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BEN JOSEPHS

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December Photo Challenge: Set the Scene

Thu Dec 2, 2010 12:14 PM EST
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By Ben Josephs

Rocky goes on assignment, one of those real African safaris. How fun!

Rocky stopped to talk to his photographer before seeing why the giraffe left.

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All photo essay submissions for this challenge should set the scene. Take an object, any object, and place in a simulated scene, the effects need not be elaborate (the images to the right were made with construction paper).

Articles should also include the tag, set-the-scene.

This article is an activity of Newsvine Photographers. Participating photographers develop photo essays on a monthly theme, using existing images, or by shooting new ones.

Per group guidelines, all photographs are original.

Last month's theme was Another Perspective. Those articles can be viewed here and here.

© Benjamin Pecka 2010. All rights reserved. Do not use without permission.

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Ben Josephs

This sort of this probably isn't easy for everyone, so you need help developing your concepts, discuss them below, or contact an administrator at photographers.newsvine.com@gmail.com.

Oh, and I think I did it. I bested rottlady's best sunset.

  • 8 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 12:15 PM EST
MalamuteMan

Well I am not going to weigh one against another Ben, but this is an absolute MASTERPIECE!!!

The lion is just spectacular!!!!!

  • 5 votes
Reply#2 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 12:30 PM EST
Ben Josephs

Inspiration credit for the lion goes to rottlady (I post these to Flickr beforehand usually), she told Rocky to watch out for predators, then I thought about a lion crouching in the grass stalking him. Originally, I thought I'd Photoshop/tape and black circle to indicate that he was screaming, but he already looks pretty startled.

This is no masterpiece. I cheated. I spent well over an hour making a lion from little bits of construction paper. There was no brown paper, so I had to clip little pieces of paper to alternate orange and yellow and glue them on the back of the head. It looked good as I was making it, but in the end, it didn't look enough like a lion in the photo - so it was either scrap the idea or find some [free] clip art. I didn't want to disappoint rottlady...

  • 3 votes
#2.1 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 3:11 PM EST
MalamuteMan

However you put it together it is a masterpiece! The imagery is terrific and the Challenge is gonna be a lot of fun.

  • 2 votes
#2.2 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 3:26 PM EST
rottlady

Brilliant! I'm not disappointed!

  • 3 votes
#2.3 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 3:57 PM EST
Reply
Holly-348328

Very cute, Ben, and thank you for showing us an example of the challenge. This makes it easier!

  • 3 votes
Reply#3 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 12:49 PM EST
Ben Josephs

I will always give photographic examples, and for the most part, I will try to shoot them all myself (and include Rocky when appropriate).

  • 2 votes
#3.1 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 3:20 PM EST
Holly-348328

Rocky rocks!

  • 2 votes
#3.2 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 3:38 PM EST
Soovivers

lols Holly - Rocky DOES rock! Except when he's being drug up stairs by a malamute.

So why did the giraffe leave Ben? Did Rocky find out and tell ya?

  • 3 votes
#3.3 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 4:51 PM EST
rottlady

I think the giraffe may have got ate! *frowns*

  • 4 votes
#3.4 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 6:20 PM EST
Ben Josephs

I should be able to come up with some additional scenes later this month.

Whether or not the giraffe got ate can be reasonably discerned from the position of the sun. :-)

  • 6 votes
#3.5 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 6:28 PM EST
Soovivers

Oh Oh Rottie - I tink he did get eated.

  • 3 votes
#3.6 - Fri Dec 3, 2010 9:17 AM EST
rottlady

*grins*

I fear you are right Soovie, poor giraffe

  • 3 votes
#3.7 - Fri Dec 3, 2010 5:58 PM EST
Soovivers

reasonably

Well Ben that leaves me out....lols

  • 1 vote
#3.8 - Sat Dec 4, 2010 11:28 AM EST
Reply
Vlad's dog

Cool idea, now I must get my creative hands working.

  • 3 votes
Reply#4 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 5:07 PM EST
etva

Great Challenge.

  • 3 votes
Reply#5 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 6:48 PM EST
Proud American-252641

Ben You Rock!!! This challenge is awesome. Will be too much fun.

  • 2 votes
Reply#6 - Thu Dec 2, 2010 10:42 PM EST
Dowser

I think it is cute, too! I love it!

:-)

  • 1 vote
Reply#7 - Fri Dec 3, 2010 1:53 AM EST
Dowser

Ben, is this a two photograph challenge, or a one photograph challenge?

  • 1 vote
#7.1 - Sat Dec 4, 2010 11:44 AM EST
Ben Josephs

It's whatever you'd like it to be.

  • 1 vote
#7.2 - Sat Dec 4, 2010 12:39 PM EST
Dowser

Whew! Good! I was trying to figure out how to change the picture to tell a story... I know it could be done, but it would be harder. HooHaaa, I'm off to shop for some props!

  • 2 votes
#7.3 - Sat Dec 4, 2010 1:25 PM EST
Ben Josephs

I started out with one scene, then thought of another, now I'm thinking about using the same story line in an entirely different scene. ...

  • 2 votes
#7.4 - Sat Dec 4, 2010 1:32 PM EST
Dowser

Well, I'm going to try... :-)

  • 2 votes
#7.5 - Sat Dec 4, 2010 2:30 PM EST
Reply
badchess

OK, I didn't actually do these in December as I just noticed the challenge this morning. I did them about 3 months ago for a class, but you might get a kick out of them.

I took a model spaceship, 80 pounds of grout, cinnamon and other spices, dry ice, barnacles, a bunch of rocks, various objects, and strange plants and created an alien world.

It filled up my garage for several months, but it smelled good.

http://philip.photomerchant.net./galleries/science-fiction/ui/13426533734c574fdcb7500

Reply#8 - Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:14 AM EST
Ben Josephs

Wow, nice setup. Did you do that for fun?

#8.1 - Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:26 PM EST
badchess

A combination of fun and a school project. We had to have a thematic set of photos at the end of the class, so I decided this would be an interesing project.

I think I first saw the plants, and thought "gosh, those look like something you'd see on an alien planet" and the concept just snowballed from there.

Some of them have a flash firing through a posterboard with lots and lots of holes poked into it for a starscape.

#8.2 - Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:31 PM EST
Ben Josephs

It's very good, thanks for sharing.

#8.3 - Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:47 PM EST
Reply
Vlad's dog

badchess, they were very cool. I really liked the black and white stuff, very 1950ish.

Reply#9 - Mon Dec 20, 2010 6:22 PM EST
badchess

Thanks. Some were digital and some were Black and White film.

I hate to say it, but I actually liked the look of the black and white film better.

#9.1 - Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:14 PM EST
Vlad's dog

I always loved playing in the dark room with black and white film. There is nothing else like the process of paper and chemicals, red lights and dark corners. It was like playing with a mystery that reveals itself to you. I always felt like an alchemist.

#9.2 - Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:01 AM EST
Reply
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