photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
ctfchallenge | all galleries >> The Best of CTF Challenges >> Best of 2003 > Diamonds* 1st Place
previous | next
11 November 2003 Don Ellis

Diamonds* 1st Place

Canon PowerShot G2
B+W +5 and Hoya +10 Close-up Filters full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share
Neil 19-Nov-2003 11:28
Great job, your flashlight name fits in so well.
Don Ellis15-Nov-2003 14:30
Hi Folks... so many nice comments that I hope you'll accept a group thank-you... and explanation. This was shot with +15 diopters of magnification with its usual tissue-paper-thin depth-of-field. Choosing DOF was simple -- I shot one at 2.5 (this one) and one at 8.0. I liked the focus on a single diamond, floating away into two on either side, so I kept the first one. The 8.0 got too much into "almost focus" and gave the eye too much to look at. I set the ring on the black rubber ignition button on the end of my Sure-Fire flashlight (highly recommended product) and the DOF helped keep the words slightly out of focus, an effect I increased a bit with Gaussian blur because I wanted the words to be something you saw later, rather than sooner. And then I duplicated the layer and set mode to Multiply to darken the flashlight. That's about all it took. "Diamond" font is Monotype Cursive and the rest is ITC Kabel, the same font I use on my website. Again, thanks for all the great comments -- they're appreciated. Don
Guest 14-Nov-2003 20:48
Fantastic picture. I love the text that is "reflected" off the ring. How did u do that?
Clarity & dof is excellent as others have pointed out.
Jadzia
Paul Sumi 13-Nov-2003 05:04
Don, the image itself is excellent and the shallow DOF works well as others have already noted. Looks like one of those typical "diamonds are forever" ads until you read the copy - LOVE the subtle humor!
Jim B (MSP)13-Nov-2003 03:55
Don, I great choice of DOF. I'd be curious to know how much you varied it before you chose this one. And the slogan is a fitting one for a "man's magazine".
Jim
Guest 12-Nov-2003 17:14
Great lighting for a macro shot, it really looks professionally done. I like the choice of font.
iso320011-Nov-2003 16:52
Amusing copywriting and good image make for a great combination. Love the DOF and angle of the shot.
ctfchallenge11-Nov-2003 16:46
Wonderful photo! And yes, I believe it has the power to move you off the couch. :)

Steve Yau
Don Ellis11-Nov-2003 12:48
Thank you, Gayle, and thanks for the preference... I was partial to the first one myself, but it just didn't have any rhythm to it (not that the second one did, either, but it sounded more universal). I thought about it some more and came up with a variation on the original that you liked, and which has a little more euphony for me. Thanks again for your comments... always heard and sometimes heeded. Don
Gayle Knowles11-Nov-2003 08:50
Don this is a beautiful photo, it's got the lot.....clarity, class and composition. But between you and me....I liked the original wording better ;-)
Gayle