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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> The Best of CTF Challenges >> Best of 2007 > 5th: Opening The Box by jstrong
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28-DEC-2006 jstrong

5th: Opening The Box by jstrong

Canon PowerShot Pro 1
1/60s f/2.8 at 10.6mm hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time28-Dec-2006 22:11:47
MakeCanon
ModelCanon PowerShot Pro1
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length10.6 mm
Exposure Time1/60 sec
Aperturef/2.8
ISO Equivalent
Exposure Bias-0.33
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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ctfchallenge02-Jan-2007 03:57
Jano, You are getting really good at these inside jobs! I need to work on it myself. Happy New Year and thanks for all the help you provide! Yvonne
ctfchallenge01-Jan-2007 23:04
Thanks CJ - i have totally redone the image from scratch and it's as natural a double fingercoated nail as you're going to get :) jano
ctfchallenge01-Jan-2007 22:55
Great take of the topic Jano! Love the subject, composition and lighting, although the nail doesn't look quite natural to me. Terrific shot though! CJ
aam1234 30-Dec-2006 21:19
I have something to "*" and it's technical. In my monitor the photo looks a bit pixilated (sp). Has it been severely resized or cropped.
Rod 30-Dec-2006 06:10
My eyes are pleased:-)
ctfchallenge30-Dec-2006 01:36
This should be more pleasing to the eye :) ? jano
Rod 29-Dec-2006 23:09
Yes that's warmer now & looks really good. I noticed the nail too but it didn't bother me as it seemed to add a slight surreal feel to the shot. It could just be one of the cases where our camera sensors just can't handle some shades of red & makes them look unreal. It could also be that I just don't like perfect looking shots, they seem to lack tension:-)
janewigginsphotography29-Dec-2006 17:24
Thanks Abs - No cloning was done with a "soft" brush as I purposely textured all cloning. There was a bright small highlight caught on the nail which was cloned, but in looking at the orig (and I'll look again when I get home) the texture was minimal in the nail itself probably due to the relection of light off the nailpolish. I can certainly put the highlight back in...but it seemed to really distract. I'll check tonite to see if any texture was lost at all, but I don't really think so. j
ctfchallenge29-Dec-2006 16:32
i dig everything about this photograph...concept, lighting, pinky in the corner, colors.
the only thing that bothers me (actually, a lot) is the nail polish. it doesnt have the natural shine. details on your thumb and sharp lines on the box clearly suggest, it must be in focus. so why that fuzzy look? looks like you did something (may be cloning with soft brush) to remove reflection of light (the one that you used at top). i am very impressed with the simplicity of the image and concept. good work! -Abstract
ctfchallenge29-Dec-2006 13:09
Here you go Rod with a little updated version before commute..... is this what you had in mind? jano
ctfchallenge29-Dec-2006 13:00
I know what you mean - I'll redo it tonite or this w/e... Thanks Rod. jano
Rod 29-Dec-2006 12:13
I like it better Jano but I'm not so sure about what looks to be a highlight on the little finger now. I envisaged it still being reddish but darker than it was. I know I know, picky picky picky but I'm a voter:-)
janewigginsphotography29-Dec-2006 11:59
Thanks all for the comments and critique. Per Rod's suggestion, I toned down the little finger on the right and the brighter part of the hand toward the top. The original can be found here: http://upload.pbase.com/image/72290728/original. Better? jano
ctfchallenge29-Dec-2006 10:47
I agree with Rod. But it is a great photo. PeteH
aam1234 29-Dec-2006 09:44
This great. Good work J.
Rod 29-Dec-2006 06:55
Gawd Jano this looks terrific, wot really strikes me are the areas of dark & how the lone part of red thumbnail is the focal point. There's just two minor points that would make this stronger than it already is for me, the first is your little finger with the red glow is competing a tad with your thumbnail, I would burn it in a bit so it can still be seen but not as red. The second which I'm not sure will work better or not is the brightish white light on your hand it could I think be a bit warmer looking. But geez as is, it looks great mate:-)