Things last a long time in the desert – slowly rusting, weathering under the strong rays of the desert sun. As I drove around in the desert town of Moab, there were so many things abandoned, wearing out. I spotted this truck while looking for a grocery store, and had to ask the owners of the salvage company for the chance to photograph it. I thought it was so serendipitous that the colors of the truck were the same as the colors in the landscape – the red-orange-brown of the rocks behind were a perfect background for the truck’s portrait! I’ve always loved old cars and trucks so it’s great fun to find those with personality.
I used Nik’s HDR Efex Pro to process it, planning that I’d make it a bit surrealistic but not overly so. The cool thing about the Nik software is that you have so many options – both in the presets and in the HDR method choices. And you can even adjust those once selected. I am just beginning to sift through all the variables with this software but I’m lovin’ it. I have posted a few other pictures using this software, if you review the past month’s postings. If you love what you see too, and want to purchase it, save yourself 15% by using BTHARP as the code in checkout.
Late-breaking news! I’ll be doing a webinar on HDR Efex Pro for NIK on November 18th at 6 PM PST. Join us to listen in on how I use it. I’ll be giving tips on how I then take my images further using other Nik products, too. Look for the posting on Nik’s learning calendar soon at Nik’s website.
A big time winner for Nik HDR Efex Pro!
Hi Jonathan – yes, I guess you do get used to them ‘lyin’ about’ and they do seem to decay into the same colors as the surroundings, ironically.
How do I feel about HDR processing? I love it – mainly for the real look that I can get, because it allows me to create balanced exposures when the range of light is too great for a normal one-shot exposure. I like to use artistic adjustments for certain subjects like old cars, trucks, and some general subject matter, but for nature, I prefer a natural effect with HDR.
I think the vast openness yields the perfect graveyard to worn out cars. I mean if you don’t have to move it why would you and in a place like Moab or southern Utah for that matter, there really is no reason to move something that’s not in the way. I’ve lived in Utah my whole life and have always found it interesting how things here seem to decay into the same old rusted red color as the surrounding hills.
p.s. how do you feel about HDR processing?
You’re welcome, Scott! and yes, I too am not a fan of junked autos lying about – or any junk for that matter, but the western states seem to have cultivated that, oddly enough. Apparently with all the wide open space over the years past, and without a neighbor for acres, people did what they wanted. Now, those things are left for us to see. So while I’m not celebrating that aspect of the junk, I do still love the old vehicles. Just wish they were all gathered in one huge field instead of scattered about the states!
Though I am not a fan of seeing junked autos laying around, the desert west states seem to have lots of them and they do make for wonderful photos like this.
Wow…a webinar us Eastcoasters will be able to attend. It seems Nik has done an end run and has come out with a very exciting new way to create HDR images. Many photographers I follow are using it now. Thanks for the discount code!
Oh, do, Ferrell! I think you’ll like it very much. Thanks for visiting and commenting here. Good to hear from you.
Brenda,
Very nice image, love the grill, the colors, the rock strata in the background, even the fence posts. I’ll have to check out Nik too.
a stunning blakc and white.c2a0 Not only that, but it does a fasatntic job in doing so.Back in April, Justin Balog posts an incredible video tutorial on how he uses Nik Silver Efex Pro on his HDR photographs.c2a0