[l.cole]

I want to honestly explain how this image came about…and, I’m not looking for sympathy votes.

Just after learning that my photo had been chosen as a finalist of the first round, my best friend and constant companion Ginger (my 10 year old boxer) started having frequent and very severe seizures.

I was initially so excited about this contest, and a little bit of my drive was crushed with her rapidly deteriorating condition. She required a lot of care and I was unable to even think about a photo, much less get out and shoot one. I wanted a really elaborate landscape to go with a beautiful figure in the foreground. With about a week left until the contest deadline, I had to come up with something.

I decided to take a quick shot of myself in my living room, a few extra shots of things like clouds, and create a landscape in photoshop. I know a lot of people really dislike heavily post processed photos…so this image probably isn’t for you. But, I was able to do it all with Ginger at my side.

I worked on it for two days. I was under a lot of stress, but I wanted the subject to look strong. I wanted it to have a heroic feel and a landscape that could have been in Lord of the Rings. I came up with this “hot place”.

I finished the picture on Sunday evening…and unfortunately (but sadly, also fortunately) Ginger had her last seizure that night. My girl is at peace now.

Edit:
I wanted to add a little more of an explanation about how the image was made for anyone that is curious. The subject and other foreground elements and the clouds are all photos that I took. For the picture of myself, I fired a gelled flash positioned where the volcano was to be placed. I took the shade off of a lamp in my living room and held the light bulb as a light source in my hand. The rest of the image in the background (volcano, mountains, and dragons) was all hand drawn in photoshop. I'll be happy to answer questions about my editing process. Thank you for looking at my image!

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

File Date

 

---

Last edited by l.cole; 07-02-2014 at 09:19 AM. Reason: Further details

[Usuqa]

I'm sorry to hear about Ginger, I know how much a pet can mean to someone.

I love the idea and the concept you have, the lighting on you reflects the scene pretty well.

I have some critique though but I won't post it here, feel free to PM me if you wish to know

[Class A]

One of the coolest -- or shall I say hottest ? -- selfies I've seen in a long while.

For my own entry I didn't use any PP. I just waited till the ghost had moved into the right spot within the frame.

Seriously, I like a lot about your image. There are things one could nitpick on, but a lot of it is very well done.

[Paul Pheiffer]

I do not particularly like PP / HDR photos, but this is hot: the image matching up with the theme, the actual scene and the model! :-)
Well done.

[nipscm]

Well done, again!