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hivewasp — Fencing Duel V2.0

Published: 2004-05-06 20:28:41 +0000 UTC; Views: 2737; Favourites: 34; Downloads: 301
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Description Well, the previous version was almost straight from the camera except for a resize and autolevels.

I wasnt too happy with the result; background was too dark, the mask of the back fencer lost in the background; some highlights too harsh (eh; if I could have shot at a different time I would have; but noon sun is killer in such a setting with silvery-white clothes and such a dark background).

So I reworked a bit this image in Photoshop; mostly curve work (S-shape RGB adjustment); Contrast tuning (through inversion mask to avoid blowing out the highlights and bring the background without boosting noise too much; the picture is still 400 ISO after all). Some tone adjustments for skin / background / parasite light.

This final is closer to what I wanted... but digital still lacks too much dynamic range

PS: the original is now in my scrapbook for those who care looking for differences...
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Comments: 32

Spazzboy911 [2009-09-07 08:23:11 +0000 UTC]

having your foot like that is a really bad idea

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colorful-yak [2009-06-10 05:01:34 +0000 UTC]

i really like this shot! the movement, angles and negative space is great!
just wondering, would you allow me to use this photo as a reference?

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ebony66136 [2008-02-21 13:43:07 +0000 UTC]

Great shot. Fencing is a brilliant sport.

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Cuillioc [2007-07-17 05:24:32 +0000 UTC]

Always a treat to observe modern fencing in contrast to what I usually see practiced. The low amount of armor used never ceases to freak me out. (Bare hands?! I never!)

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Erda [2007-03-03 16:03:30 +0000 UTC]

wow, outdoor fencing o_O I've never seen like that. Interesting.

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chunzi [2006-08-28 13:25:37 +0000 UTC]

Looks like she scored! touche.
cool photo

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donneaux [2005-08-08 04:04:29 +0000 UTC]

Agreed, about the dynamic range of digitals. Argh to that.
Fencing looks like such an exciting sport to shoot. Lots of graceful motions and such.
The only sports shooting I'm offered is boring. Although this season I will be shooting diving. Meh.

Anyway very nice shot.
Even better post-work, I really like it.

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Libahunt [2005-04-01 18:12:50 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, I like this. I can feel the momevent, the action in this picture, the strike. The contrast brings the battling couple very nicely to attention. Yea, I know I don't know anything about photography but this piece is stunning.

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nielsquadrat [2004-09-07 17:27:33 +0000 UTC]

Very nice capture!

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bosie [2004-09-02 13:28:12 +0000 UTC]

wow shooting that with a f2.8 lens would be great, you couldnt figure the background at all.... hmm cool

however, the photo has quite some dead area, you could crop alot tighter, maybe even crop alot

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ditraveler [2004-08-31 01:29:39 +0000 UTC]

wow, what a great shot, you caught a perfect elegant shot, so exciting

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ukitakumuki [2004-08-01 08:00:42 +0000 UTC]

I LOVE THIS! FEROCITY.

the attacked almost looks like she is screaming "f-fuckkkkkkkkkkkkk~" or similiar emotional verbage.

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stornn [2004-06-29 13:45:34 +0000 UTC]

Great shot - very sharp considering it's wide open at over 200mm. What do you think of the lens, by the way?

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sergiemag [2004-06-17 06:53:31 +0000 UTC]

sweet action shot, yo! i noticed the dude is waving the peace sign all up in the hizzle... REPR3ZENT!!!111

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dazeddreamss [2004-06-12 15:30:33 +0000 UTC]

hah this is a cool picture.. good contrast

so you use a digital slr.. which one is it? and do you like it? i really want one but their so expensive.. meh better start saving. id like to know the good and bad about the digital slrs though.. if you could spare a moment of your time

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ovid [2004-06-09 14:28:02 +0000 UTC]

ooohhhh. I had to come by and drool at this picture again. I love fencing. I love fencers. And I love this picture the more I see it.

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hivewasp In reply to ovid [2004-06-09 14:33:23 +0000 UTC]

Fetish with masks, white costumes and needles?

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ovid In reply to hivewasp [2004-06-09 14:40:34 +0000 UTC]

no, fencing is just awesome. The school that i go to has one of the best fencing teams in the United States, and looking at all of the old black and white photos of Fencing Maestros, is absolutely awesome. I want to take fencing pictures so badly it hurts.

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hivewasp In reply to ovid [2004-06-09 14:44:30 +0000 UTC]

Did you ask them if you could shoot pictures of them and propose them prints so they can show what they do?

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ovid In reply to hivewasp [2004-06-09 15:29:06 +0000 UTC]

Actually I already did, I just have to wait for fencing season to start again next winter.

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hivewasp In reply to ovid [2004-06-09 15:34:42 +0000 UTC]

Well... if you put them on DA I'll be interested to see'em

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ovid In reply to hivewasp [2004-06-10 01:13:30 +0000 UTC]

You gotta wait about 6 months. :-p

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Blue-Froggy [2004-06-06 23:37:39 +0000 UTC]

Hi, i knew about your gallery from my friend I saw your photographs and i loved this one. I used to practice fencing in high school and this made me remember. A really great pose.

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kekik [2004-05-28 08:59:16 +0000 UTC]



i personnally do not like architectural shots so this is the best i liked in your gallery..

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hivewasp In reply to kekik [2004-05-28 09:57:23 +0000 UTC]

Err... thanks. I'm normally an architecture photographer; but I do other kinds of photography in my past time. I just don't have the contacts for sports etc... and Nature photography is rather hard to do when you live in the capitol city with no car

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ceilingtile [2004-05-25 21:59:29 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful camera angle - makes you feel like you are right there inside the fencing match. I also like how you blurred the audience in the background to draw greater focus toward the subjects.

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Syrinxe [2004-05-21 09:02:14 +0000 UTC]

I really like the quality of this, colors and light are really top notch, an excellent capture

Great work with photoshop as well

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coxi [2004-05-13 15:03:26 +0000 UTC]

lol.. you don't know what noise means
this shot is much sharper than most (i never say all ) of my shots.

good timing and focus.. there you can see that it was good equipement and skilled photographer

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hivewasp In reply to coxi [2004-05-13 15:10:35 +0000 UTC]

Mmmmh that's the noisy version of the picture, the one with less noise is at [link] but it's more processed than this one and I prefer keeping a bit more sharpness even though it means more noise

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shockff [2004-05-13 01:18:07 +0000 UTC]

thats cool... we just finished fencing in my gym class...fun fun

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cravingfordesign [2004-05-06 20:57:32 +0000 UTC]

Wow, great action photo, I have always wanted to see a fencing match in person, its an unique sport

What lense/apature did you use?
This photo has great DOF

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hivewasp In reply to cravingfordesign [2004-05-06 21:07:10 +0000 UTC]

Camera Model: Canon EOS 10D
Firmware: Firmware Version 2.0.1
Date/Time: 2004:05:01 13:21:26
Shutter speed: 1/1250 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: -2/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Center-weighted average
Drive mode: Single frame shooting
ISO: 400
Lens: 70.0 to 300.0 mm
Focal length: 214.0mm
AF mode: AI Focus AF
Rotation: 90 degrees CCW
Image quality: Fine
White balance: Auto
Color space: sRGB
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Tone: Normal

The lens is a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super v2; shot in JPG because that's what I prefer for sports, so white balance and dynamic range were quite an issue with this shot... nothing that can't be solved with a bit of photoshop though.

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