The rabbit hole is authentic (which can be verified at magnification), but I added the door, so as to make it look like a home. By default, all lighthouse islan...
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The rabbit hole is authentic (which can be verified at magnification), but I added the door, so as to make it look like a home. By default, all lighthouse islands had rabbits brought there by the lightkeeper crews. Even now, when the signals work automatically and there is no more need for lightkeepers, the descendants of rabbit generations still manage to survive, mainly by trying to be as invisible to the visitors as possible...
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Winner in A Door to Another World Photo Challenge
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ShutterSpeak
April 09, 2015
Congratulations on being the winner of the "A Door to Another World" photo challenge!!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was made at one tiny Adriatic isle where I used to spend some winter weeks, living in the lighthouse.Time
I can't say with any precision, since the Exif data got somehow lost in the post-process, but to the best of my memory it could have been around noon.Lighting
No extra light was used beside daylight, which is my favorite. The hole under the rock layer was interesting the way it was, and I did not try to see what's inside; therefore no flash.Equipment
The camera was a SONY R-1, and the shot was made out of hand from standing position. The distance could have been between two and three meters.Inspiration
Ever since mid-19th Century when the lighthouse has been built and put to use, all generations of lighthouse keepers and their families used to tend their small gardens, and also kept some livestock, like sheep or goats. They also brought some rabbits, so as to add variety to their sustenance. When the lighthouses became automated, there was no more need for people to take care of the signal. The crews returned to their homes, but the rabbits remained until present day. Inbreeding and related genetical problems, as well as numerous birds of prey, have reduced their numbers severely, but some are still there, and the isle is virtually riddled with holes. These obviously belonged to the photo themes at that place.Editing
The old lighthouse has its number of old, sturdy doors and picturesque window shutters. Everything there is built very solidly, so as to endure all the forces the Nature can throw at it. I took pictures of such details and used them to create the entrance to the rabbit dwelling. I delighted in working in the unbelievable peace of the place, with a lot of free time at my disposal. Between writing a book and walking around the twin isle with my camera, it was, above all, a fun thing to do.In my camera bag
I'm using an old photographer's vest with many pockets, and I prefer it to any photo bag. At that time I had three cameras along: the Sony R-1, one waterproof Olympus SW725, and another Sony, the T-7 which is the size of a 9 millimeters thick credit card. For this little wonder I also had an underwater casing. Other pockets contained a flash unit, a knife, spare batteries, a lighter and cigarettes, on occasion also a sandwich or a bar of chocolate. One small water bottle was ideally kept in the jacket pocket created for long lenses. Thus equipped, I can stay out of the house for the whole day - and that's what I preferred, despite the fact that it was January.Feedback
Whatever picture one takes can be turned into something entirely different. It will depend upon one's mood, imagination, available time, and also some knowlege of post-processing tools. So there really is nothing specific about this kind of picture; only maybe some general thoughts upon attitude. I am quite fond of funny pictures, and this idea was as spontaneous as any other where I have turned some photo in its "funny version". What is paramount is to let your imagination run happily wild, like some sort of mental hound unleashed. Every now and again it will come back carrying something from the endless field of possibilities.