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Vipermike

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p.1 #1 · #255 - Home

Hi all! Not allot of eye candy this week, just a simple message. A reality to some and to many it's just a sweet dream. Thanks for looking.

2008 © Vipermike

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 05:29 AM

Bill Sutherland 2-time assignment winner

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p.1 #2 · #255 - Home

You sure nailed this one Mike with the warrior returning home safely from the battlefield. That smoky atmosphere adds to the drama of this top photojournalistic image. Must be on the podium this week.

Best. Bill

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 05:56 AM

wooferbird
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p.1 #3 · #255 - Home

Thank You

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 11:48 AM

M.Markovich 1-time assignment winner

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p.1 #4 · #255 - Home

Great image! Lots of impact. I keep staring at the figure. Is this some kind of action figure or a real person? - Marco

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 11:59 AM

Adam Woodyatt 1-time assignment winner

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p.1 #5 · #255 - Home

Did you try it with the Soldier full length?

Fantastic shot, very atmospheric.

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 12:40 PM

Steven Roberts 1-time assignment winner

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p.1 #6 · #255 - Home

Fantastic!!! Should be a posterboard. You nailed this one and without a doubt, make the finals if not the winner. This sets the bar high in my opinion.

Steve

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 01:02 PM

relms

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p.1 #7 · #255 - Home

MIke,

This is a strong image - one that evokes emotion and tells a powerful story. My only criticism pertains to the crop, which cuts off at the knees, but other than that it is perfect.

Robert

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 01:35 PM

Tainter
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p.1 #8 · #255 - Home

whow , i am truly feeling the emotion of this picture , Perfect

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 05:46 PM

Vipermike

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p.1 #9 · #255 - Home

Thank you all for the nice comments and CC. To answer the question.. Yes, it is an action figure and a flag I bought to shoot for this WA. I was not sure it would work at all. The idea felt strong and I knew the message I wanted to send but as we know the execution can be difficult. I'm glad you guys CC'ed on the crop. I had a full body shot but it felt weak with to much negative space. I felt this caused the flag to feel more like a message with a "Go America" attitude rather than the soldier returning home as the main focus. I opted for the lesser of two evils and cropped in tight. I have a framed/bordered version in my gallery here on Fred's, which may secure the crop appearance some. Perhaps a re-shoot is in order. Thanks guys. I appreciate the input.

I thought I'd attach the set up shot. I think they are fun to look at.

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 07:39 PM

ironabike

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p.1 #10 · #255 - Home

You are so good!!! Just fabulous! I love the message, just wish it were tens of thousands of them--returning with all of their body parts, even so their psyche's may be fragile forever. Wonderful, thanks for posting. Makes me not want to post anything else

Jane

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 07:47 PM

Vipermike

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p.1 #11 · #255 - Home

Thank you so very much Jane, I hear you and your welcome.

Jane, You know I will be waiting to see what you post.

I love your work and I admire your talent. It is the inspiration from everyone here, from the simplest to the most complex of idea and techniques that makes me enjoy shooting again after putting my camera away three years ago.

Let's get posting!

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 07, 2007 at 08:53 PM

Medowlark

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p.1 #12 · #255 - Home

Love this shot Mike. It does hit home,

al

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 08, 2007 at 12:07 AM

Kevin Sherman 1-time assignment winner

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p.1 #13 · #255 - Home

I really like the shot. Kind of ruins if for me knowing that it is not a real person (in some ways).

But the message is still intact. Great work!

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 08, 2007 at 04:41 AM

hhski
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p.1 #14 · #255 - Home

Another winner.

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 08, 2007 at 01:36 PM

mbaumser
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p.1 #15 · #255 - Home

I love the shot but I have to admit that I wasn't sure of the message. After reading other comments now I get it, brilliant shot. And I think the crop is perfect.

I do have a couple of quibbles. I don't like the dark line that is directly above the soldiers head. I realize that it is the transition from stars to stripes but it looks a bit darker than the surrounding and coming straight out of his head I find it a bit distracting.

Second, (and this may be just my cheap monitor) The area just to the left of his head between the two stars seems to show some posterization.

Marc

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 08, 2007 at 02:04 PM

Philly Rains 1-time assignment winner

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p.1 #16 · #255 - Home

Mike! You've done it again! I love this concept, and the image. Especially glad you shared your set up......I LOVE seeing what other members do to create their entries.

Great emotion, super idea......very well executed. It's a winner for sure!!

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 08, 2007 at 03:55 PM

Vipermike

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p.1 #17 · #255 - Home

Al, hh, Philly, Thank you for the nice comments. I appreciate it very much.

Kevin, Thank you very much. I had my reservations about letting on it was not a real person, not that it can't be "figured" out,

but so the viewer could just take it for what it is and come to their own conclusion. It was more for our fellow photogs here to share the makeup of the image. How I would have loved to shoot this real world.

Hi Marc, thanks for the CC. Good point, I think I relied on the title "Home" to speak the message more than the image itself. I know I need to work on that in my WA's, Thanks. I don't see the artifacting left of the head but I do agree about the line above the head. I am going to try to clean it up a bit. Thanks for pointing that out. Much appreciated!

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 08, 2007 at 08:15 PM

Evan Baines
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p.1 #18 · #255 - Home

Cool shot.... and a nice detailed figure. The Surefire on the foregrip is a nice touch.

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 08, 2007 at 11:05 PM

Chuck Bluemel
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p.1 #19 · #255 - Home

I want to cry when I see this image.

I agree that a full length crop may be more paowerful, but I am hard pressed to think of anyway I could improve this shot.

Great work and I echo the sentiment that it is a finalist.

Chuck

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 09, 2007 at 04:25 AM

Speedshotz
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p.1 #20 · #255 - Home

OOH RAH !!!

A real winner here...

Lee

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 09, 2007 at 07:25 AM

Patricia March
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p.1 #21 · #255 - Home

Dear Mike...This is a powerful image. It has special meaning to our family. My husband's son is leaving for the Middle East today in what will be his 3rd deployment in six years. We will be praying for his safe return just before Christmas.

All the Best
Patty

ps.....It was great to see your set-up and how you were able to accomplish this!!

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 09, 2007 at 04:37 PM

Vipermike

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p.1 #22 · #255 - Home

Even, Chuck, Lee, Thanks for posting. It means a lot and is greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Patty, I thank you so much. Your step son and family will be in my prayers.

God bless.

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 10, 2007 at 07:26 AM

Adam Woodyatt 1-time assignment winner

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p.1 #23 · #255 - Home

Thanks for posting the setup, its nice to see someone else using desk lamps!!

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 10, 2007 at 09:59 AM

James Markus 5-time assignment winner

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p.1 #24 · #255 - Home

Very Dramatic image Mike! I don't see the tie-in to the assignment - though I do understand what your image says to me. The dream was born of shed blood...which is hardly sweet, but the dream is sweet...know what I'm saying? It's not the first thing that comes to my mind. The image is great...assignment or no.

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 10, 2007 at 05:11 PM

Strad

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p.1 #25 · #255 - Home

Bravo on the powerful image, Mike!

Perfectly done! I suspect people will read into it whatever they want from whatever end of the political spectrum they emanate from. It has that kind of universal appeal. It's hard to know what Fred will deem fits to the topic but if it makes it to the finals I'm sure it will do well.

All best wishes,

Endre

Edited on Jul 18, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Jul 11, 2007 at 04:11 PM


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