I have my photography archives over at Photoshelter, and am working hard to build them out completely over the next two months. They have this cool plug-in that allows me to draw from my archives and embed in my posts, so I’m testing it out here. It works! This will be a great way to bring up pictures from my library mixed in with new work.
The image above is from a trip to Death Valley that I made several years ago. I screeched to a halt for the cracked mud – and while I was out there photographing it, cars were whizzing by – as if in a hurry to get somewhere. I remember thinking how ironic it was that they already were somewhere! To express that I put on my wide angle lens and waited for the right car – color mostly – to come by. I was lucky with the convertible, too! While this could be an add for radiator fluid – lol – it’s my statement of how we can miss special things if we just zoom by all the time.
*****************************************
I’ll be conducting an instructional tour to Death Valley, February 6-11, 2011, with my partner Jed Manwaring. We plan to ‘slow it down’ and contemplate the unique landscape and nature of the park for our photographs! For more info, go to my Workshops & Tours link in the navigational tabs.
Great shot Brenda! Sometimes when I’m driving somewhere to do some shooting, or driving to visit someone I’ll see something interesting, but it’s like I’m in a weird movie where I can’t stop and I just drive by. Once I get a destination in mind I find it difficult to alter the plans, take a few minutes and get a nice image. That’s something I’m working on; didn’t realize how hard it is though!
I know what you mean. You’re not alone in driving past and missing photos. I’ve done it myself – but over the years I’ve learned to plan some stopping time into my drive schedule, and try to schedule my drive to arrive in some places at the right time of day. It doesn’t always work out, but it’s helped. I think the car can also easilly insulate us from really seeing the potental we’re driving by. I had the advantage of being there to photograph, so I wasn’t on my way – I had arrived already! lol. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Not just any convertible but a Ford Mustang! Okay, besides that, the bright color of the car really makes this photo.
Yes! I did several images with other colors, but the yellow was definitely the one that worked. If I were doing this for an ad agency, I’d certainly have chosen this color over the blue or maroon colors that went by. 🙂
thanks, bob – I agree with the textural play you brought up – thanks for pointing that out.
Cool shot, Brenda! And I like the explanation of what you were trying to express, which you did well in this image.
I also like the juxtaposition of the static, cracked ancient-looking mud with the blurred, modern car. Great textural play…