3rd Place french pressed Michael Puff by Canon DSLR Challenge

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french pressed
Michael Puff

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06-NOV-2007	Michael Puff

3rd Place
french pressed
Michael Puff

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Guest		14-Nov-2007 01:06
Love it, love it, love it! Michael, you just keep on with "your choices". Thanks for this masterpiece.

Canon DSLR Challenge		13-Nov-2007 22:29
A great image, Michael. I never obect to extensive PS manipulation when it's done as tastefully and with such a good eye as this. B&W really works for it, too. An attention grabber, for sure! -Kuivaamo

Guest		13-Nov-2007 06:22
Thanks Nico, Lee, Pops. Pops, even your comments are "on topic"...not your "cup of tea" gave me a big smile. I well understand that image manipulation (be it darkroom or photoshop) is not to everyone's taste...that you felt free to say so is all the more complement. I agree that a number of different poses could be used here and I did explore using several different poses. Each is a very different image and it's really just a matter of personal preference that I chose this pose. I like the model's lean tall lines and how they interact with the tall lines of the coffee maker. I also prefer the body lines which only a dancer can produce. Ergo, this was my choice. Were there other options? Most assuredly there were. Would they have been better? Possibly, but this was my choice. -Michael

ctfchallenge		11-Nov-2007 13:06
fun idea and well done. theFly

jnconradie		11-Nov-2007 07:53
Michael, your PS skills continue to amaze. But you know what really makes this stand out for me: the white gloves!! :-) Not in a million years would I have thought of white gloves. Yet, having seen this version, I cannot think anything else could have worked so well. Compliments!

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-Nov-2007 22:21
K2, I did not want to make a reference to some of the scenes in the movie 'perfume' where Jean-Baptiste victims are stored in big glass jars without at least someone knowing what I am talking about. The movie is highly recommended. Sam Attal

Guest		09-Nov-2007 21:56
OK, first this is a great picture but it's not, er, my cup of tea. There is way to much photoshop going on here for me. Every time I look at it I feel the presence of the man in the press is just too weak. He's too small in the context of the overall image. I wonder how that could be fixed and I've thought about an Atlas Shrugged pose or perhaps a fetal position with the man filling more of the inner press. Would that make it better? I don't know. It's just what jumps into my head. Even with this minor complaint this is still a great picture. Kudos on the concept and the execution.

Guest		09-Nov-2007 18:52
Olaf, [Michael slaps forehead, saying "of course!"], excellent technique. Perhaps I can select the existing glass highlights in the french press layer and build a layer mask for the white solid color fill layer...good stuff...I'll try to experiment over the weekend and see how realistic/subtle I can make highlights. Thanks for the technique and example, -Michael

Guest		09-Nov-2007 17:36
Michael, I often add highlight reflections to windows in simple, sketchy, architectural visualizations. In fact, I made one just a few days ago. See the sky reflection in the first image of this animated gif: Process: A white solid color fill layer (found under the adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the layers palette) with a high contrast tree/sky-line pasted onto the mask. Layer opacity turned down. I experiment with blending modes, but usually end up at 'Normal' for this effect. Your french press is not flat like a window, so a bit more of a challenge, but I am sure you can pull it off if you wish to...

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-Nov-2007 12:40
I disagree about the highlights. I noticed them and thought they were a great touch, subtle for sure, but not too subtle. Regards, -Najinsky

Guest		09-Nov-2007 00:05
Thank you all for the comments, deeply appreciated (and always a treat to make Traveller laugh). Kelly: Yes, a three image composite. The french press setup with the right hand, the same setup with the left hand, and the model (dancers are amazing!). I placed the model's right hand against the outer edge/spring of the press...does that answer the question? The gradient is a single painted background, black to white, graduated in the center. The plate sits on the background and the background curves upright about 9 inches behind the plate...hope that makes sense. Olaf: I well understand your comment, the background was my nemesis. I tried a dark background but the chrome and black parts of the french press blended into it. I couldn't get enough highlights to make it stand out from a dark background. By lighting from above and to the sides, I thought I could get enough highlight on the gloves to make them standout from the light background. In retrospect, I might have been able to make a dark background work by bouncing the light off a large white surface so that the chrome took on a very light and bright appearance...something to try next time. I did think about specular highlights and actually did some dodging on the model where there are subtle highlights in the glass...the most pronounced on the model's hip and thigh. However, subtle is operative and it doesn't translate well when the image is reduced to this small size. I would have liked a more obvious glass highlight in front of the model but I don't know a technique to create it...I'll have to hit the books and see what I can find. If anyone knows of a technique, let me know. Again, thanks all! -Michael

Bob AYTON		08-Nov-2007 15:14
Beautiful Michael... I think you are a bit cruel jambing the poor fellow's fingers in the plunger piston like that... :-) Great concept and lighting, I agree with Olaf that a slight glass reflection near the model would affirm his capture inside. Superb composition ~ Regards Melbob

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-Nov-2007 02:55
Sam: I read a book by Patrick Süskind with that title, long ago. Does that count? -k2

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-Nov-2007 01:58
Have anyone seen the movie 'perfume'? Sam Attal

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-Nov-2007 01:16
LOL! This is greatness. So? Did he make it?? :) ~lydia

Guest		07-Nov-2007 23:03
LOL good one! Debbi

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 20:50
We can always count on you Michael, for a surreal take on any challenge - wonderful, as always! :-) CJ

Guest		07-Nov-2007 18:05
Michael, I really admire your creativity! Great use of a french press and a Canon 20D. Without having seen it, I think I would prefer a darker background - to contrast with the white gloves and fair skinned human figure. A few (or just one) small specular highlight(s) in the glass in front of the human figure would increase the sense of him being _inside_ the french press.

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 17:40
Funny, great execution :) Saw this before artist name was added, but there wasn't any doubt as to the origin. Reminds me of one of the famous/infamous Google job-interview questions: "You are shrunk to the height of a nickel and your mass is proportionally reduced so as to maintain your original density. You are then thrown into an empty glass blender. The blades will start moving in 60 seconds. What do you do?" Not sure the fellow here stands a better chance lol. Very elegant hand poses here btw. -k2

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 17:21
From my daughter Connie "DUDE!! That's Awesome! Michael Puff has the BEST Photoshop!" :) Cindy

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 14:40
I was wondering when someone would use a French Press in an image, but I never, ever would have imagined that it would be in this manner. Excellent. -- AussieDawg

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 13:24
Total respect. -Najinsky

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 12:44
Michael, once again I'm impressed and inspired - excellent concept and superbly executed. I must confess however, and for reasons not exactly clear, my first reading saw latex gloves - LOL. Questions for behind the curtain: Are there three distinct photos assimilated? What is happening to the little Frenchman's right hand? Was a gradient placed beneath and behind the plate? Well done my friend! - Kelly

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 11:18
Now, every time I press my Freach Coffee jar, I am going to giggle. Origianl as always Micheal. Best regards. Sam Attal

Julie Bird		07-Nov-2007 10:02
Brilliant again Michael. Idea and execution amazing. Julie

Vikas Malhotra		07-Nov-2007 08:47
Fabulous Michael, this is way tooooooo cooooool LOVE IT!!!!! Cheers, Vikas.

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Nov-2007 07:51
I'm still laughing Michael...that's so frickin` great! I kind of wished and initially thought that this was a naked lady...but that may or may not have been acceptable here. Still, just fabulous! And I love the gloves. Best Wishes, Traveller

3rd Placefrench pressedMichael Puff

3rd Place
french pressed
Michael Puff