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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 96 - Tilted Viewpoint >> Challenge 96 - Eligible > Christmas First *
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16-DEC-2005 John

Christmas First *

051216_031AP.jpg

When Ginny and I spent our first Christmas together (1973) we were graduate students at MIT. We decided we needed a Christmas tree so we went out and bought a Norfolk Island Pine tree, which was about 18 inches tall, and put it on the table in Ginny's dorm room. We decorated it and named it "Chris". Well, we still have it. It has survived these 32 years in a pot, but it is quite ragged and bent. This photo silhouettes it against our living room windows. In honor of its age and sentimental value I shot it so that its scrawny trunk would be straight and proud.

Canon PowerShot S70
1/15s f/5.3 at 20.7mm hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time15-Dec-2005 15:06:58
MakeCanon
ModelCanon PowerShot S70
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length20.7 mm
Exposure Time1/15 sec
Aperturef/5.3
ISO Equivalent
Exposure Bias
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modecenter weighted (2)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 19-Dec-2005 18:06
I really like the contrast of the dark tree inside opposed to the bright green outside. Nice job.
janewigginsphotography17-Dec-2005 10:34
Good job John - I also like this version better :) jano
ctfchallenge17-Dec-2005 02:54
This is much better, John. And while I liked the mood of the original b & w, I have to admit that I'm quite impressed with this color version. Guess I agree with your wife.
--Mary Anne
jCross16-Dec-2005 21:41
Thanks Mary Ann and Jano for your ideas. I messed around for about an hour trying to get something presentable, and ended up with this. The autofocus on the S70 liked the outside plants better than the tree. I worked with the manual focus and ended up bracketing because the display even with the enlarged center portion just does not work very well. I liked the B&W myself, but my wife likes the color. So you know who wears the pants in this family. -John
ctfchallenge16-Dec-2005 18:07
Interesting concept, which is strengthened by a touching story. Since it's right there in your house, I'd follow Jano's suggestion and shoot it again from many different angles. BTW I think the b & w works well here.
--Mary Anne
janewigginsphotography16-Dec-2005 05:09
John - this is really a beautiful story! I have a Norfolk Pine of my own, and I treasure it. They usually are bought young and if you can hold on to one for that many years it just grows to be a thing of gold. This image seems to have a significant amount of "camera shake" going on and the bh of the window really distracts, although a nice contrast to the pine. I'm just not seeing what perhaps you are wishing that I see. Perhaps a tripod and exposing for the window - and perhaps a different viewpoint ? jano