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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> The Best of CTF Challenges >> Best of 2005 > Puttin' pussy in a box (*)
3rd Place
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02-APR-2005 Gayle Knowles

Puttin' pussy in a box (*)
3rd Place

Australia


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~elements 14-Apr-2005 22:55
congratulations :))
Canon DSLR Challenge04-Apr-2005 14:12
I'd not seen this original prior to the second shot. This is certainly a better composition and it is obvious why it was your first choice. As for the tiles, yes they are annoying b/c they do draw the eye and then lead the viewer out of the frame. Ideally it should have been shot with a shallower DOF so the tiles wouldn't have been an issue. You might just consider masking off the background in PS and then giving it a bit of blur. Nice shot! ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge04-Apr-2005 09:26
Tom, the idea never was to have the girl in the box, or even wishing/thinking about it. It was to show her putting the cat into the box but the cat not wanting to go. Funnily enough, after we'd finished shooting this photo, Harriet and one of our other cats jumped into the box and curled up for a nap.
Gayle
ctfchallenge04-Apr-2005 09:23
OK, after careful consideration, I've gone back to the original image.
I think it has more "dimension" and shows the whole box. It's also what I envisioned when I thought out this photo. The tiles stay because they add to the depth (and I just cannot imagine my pantry door extending all that extra distance).
Thanks for all your comments, they truly are very helpful.
Gayle
Tom03-Apr-2005 20:55
I'd have never guessed that was the same girl and same cat. If the intent was the girl outside the box was "dreaming/thinking" of being in the box, then maybe the girl in the box with transparancy set at 75% would convey that better... might make it appear more balanced. Not sure if I like the title. Cool idea, lots a variations to this theme!
aam1234 03-Apr-2005 08:58
Personally I prefer the original photo, it had that 3-D feeling to it.
Techo 02-Apr-2005 21:05
Gayle, All the work you,Bry and the cat did really payed off. This is a great photo.
Shu02-Apr-2005 20:38
Sooo beautifully composed! (...and the "Gayle red") I agree with Photonut. Looks like a winner! Shu
alexeig02-Apr-2005 20:30
The poses of girls and cats are very harmonious and coordinated, something vaguely resembling Rennesaince paintings. Great capture and very well thought of
ctfchallenge02-Apr-2005 20:11
Gayle, I agree with the others that it's now cropped too much. I think that the original white space surrounding the top of the box and the girl(s) gave a necessary dimension to the image. I stay with my original suggestion to simply clone out the offending floor tiles. This version lacks the impact of the original. BTW I thought it was Bryden and a friend.

Mary Anne
Guest 02-Apr-2005 18:48
Gayle, Excellent thought execution. You visualized this picture in your mind even before you moved your first furniture and started setting up for the shoot. I have to agree with Lonnit about the crop. Compare the orignal and this crop and post the one which appeals to you most. -cat
Canon DSLR Challenge02-Apr-2005 16:57
Concept is great, but the crop is not working for me at all; the models on the left are positioned fine, but the "others" on the right are too far to the right. The upper right intersection of thirds falls just about at the knot in the wood. My eyes are drawn to the blank area between "the girls". I didn't see the original crop, but if you can, what I would do is widen the crop, more of a panorama, to the point where the right side Bryden and Harriet are on the rihgt thirds line. That will fix the imbalance and I'll be much more comfortable looking at it. ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge02-Apr-2005 12:00
I like this crop better also. theFly
ctfchallenge02-Apr-2005 11:59
Rich....look a bit closer....it's not "matching cats". It's the same cat. And the same kid. And you're right, Harriet was thinking more outside the box, but she is such a lovely placid cat that she never even bared her claws.....just patted Bryden frantically on the arm to let her know she'd had enough of being put in the box for today.
Gayle
Rich 02-Apr-2005 11:42
I really love this shot Gayle and the matching cats that are obviously NOT thinking inside the box. :-)
PhotoNUT 02-Apr-2005 08:27
Actually that looks better with the crop.
ctfchallenge02-Apr-2005 07:58
Thanks Mary Anne, I've done a tighter crop which I like better and takes care of the floor tiles.
Gayle
ctfchallenge02-Apr-2005 05:31
Nice shot, Gayle, but I'd clone out the distracting tiles in the background on the right side. Maybe extend the vertical lines of the door or molding to meet the girl's back.

Mary Anne
PhotoNUT 02-Apr-2005 05:26
Wow, you may have just won the challenge. Very good!!!