like my old maritial arts instructor once said: "You don't have to be faster than a speeding bullit....just faster than the guy pulling the trigger...".
manual focus, f16, (5 or six shots), got one good one, two useable.

lighting arrangement:
two vivitar 283's / auto mode (one yellow, one pink), both with diffuser attachments (vivitar wide angle adpters)/one large sheet of white paper.
ist ds2 set to manual.
paper (reflector, good eye Lilly) layed out on my dining room table, in front of large northfacing window . flashunits at 45 deg angles to the subject.
shooting at eye level with the outside window as a backdrop & backlight.
lights were (eye level to subject) as close to subkect as possible using mini stands.
chicken for co-opeation (Cats will sell YOUR soul for chicken...)
obviously a little touch up in pse

We are so proud to welcome him to our family. His name is Mad Max! He seems to fit right in.

Howardj
adobe photoshop cs2 for photographers
martin evening
focal press

some REALLY good stuf there!
I don't see any harm if somebody does a "redo" or tweek on an entry...judging is on sunday, what's ther then is what gets judged......but I don't make the rules, just pointing out my thoughts, as i don't want to see too many rules on a fun project!
pity the judge...
a lot of talent, and creativity, and some loose interpetations on the theme, but all good.

An offer you CAN'T refuse...


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So does everybody else...How does our insustry survive?
The answer that works for you may be the answer that sells a customer on you....

Amoringello:
I see you got me beat in the looks department....that's why I hid my face behind a wisp of smoke!!!

congrats Galoot....the newspaper says it all!
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tyr, definatelty a winner, I really liked that one.
all great stuff.........

Daniel, three light set up, (elenchrom, one umbrella, one softbox, one gelled) the distracted look came from the fact that i was firing the remote with my foot.....no wait....fourth light was a vivitar snooted to light the liquid....

I had shot that one some time ago.
definately some fun getting the dark hair, and blacks to seperate from the black backdrop.....the smoke and liquid needed backlighting....
all done with careful metering and one blue gel.

you won't find a more colorful or helpful forum anywhere else on the net.
Toughen up, (it'll only serve you well in the photography business) and have fun. We do get our fair share of trolls, and the occasional flame throwing match, but it never seems to get too far outta hand....
most importantly, people here will share..ideas, techniques, and advice that you'd have to pay for elsewhere...
best advice is to use he search function, to see if your question has already been asked and answered, for somebody else...then fire away!