am curious, did you see the other image? Not that it matters, (again see my essay...lol). You've got one of my votes! Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 03:27
Imagination I don't think has a lot to do with this one, but the point of view from the top looks better than this one:
http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=265065
Britt
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2005 02:39
OH What a wonderful imagination!!!! ~ Lonnit
ML19-Dec-2005 02:29
This is just brilliant!!! The idea is simple, but the execution is fantastic! Very inspiring!!! Good job!!! =)