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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 59: Song Titles (host: Angela Johnson) >> Challenge 59: Eligible > Down At The End of Lonely Street...Heartbreak Hotel * Traveller
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1-13-06 Traveller

Down At The End of Lonely Street...Heartbreak Hotel * Traveller

Okay, Okay, they say we learn more from our failures than from our successes...if so, then I sould be a damned smart man....lol. In any case, this was shot in a mirrored store front, reflecting from across the street, but part of the blue liquor store sign had burned out, but worse was that I went to even a different location to shoot the CheeseCake Factory sign...then cut and pieced individual letters together like some mad kidnapper making a bad ransome note. I did this because I didn't want to use the type tool...I had to have neon, but the CheeseCake Factory sign was tooooo intense for this subdued setting...well, eight attempts to tone it down and here we are...simple is easy, complex is tough, (sigh), but I do like the consume sign up top as well as the parking and blue Liquor signs...that's was attracted me to this shot in the first place.

Canon EOS 350D ,Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS
1/15 sec, 85mm, iso 400 hide exif
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other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 24-Jan-2006 05:55
Thank you, Traveller, I'm deeply honored by your comment. I've been following your journey with this image and have been intrigued and impressed with your thoughts on each step you've taken. There's so much in each version you've produced. My personal favorite was an early version with the right side pretty much so as it is now and just the heartbreak hotel sign on the left. The cuurent version (as I write this) runs a close second. I think it's been a good journey for you and I've enjoyed watching from the sidelines. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge24-Jan-2006 04:07
This had to be a little quick and dirty...I'm under the gun for some other work...and admittedly, this is not Michael Puff kind ofprofessionalism...but it is, Good Enough...lol Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Jan-2006 18:31
I Keep working on this damned thing. A little variation here, a little there....but as practice in PS this is proving to be excellent....because I have an image I care about but still can never get right....hence all the changes and opportunity to use different tools.

But I think that the conception is just wrong....the waterfalls and the bunny may have been a better way to go....lol Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Jan-2006 04:41
This seems almost so misogynistic now that I hesitate to post it....and I certainly don't mean it that way. But I saw this in my mind's eye and just had to play with the possibilities. I might try some blurring later, but that's it for tonight. I'm such a Devil...lol, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Jan-2006 23:56
Thanks, Michael, but I have to disagree. Your Zoo outing was a fabulous success, the orangutan image is good beyond belief...and you can't tell it was shot in a Zoo either. He IS beautiful. Best Wishes, Traveller
Michael Kilpatrick14-Jan-2006 23:45
What an adventure. Makes my llittle visit to the zoo yesterday seem very tame - all that happened was a couple of people politely asked me about my 100-400 lens..
I'd imagine the exposure on this would have been easy to get wrong, but the signs are all well captured without being blown out, I like the juxtoposition of heartbreak and consume and no-one is ever going to think it is off topic.
Nicely done.
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Jan-2006 22:15
Grant, I am sure that you are right in your assessment, but I am also fairly sure that she would not have had change for a Hundred....(grin) Real Best Wishes, Traveller
Guest 14-Jan-2006 21:48
I'll bet she would have done something for $5.
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Jan-2006 21:26
Good entry - I'm smiling! ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Jan-2006 13:16
Adjusting to the new home is not a problem. I am finding very hard to find the creativity that I felt I had some months ago. However, just this evening ideas began to trickle. I'm taking the kids to the beach tomorrow for inspiration and because its forcast to rain.

The fluffy bunny sounds good.

Andy
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Jan-2006 12:22
Well, Andy, thanks for the kind words. Yes, I am out a bit at night, it is really my only time to shoot because the day is busy with work and whatnots. There are two very interesting stories that go with this shot, or at least interesting to me.

First, the window in question is on a side street just off of Sunset, in Hollywood. So there I am crouching down, zooming in and out, positioning myself in the middle of the road, trying to get all the elements in the frame when a tricked out BMW speeds around the corner and breaks in front of me...I laugh a little startled, move out of the way and wave the car on. But the car is full of punk kids that want to have some fun with me and so they pull up and ask, semi-politely, "Are you the Parking Guy on this street?" And they laugh, as do I because they are right, I do have on a red windbreaker which is standard attire for Parking Valets...lol...Well!

Then a hooker wanders up to me when they drive off, but not your standard prostitute that's for sure, she's gotta be well beyond 50 years old, which isn't really the problem, the trouble is that after a life time of abuse and drugs she really, really looks terrible and she won't leave me alone. For some peace I give her a dollar and she is really outraged, "What do you I'll do for a lousy dollar?"

"Well, nothing," I reply, "I just have to take these pictures, they are for a contest, a Challenge, like a class assignment," I try smiling her off.

"You have lots of money in that wallet," she insists, "I think I saw some hundred dollar bills, gimme some money."

I laugh and beat a hasty retreat to my car...sigh. The joys of late night photography...lol

But I don't think I'm done with this image yet...I'm thinking of adding some elements in the lower left side where I have some room...maybe a tall waterfalls with fluffy bunny off to the far left...who knows as long as it's fun.

It is nice to have you back. I trust that you and yours are adjusting to your new home?

Best Wishes,

Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Jan-2006 11:36
Traveller, its been a while since I've had the pleasure on commenting on one of your images. Your images are always commentries on some aspect of life. I think you convey a great deal in this image with the signage that is present. You often seen to go for difficult lighting situations as well. I guess you're out and about at night a lot.

Cheers
Andy