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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2006 > 4th Place
the footpath
by Michael Puff
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08-DEC-2006 Michael Puff

4th Place
the footpath
by Michael Puff

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
1/50s f/2.8 at 57.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 14-Dec-2006 11:03
Thanks for the considered response to my comment - probably more than I deserve since "ruined" was a bit of an overstatement. I appreciate that the image as it stands provides a truer sense of the place, you were there and I wasn't so we start from a different perspective. I also understand your intention of using the horizontal branches to focus the eyes on the lower part of the image. I think my problem is that it was so successful that I find myself blocked out of the upper half. I really admire (envy) your skill in black & white processing, I can see the depth behind those branches I just feel I have to work too hard to get there. As always I'm expressing my thoughts and feelings - doesn't make me right! Bob.
Guest 14-Dec-2006 06:04
Thanks iso, Nico, Melanie, Bob. Lonnit, thank you too for asking...sometimes I can't explain me, sometimes I can :-)

Bob, your comment sent me to thinking on exactly how to respond because the image is first and foremost a landscape before the surrealist addition. I recognize that and actually worked far harder on bringing out the qualities of the landscape which appealed to me than I worked on the feet. As a landscape, the image should have solid integrity and not rely on the feet to carry it. I think your observation that the "overall photo is ruined by the horizontal branches" is in response to its qualities as a landscape and I appreciate your response. California coastal cypress groves are a unique environment with a dense overhead canopy where all the branches below the canopy are dead and bare. The low bare lower branches can be quite claustrophobic in their density. I specifically chose this location to produce the image and the horizontal branches are very much so a conscious part of the composition as well as the dodging and burning I did to accentuate the depth of the grove. I feel the horizontal branches serve to force the eye into the lower part of the image which is the footpath through the grove. So, while I appreciate that the landscape doesn't quite work for you, it is exactly what I wanted to accomplish. The image won't appeal to everyone and I'm rather OK with that, however, I did want you to know that your observation was read, considered, and appreciated. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Dec-2006 04:21
You're definitely right about the friendliness. They're much less chopped - they're nicely finished with a lack of gore. Thanks for the explaination. :) ~ Lonnit
Guest 11-Dec-2006 15:18
I love the idea and the work on the feet is really well done. For me though the overall photo is ruined by the horizontal branches - they distract me from the depth that would otherwise be there.
Canon DSLR Challenge10-Dec-2006 15:04
Brilliant! And thank you for the mini tutorial, I was also wondering how you hollowed those out. --Melanie
jnconradie10-Dec-2006 09:20
Compliments, Michael! Superb work - and I am always grateful when you explain how you did it. There is just so must about PhotoShop that I still have to learn. Regards ~jnconradie
iso320010-Dec-2006 08:36
Best foot forward eh? Great entry as always.
Guest 10-Dec-2006 06:01
Thanks Lee, Julie, Lonnit. Lonnit, "ewwwww"? Hey, they are just feet. I went to my favorite cypress grove and the old, carved wooden sign on the road said "the footpath" with an arrow pointing to, you guessed it, "the footpath"...'nuff said, inspiration wise.

The feet are hollow because I felt that they are more friendly than solid chunks o' leg. Solid chunks of body parts just ain't friendly in my book. How'd I do it? Use the "elliptical marquee tool" to select a portion of the leg just below where I truncated them. Then do a "new layer via copy". This creates a layer of the eliptical portion of the leg. Then move the newly created elipse to the top of the leg. Select the contents of the new layer, edit->transform->flip horizontal (so that the lighting is correct. Then use edit->transform->{various options} to "rotate", "skew", "perspective" the selection into place. Merge this into the layer with the foot and then burn and dodge. Hope that makes sense. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge10-Dec-2006 02:25
EWWWWWWWWWWWW! Too freaky! Why are they hollowed? How'd you do it? ~ Lonnit
Julie Bird09-Dec-2006 23:11
A path well trod. Great!
Canon DSLR Challenge09-Dec-2006 23:02
LOL. Well done.
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