Blind to the Fire Before Me (photomanipulation)

An exercise I set up for myself to explore the ability to montage

images. please critique honestly.

Composition and COLORS!!!!! Love it!

Hi Chris,

Ilove the concept, poetic and leaves lots of space for interpretation.

What lens setting did you use and what exactly your manipulation involved?

Andrzej

Nice image, great colors and lighting!

 

d.

I like the theme and the depth....but am a lil concerned about the lighting....

the light source is a bit confusing as the lady is casting a sharp shadow from a bright light which i hope is meant to b the sun which seems to be towards her back right. But the overall sky gives a different feeling of a thunderstorm noon....

Thank you all for the positive feedback and encouragement. Had no idea this photo would be such a hit.

 

I shot it at 1/800 seconds at F20 at a focal length of 35mm (with a 17-40mm lens on a canon 20d, so 56mm effective focal length.

 

I put the manip in because the old sky was bland and didn't offer enough of the "Destination Drama" I wanted. I got the dunes and the model, but the atmosphere wasn't helping in any way.

 

About the dual light source... as soon as I was done with it and started looking at it as a whole image, I realized the fault in the lighting. An interesting note is that friends of mine who aren't photographers can't put their finger on why the image seems so unwordly. It is just as you pointed out RAvi... there are 2 suns lighting the image.

 

Can't decide if I like that or not.

 

thanks again.

simple and perfect...

dramatic! i appreciate ur imagination & creative abilities. just wonderful!

It is really wonderful, I must appreciate your sense and visibility, you have a great vision and a mature idea that you have projected so well in a powerful manner.

Excellent imaginative PS work!

Fantastic pic, and the fact that there is 2 sources of light makes it so much more striking. Those of us that can identify it, can tell why it is striking, but the average person can only identify it as "striking".

Deserves a 7/7 IMHO

Great shot. Original photo and perfectly shoted.

good job

it's really nice.

Great picture !!great COLORS --my opinion : the best in your portfolio..this is your style .

nice creation

Excelente luz, bello encuadre, perfecta composicion, y un fondo magnifico, un cordial saludo Christopher.

Excellent Picture!

nice imagination, I love the wind. cheers Jana

 

An excellent story image. Where did the title come from? Regards Ken.

Thanks for the comment Ken. The title is the result of the process of making the image, and it's my best effort to describe what the image was showing me. I feel that life is inherrently very difficult... very competitive, and that sufering is intirinsic. But there seems to be something in each of us that pushes through adversity that strives to live with or without purpose. So, for me, blind to the fire is blind to the pain with eyes open to the glory. Hope that explains it.

 

Chris

The color is beautiful. I like the surreal but yet believable feel of this photo. vallery b