We got some Steaks via UPS today and it came in dry ice. Well my mind started and I tried a few shots (over 100 actually) and I am not sure what is missing. The following 2 are the best in my opinion. Help me out here. What's missing/wrong? Magick Michael aka zhounder

The second best. IMHO Magick Michael aka zhounder

Neat idea. I like the greater amount of fog in the second, but I miss seeing the eyes.

Hey, Zhounder, why not just pitch in $50 and get a fog machine. Add a real live "Vicky" and, well, THERE ya go!

Hmm. I like what you did with this one. I've tried to get dry ice thing to work but just didn't bring home enough. How about a combination of both. Definitely having the fog visible is a must but I like the dark mood of the first picture. I think one thing the first picture has is a greater feeling of depth than the second because it is not as well lit. So keep the fog but have less light on the statue. Tow how about some background on the sides. Maybe rocks or something does not matter is they cam be seen clearly just something other than the color black will do I think. Congrats on getting the dry ice stuff to work. PS don't asphixiate your self. Dry ice is froxen CarbonDioxide by the way. Just make sure you don't fill the room up with it's vapours. Bsteph

I prefer the dark mood of the first picture and those wikked blue eyes! A little bit more fog would have been ideal for the first, but as is so often the case in real life shoots, control is often difficult if not impossible! Great gargoyle statues btw. :-)>

Did you have some warm water in the cup? That helps in activating the effect you were after. @ Chuck... Does the $50.00 include the real life Vicky? If so send me the number ;-)

To get the eyes to show I was holding a Mini Mag light on them and holding it steady was a bitch. The problem was that the only exposure that worked was after the water and mug were getting cold. I would warm them and shoot again, but my timing or steadyness were off. I still have some Dry Ice left so maybe I can try again tomorrow. If it evaporates by then were the hell do you get dry ice? Magick Michael aka zhounder PS if vicky is only $50, I will take 2 please! But don't tell my wife. :-)~

Hmmm...just a gut reaction to it, I think it may be too "clean". I think it needs a little grittyness and shadowplay for the kind of mood I think this type of photo requires. That make sense? I also think the candlelight is a little too hot (whiteness wise). It looks like it's probably a full 255-255-255 white. Since I do a lot of available light photography (99%) I tend to try to stay way from a full "255-white" when I can, especially when I am playing with shadows or dark background. It seems to overpower the rest of the image. What kind of shot were you going for? For a more ominous look, I'd try raising the statues up a bit so that they are more bottom lit by the candles. -=>Donald

Try the chemistry dept at a university!!! They probably can spare some once or twice because it evatorates anyway! Depending on when they receive their shipment of dry ice or weather they make it "in house" can change how much they can spare. Otherwide ask your local pharmacist. Not that I expect them to have dry ice handy but they can probably direct you to some suppliers. Otherwise search the telephone directory. Bsteph

Attached Link: Dry Ice Directory

It's the 21st Century ... the great Internet knows all. :) hehehehe

-=>Donald

Wow that's a pretty good link thanks Don! One inputs their area code and it quickly spits out locations which sell dry ice! I checked it verses the phone directory and it had all but two which weren't for public sales I imagine. For what it's worth one of them was Johnsons Bait! So maybe baiting places occasionally sell dry ice. If the listing does not have a place close enough. Bsteph