Awakening

For The Sunday Challenge group, who's theme this week was for Hallowe'en, as in "spooky shots."

I schlepped all the way to the cemetery at 5 in the morning to get this shot. When I got there, it was still pitch black - let me tell you, that was kind of spooky all by itself. I searched for just the right headstone with a tiny flashlight, set up my camera and then waited for the dawn to just start breaking in the East. I wanted a little light because I knew I was going to layer in a full moon. After I had the basic shot of the headstone and cemetery surrounds, I went home and added the moon, the bat and the raven sitting on the headstone. That night, I waited until it was dark so I could take the picture of my arm. I smeared my arm with potting soil and slightly back-lit it to simulate the moonlight I had added to my picture. And then another shot of some dirt being thrust up for where the arm joined with the ground and my shot was complete. I converted it to black and white just for the sake of being more creepy - like all those classic horror movies. I also did a little post-processing work on the headstone itself to alter the text on it slightly more toward my purposes. Be sure to open it big to make it easier to read.

This is incredible - you went to so much trouble and well worth it - the result is fantastic!

Nice! =D