And our luck ran out.
I found this old homestead in southeastern Wyoming. With the gathering storm clouds it reminded me of a quote from The Grapes of Wrath. “...and in the eyes o...
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I found this old homestead in southeastern Wyoming. With the gathering storm clouds it reminded me of a quote from The Grapes of Wrath. “...and in the eyes of the people there is the failure; and in the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrath. In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.”
John Steinbeck
I felt this image communicated the feeling best in black and white.
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John Steinbeck
I felt this image communicated the feeling best in black and white.
Read less
Dec, 2018Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in Eastern Wyoming on one of my many back road travels.Time
This image was taken in late afternoon, when clouds build and can develop into heavy rain and occasionally tornados, so I always keep an eye on the changing conditions. In this case, the clouds looked ominous and made a perfect background to this old building.Lighting
The natural light was good. I did add slight contrast to the sky to add a bit of drama.Equipment
Sony A-77 handheld with a 24- 70 f2.8 zoom lens.Inspiration
“...and in the eyes of the people there is the failure; and in the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrath. In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.” John Steinbeck When I spotted this building out on the plains, I thought of the Grapes of Wrath. This is a visual, that unfortunately does not allow experiencing the overwhelming quiet and isolation. Black and white was perfect to communicate this lonely scene. I often use quotes from books and song lyrics that enhance the image.Editing
In addition to converting to black and white in On1 editing software, I adjusted the sky for a bit more drama as a background. On1 is a terrific software, and works with Photoshop and as a stand alone software.In my camera bag
If it is a background trip, I will carry two camera bodies and a number of lenses, both prime, wide angle and telephoto. I also have ND filters, a tripod and flash.Feedback
The thing I try to remember, is to be patient and not rush a shot. I try to let the image develop in my mind and on an emotional level. This will then dictate the lens and camera settings. I often set the image aside and return to it a bit later before I begin post work. This helps me mentally return to the place and remember my initial thoughts and emotional response. Often my emotional feeling may have shifted from what I first felt. Feel free to experiment and don't get too hung up on the technical rather than the emotion. I often think of a quote of Georgia O'Keefe. “Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing--and keeping the unknown always beyond you.”
