Charissa Lansing  


Dragon Battle by Charissa Lansing

September 2020 - Dragon Battle

About the Image(s)

In August, I graduated from Jon Fishback’s fun and challenging PSA course on still life light painting and this attempt at a story-telling shot was one I resubmitted at the end of the course. It was inspired by my young grandson’s interest in dragons and these pewter paper weights had been a favorite of my son when he was younger. I tried to bring them to life for them.

The image was captured with a single exposure made with a Canon Rebel XSi camera mounted on a tripod, and fitted with a 100 mm macro lens and cable release. Camera settings were: ISO =100, f/32, 25 sec. exposure. An LED zoomable, focusing flashlight (BYBLIGHT 800 lumens) was the only light source in a completely dark room, devoid of any ambient light.

I was happy with the results of the lighting although there are still some light trails reflected in the marble that I wasn’t successful in eliminating in post processing without affecting the brightness and translucency of the marble. Do they detract from the image for you? I’d welcome any suggestions to improve my work.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
6 comments posted




 
Hi, Charissa,
Unusual interesting subject to capture. To me the brightness and color of the marble balances out any brightness of the dragons. I do not notice any negative detractions at all. I feel the dragons need to have the center stage as you have shown causing me to look and see what the dragons are concerned with.
Simply a great image!
Janet   Posted: 09/07/2020 11:52:19
Charissa Lansing   Charissa Lansing
Thank you for your feedback. I'm so pleased to join this study section group and share our images.   Posted: 09/08/2020 10:49:04



Dick States   Dick States
(Group 65)
Great image with good balance and composition. I like the background which makes the dragons really stand out and gives the image much depth. I see no problems with the marble and the light trails reflected in the marble. I actually feel they add interest. Very sharp image. I also like the thin frame around the image which I feel puts a finishing touch to an image and completes the image. Kind of like an explanation point. Nothing needs to be changed. Happy to have you in our group.
  Posted: 09/12/2020 14:12:59
Charissa Lansing   Charissa Lansing
Thanks, Dick.

I've had a chance to view the posts in the group over the past several months and suspect I will learn much and enjoy the dialogues.

Thank you for the warm welcome!   Posted: 09/12/2020 17:56:11



 
A very unusual and captivating photo. What are they sitting on? I love the two-headed dragon, and the marble as the subject of the fight (right?). I, too, like the light on the marble, as it seems to heighten its preciousness. I only have one suggestion: I would move the double-headed dragon on the left a bit closer to the marble, so that the whole photo was a bit more balanced. It won't be identically balanced (which is good, I think), because the dragons have different shapes. Welcome to our group!   Posted: 09/18/2020 15:50:14
Charissa Lansing   Charissa Lansing
Thank you for the feedback and welcome!

The figures are standing on some pieces of discarded asphalt bonded to turf which I discovered on a neighborhood walk. I hoped they would suggest part of a stone wall when photographed.

Thanks, too, for the suggestion in regard to the composition.
  Posted: 09/19/2020 08:42:28