6th Place forest spirit By Michael Puff by Canon DSLR Challenge


12-MAR-2006	Michael Puff

The exif data is from the figure image, which is where I started. The completed piece is a composite of 11 images shot over the last few days.

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
1/125s f/10.0 at 34.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

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

Willa Dios		24-Mar-2006 01:38
Excellent work, Michael. WOW!

Canon DSLR Challenge		22-Mar-2006 00:17
Absolutely spectacular. I can see all of your background coming out in this. Art, history, and programming. This is just wonderful. Jim H.

elips		21-Mar-2006 04:27
Just a fabulous image! Good work from conception through completion! ~Sharon

Canon DSLR Challenge		21-Mar-2006 01:47
Trying the minimalist thing again, huh Michael? Spectacular. --Mr. Biscuit

Guest		20-Mar-2006 22:59
Thank you, Traveller. You make me blush, but I appreciate it. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Mar-2006 22:31
Dear Michael: People are endlessly fascinating. Thanks for the reply, eqyptian archaeology and theatrical scene design, eh? I should have guessed...lol. Still, they are nice majors. I well remember my unhappiness at needing an Art Appreciation class as a requirement for graduation for my BA. And yet, as the years wander on, it is only this class that maybe has stayed with me as an active part of my life. Life can be funny that way. Be that as it may, I half way wish I were an Art Dealer or something so I could say, "Michael, listen to me, you've got a gift, we'll make you famous!"....lol. This really is so far superior that I am at a loss for words. I'm glad you did this. Best Wishes, Traveller

Guest		20-Mar-2006 21:09
Roberta and kt, thanks. kt, the piece hasn't changed since I posted it. Interesting that you see it differently each time...mebbe it's just that your monitor is in different stages of warming up each time, LOL! -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Mar-2006 21:03
Traveller, I don't see a way to make our prior comments "public", so folks will have to login as cslr_challenge to read them. I don't know if I will continue working along this line. I'm not opposed to it, it just depends on what catches my fancy at the moment, LOL. I am very flattered that you'd like to turn the page and see more. Certainly many elements of what I learned with this piece went into "the egg and I". I know I want to continue to explore portrait and figurative work. I don't mind answering your "work-wise" question, but I think what you want to know is best answered by giving you my background. By education, I hold dual degrees in eqyptian archaeology and theatrical scene design. I've never worked as an archaeologist, that was an educational passion. I designed scenery for a number years, with my passion being musicals and opera. I also had a stint restoring art work, specializing in ancient art. The arts and art training have always been a part of my life. "Professionally" speaking, I am a systems level computer programmer for the better part of the last 20 years. I think that covers it, LOL. -Michael P

Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Mar-2006 20:30
Hey, this private thing works...lol. This reminds me of a famous artist...but for the life of me I can't remember who and pull it back in my mind. This is a departure for you, or what I perceive to be your style. But I do like it. I can imagine that a ton and a half of thought and work went into this. Understand that I just admire good art, and this is really well done. And yet, it does not seem to be enough...forgive me but I want to see more. It is almost like this is a single plate in a book and I want to turn the page but there is no page to turn to. Artists tend to run with a style until they burn out on it or come up with something they like better. Do you think that you'll do more in this vein, or have you satisfied your curiosity of what can be done with this? I like your elegant work of course, but this is interesting in the extreme. Not many people can pull something like this off...they don't even see it in their mind. Well, that's the first thing, the second is the accumulated talent to actually accomplish such a complex piece of work, and thirdly have the will, the stick to it'ness, enough to see the work to a finalized completion. I'm going to post this publicly...but as a final question, are you in the art field work-wise? Advertising or graphic design? Feel free not to answer, but having watched your production over about a year of so, I think that I'm naturally curious. As always, with great respect, Traveller

Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Mar-2006 17:55
This is an amazing collage Michael! I've come back many times to study it and it seems to be evolving slightly each time. The mist looks new or different. Or maybe I just see it differently each time. Very exotic. ~kt

roberta		20-Mar-2006 01:29
Outstanding work!

Guest		19-Mar-2006 16:00
Thank you all for the comments. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		18-Mar-2006 22:29
This one is a work of art, indeed! Lot of hard work, right from getting the idea and bringing it into life! -Cat

ctfchallenge		17-Mar-2006 00:57
Neat! theFly

ctfchallenge		16-Mar-2006 22:29
Michael, I am blown away by this picture...this is fine art to my eyes. I need to learn this composite technique... - RK

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Mar-2006 16:29
:) You had a vision and you accomplished it. Wonderful! Cindy

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Mar-2006 15:02
I saw this just before I went to bed...but there was no name or title attached yet. I thought to myself, "There's the Winner, I wonder who did it?" I am a bit surprised that it is your's Michael...I though that this came from some new member or something. Surrealism did not, in my mind, seem to be your neck of the woods. Goes to show how wrong I can be. Wow! This is just...Perfect. Best Wishes, Traveller

Vikas Malhotra		16-Mar-2006 06:55
WOW Micheal, that is a very Alice (or should it be Alex? ;-) In Wonderland kind of a shot. Must have taken a lot to put this together, its a very cool concept and I for one, really like it. Great lighting on the man and I like the way it looks as if he is holding up the leaf with his left hand. Cheers, Vikas.