October "Strength" discussion thread

[CC]

Discuss and comment on the "Strength" contest submissions here. Also any questions can be ask here.

[F.Gordon]

1. Hi CC!!!

Congratsamoondoe on the Win... and thanks for hostin' this thing. You picked a VERY challenging theme.
:yourock:

I put a poll up for my entry. I'll go with whatever gets the most votes. Things haven't settled down yet to where I can play here more often.

Tried to re-do the group smugabugalug site yesterday, but didn't finish it. Maybe in a couple of weeks. The NavBars include a link to the DU photo group page. Hope everyone likes the color. I wanted to get away from the default color and do something unique... check it out and piss and moan if you so choose...

http://photogroup.smugmug.com/

The "Member Store" link on the revised smugtug will allow people to do their own thing OR you can link a Cafe' page, home page, vanity page, business page, etc. I put the DC smackdown link up yesterday and seems like it is getting a ton of hits on it.

I'll be around till LATE tonight... then off into the Land of Shit. Oh... and I'll be giving intheflow the main password so you can bug her if you need a photo deleted and I'm not around. Sorry Blue'

Later....
:hi:

[CC]

2. Hi F. Gordon

Great to see you back. Great pic you put up too. I understand the time thing. School is back in and I am back to work and silly me wanted to save gas and ask them to put all my hours into 3 days. That means 3 thirteen hours days plus travel time. (I am beginning to think I was nuts.) I am still adjusting but it does save lots of gas.
I need to drag out cds and go through them someday and upload to the smugmug site. I haven't forgotten.
Off to dream land for me, morning comes to early. Will try checking in but may be drivebys until the end of the week.

[regnaD kciN]

3. Note to F.Gordon...THANKS A LOT! :-(

This was going to be my submission, but your climber "got there firstest with the mostest." ;-)

Determination


(And, yes, for those of you with long memories, that's the same staircase used by superconnected in her "Light & Shadows" entry several months back.)

Now I really don't have any photo appropriate to this month's contest (grumble, complain, moan, whine)... :nopity:

[RagingInMiami]

4. Enter it anyway

The contest will be broken up into three threads anyway. Imagine if you guys both end up going head to head.

Plus, your picture is not a mountain climber. It's more urban.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I agree...

The bicycle and stairs is COMPLETELY different. Go for it.

[Robb]

6. Ditto

It's a cool, cool shot.

Also, Blue_In_AK, yours is positively terrifying! :thumbsup:

[Blue_In_AK]

7. thanks. n/t

[BamaGirl]

14. I agree

this is a very cool shot.

[F.Gordon]

16. Please enter it

I have no problem changing to one of my other "award winning" :eyes: strength snapshots if you see a conflict here. Besides.... Ms F hates my entry. Exact quote...."doesn't say strength.... all I see is a big rock". :-(

[CC]

8. First

Put the photo in the contest regnaD. It's great and nothing like Gordon's.

Second I have been keeping up at work so lots of people have been looking at the contest photos. Including photographers that teach at the school. You all are getting some great commentary and compliments. Unfortunately I am brain dead by the time I get home and can't remember exacts.

Third, Blue has probably sent at least 3 photographer's to their travel agents to book Alaska vacations because they "didn't know glaciers had color and that photo is so cool."

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Awesome...

Maybe I should get in touch with the Alaska tourism people and offer my services. Could it be my photos are better advertisement than "Alaska B4UDIE"? :)

Another interesting factoid you can pass on to your friends about the glaciers is that the ice is so compact that if you try to chew it like you would regular ice, you're likely to break your teeth. It's the density that causes the blue color.

P.S. Tell them they should book the Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier to get these shots. It's a phenomenal day trip, and is only about 50 miles south of Anchorage so is easy to get to. I'm looking forward to doing it again when the weather is better, but even on a blustery rainy day like we had, the scenery was incredible.

[CC]

10. Are there many that try to

chew on it? I would love to visit sometime. Hell just pictures with no words would sell the state. Its a beautiful photo Blue. Here is the site of one of the adjuncts http://www.deandigital.com/ I want to make as much money as he does...he just bought his second Caribbean house. Not bad for just taking pictures. Though will say he tells everyone he could not do without his photoshop guys.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. Haha ... no, I haven't known too many people to chew on it...

That's just something the guy on the tour told us. That web site you sent is cool, and now I don't feel so bad about touching up my photos a bit with the PaintShop, although I do try to keep it to a minimum as much as I can. Your friend is lucky that he can support himself with photography. I wish I could do the same -- I can't think of anything better.

If you ever decide to come up here, let us know and you can stay here if you want. We have a nice (though small) guest room, and Anchorage is a good "home base" for the accessible part of the state. From here, you don't have to go very far to get into some really beautiful countryside.

[CC]

12. I will keep the offer

in mind. My problem besides money like the rest of the world, is finding a person willing to pet sit the zoo crew that I trust. I lost my old pet sitter to a major move.
Floyd is good, and a good salesman, which I am finding is the bigger part of making money in photography from listening to him.
On his pics, if you look at the one of the Hummer (though the ad was for the $40,000 wheels) Nick (the photo shop guy) showed it to us before it was done. At that point it had 238 layers and parts of at least 30 photos. They did the outdoor shoot over a 3 days period then the rest (Hummer, wheels etc) in the studio. So never feel bad about using a touch of photo shop. That is the only one I have had a chance to get one of them to show me how it was done. Background is an Amtrak bridge. The outdoor shots were on a street in downtown Wilmington DE. I do pay attention when I can to them and try to learn. Unfortunately I rarely have time to hang out and listen to them. A guy that works with me knew Floyd when he started and said he couldn't take a decent picture to save his life for a few years. Gives me hope for myself.

BTW even if I had that kind of money I would not buy a Hummer and no way spend $40,000 on wheels. I also think people who do are nuts.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Bvar22, I LOVE your photo....

I just had to tell you.

[bvar22]

18. Thanks

I am in New Orleans, and have an erratic connection to the InterNet.
I am taking lots of pictures, most of them are heartbreaking. This couple touched my heart.
I love the expressions on their faces, and their determination to "get to work" (He is holding a hammer).
It is a poor photo of a great picture. I've been stopping along the streets, asking people if I may take their pictures. I am met with much suspicion, and many refusals. Most want to know why a "foolish white boy" is driving through their neighborhoods taking pictures of their ruined houses and misery. This couple only agreed because they saw the "Democrat" (DU) sticker on the back of my Balzer (notice his T-Shirt) I have some other pics that I will post when I return to Minnesota.

I am connecting with WiFi at a coffee shop, and can only log on once a day for a few minutes.

I am currently very busy salvaging a house, but I hope to have more time for photo expeditions after the weekend.


Thanks for the compliment.

Later All,
Bob

[Blue_In_AK]

19. The Kerry-Edwards shirt was the first thing I noticed... :-) n/t

[intheflow]

21. I agree, it's a very powerful photo.

I just can't imagine going home and finding your stuff so torn apart. But I love the expression on their faces. Those two are serious survivors!

[superconnected]

32. Your photo touched me the most.

Very very good photo. That brought up emotions in me. Those two have true strength.

[BamaGirl]

15. As usual, a great

group of photos entered. Makes me reluctant to throw mine in there!

[smurfygirl]

17. I love your photo Bama

I would have never have thought.
I thought about trees.

And what is really cool is that it ties into Halloween.
I think you might have a winner.

[BamaGirl]

20. Thanks smurfy

The other entries all seem so big (mountains, monuments, protests). I'm kinda glad I went in the other direction.

edit to add...I didn't even think of a Halloween connection lol.

[intheflow]

22. Can't believe you were reluctant to post your entry.

What a great shot! I thought about posting a photo of a spider web because they are incredibly strong.

Scientists are finally closing in on the answers to a puzzle that has perplexed them for centuries: How does a spider spin a web of silk that is five times stronger, on a weight-to-strength basis, than steel?

If we could spin silk as strong as a spider's, we could create all sorts of biomedical devices of extraordinary strength, and make bulletproof vests that might stop a bomb, and create a whole new line of materials for everything from high-performance aircraft to household appliances.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97539&page=1

But I've never taken a web shot as nice as yours. Good work! :thumbsup:

[BamaGirl]

23. Thanks intheflow

I like the contrast of spider webs, that something so delicate looking is in fact very strong. I just wasn't sure if anyone would agree with me lol.

Webs are hard to shoot. I finally had to go out right after it rained and take it while the web was still wet.

I have some cool shots of a gator I thought about using too lol.

I love your idea too. Power to the People. Awesome. :D

[intheflow]

24. Can I change the title of my photo, CC?

I want the date put in parenthesis. :eyes: I know, I know--but it just doesn't "feel" right to me as is. Here's how I'd like it to read:

Power To The People (9/24/05)

Thanks, CC!

[CC]

25. That's no problem

On the theme being hard, I didn't realize it would be so hard, but then again I am not trying to find a pic to enter.

[F.Gordon]

26. If you are still taking entries......

Here is an "idea cheat link" for anyone who is struggling for a possible photo to enter.....

http://www.dpchallenge.com/challenge_results.php?CHALLENGE_ID=207&page=1

[intheflow]

27. NOW you post this!

I could've used this thread for inspiration. :P

BTW, here's my hands-down favorite from that contest: http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=69362 :rofl:

[CC]

28. Still taking entries until probably

7:30 pm est. Unless there are people that the site helps and they would like more time. Last count there were 16 entries. I could easily leave it open for a couple more days if it was ok with everyone.

I went looking for sites to help but didn't know if I should post any ideas after people had entered. So I might go dig some up to help after all.

Here is one site. http://www.apogeephoto.com/july2001/bimonthly_contest.shtml

[F.Gordon]

29. I think everyone did great on the creative level

It's a tough theme. I see nothing wrong... but consider the source :eyes: with posting "idea links". I regularly employ (unpaid I might add) Ms F' as my Creative Director. For strength she wanted me to go in a gym and snap people lifting weights..... but then I would have probably had the snot beat out of me... think of the shot I could have gotten if I managed to save the flash card!!
:woohoo:

[CC]

30. Just not worth getting the snot

beat out of you though. Then again, a lot of the die hard body builders are a bit vain and most likely would of posed for you. And well with football season there is a source. I went the other way, strength of emotion, whether happy, love, hurt, pain, anger. And nothing is stronger than a crying, inconsolable baby. Anyone near would turn the the world inside out to get peace and quiet and a content baby.

Edited to add... if I have neglected to say it yet...the photos there are great and very creative. It is fun to see where people go with any of the themes and they never disappoint.

[intheflow]

31. jhain! What an incredible shot!

:wow: That's like something out of National Geographic! Is that snake eating chicken eggs? How in the world did you get that shot?

[jhain]

33. I am brave

yes- it *IS* a snake eating an egg!
*MY* chicken eggs!

I have a little coop- about 30 hens- went to collect eggs one day a few weeks ago and reached into the first nest box- it was very sunny outside- quite shadowy in the coop- and grabbed that !@#$%^&*()(&*%@! snake instead of an egg!

After I stopped screaming, I ran for my camera and when I got back to the coop he was swallowing his *2nd* egg- what lucky timing!!

It gives me the heebie jeebies but it *is* an amazing shot, huh?

[intheflow]

34. Heebie jeebies is right!

:scared:

I was hoping the story was that it was your pet snake, and you were feeding him eggs. But the fact that it looked like a chicken coop more than a snake cage made me wonder. Can't believe you had presence of mind to get your camera. I'd still be screaming! LOL!

[BamaGirl]

35. Oh my, there is no way I'd be able to

remember my camera lol! I'd be too busy freaking out demanding my husband get rid of it lol.

Great shot!

[regnaD kciN]

36. O.K., it's been almost three days...

...since the last photo submission. What do you say we, in the immortal words of Alan Shepard, "light this candle"...?

Fair warning -- if the voting doesn't start soon, I may decide to...to...change my entry! :scared: