Taken while riding in a car, near los Osos, California. 1/500 f6.3 ISO 200 135mm
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8 Comments
My comment has more to do with your description than the photo itself. People don't seem to like waiting around while I take my sweet time considering the subject of my photo from every imaginable angle. Finding the subject is easy... it's deciding what additional elements to include or exclude from the frame, and how to align them together, that takes so much time. What am I really trying to emphasize? How can I make a picture more interesting? The whole process has evolved from running as fast as possible from one picture to another, to a far more contemplative, followed by deliberative, process. As a result, photography has become a predominantly solitary activity for me. And while I come home with fewer friends and a lot fewer images, I come home with better ones.
I only mention that because of your sentence that says you shot this picture while riding in a car... presumably while someone else was driving, or stopped for a minute or two and then moving on. But I can't help but think that there might be a more powerful composition here. I can't tell you what I think it might be... it really doesn't matter. Quite often, it's the picture within the picture. I'm only saying that many times, the better composition emerges after we spend extra time thinking beyond the obvious.
Yes, someone else was driving, though I do sometimes take pictures at stoplights. I'm not sure why I even entered this picture, I don't think it's something that anyone will like. But I love the elements of it, and would like to someday go back to Los Osos and stop, and take pictures with more intention. (It's about 6 hours away.) But the light probably won't be like that day. Something about this is the direction I'd love to explore more. For me, it was the most beautiful scenery!
Thank you for your thoughts! :)
I love Google Street View! Having the approximate location, I figured it shouldn't be that hard to find the picture you saw. Indeed, there it is on Los Osos Valley Road, although initially I took a "drive" up O'Connor Way after finding the power lines in that area of dry ground. Los Osos Valley Road is greener. However the white fence along the side of the road would certainly limit your ability to get closer or try different perspectives.
Can't imagine what attracted you to that scene though. I guess we all find beauty in different things. What I found a lot more interesting was the farm on the opposite side of the road with its patterns of something growing up the hillside (perhaps grapes?). The place appears to be called Highland Ranch. That would be a lot of fun to photograph if I could move about on the property... and the light was better than it shows presently on Google Street View.
And, wow, how fortunate you are to live in the San Diego area! California has so many beautiful places to photograph.
Thank you, I don't know if I would have found the spot where I took that photo; I had trouble even though you mentioned the ranch. But I did find it on street view, finally. I also took pictures of some of the farms, they were what made me feel like I had to, even though I don't like shooting while in motion. The Highland Ranch does look like it'd be a great place to shoot!
The whole trip up there I was awed by the hillsides. What made me revisit the photos a few days ago is that there is a big fire in that region right now. I think my influence/inspiration comes from an Andrew Wyeth painting my parents had on the wall, Evening at Kuerners. When I'm in those rural areas, it's like I'm looking for things that remind me of that feeling. But I'm still searching for it, haven't quite found it yet.
I actually gave you the 'solid shot' vote. I understand many are probable giving you the 1-boring vote, But I found myself staring at it long enough to think about the scene. For me how you took the shot did detract from the concept. It of course lacks much color or anything, but maybe in real life that is what it looked like, as its California, near dusk.
I appreciate hearing that it was something that made you pause! I just went back and looked at the RAW and it was almost grayish, so I used a preset to add a little color and tweaked that. It was a vertical shot, maybe I should have kept it that way. Probably doesn't matter. I also find it interesting that how I took the shot detracts from it, but I get it. :) Thank you for the feedback!
I can see the connection between your photo and the painting, minus the white farmhouse. Maybe you should hop on a plane and go visit the Kuerner farm. It's apparently registered as a historic site and open to the public with photography permitted. Art classes are even organized. Sounds like a perfect getaway.
That would be a dream! I did get a book about it, I should look at it again.