I found a new playground.

First draft ... thoughts?
2nd image is a 100% crop of the first.

I quite like the full image!

Perhaps some mid-tone bump and burning the top?

Both are very nice. They'd make great large prints for the reception area of a railroad related business.

Thanks guys.

Karen ... I guess that would be MORE mid-tone bump and MORE burning. I thought it might be a little 'flat' in some areas, but didn't want to overdo it. I was getting tired and on my laptop, so I posted it to get your opinions for a WIP.
(Note to self: Must get new laptop with a killer display, must get killer display, killer display.)

Dmac ... you've read my mind on that one.
There is a railway repair facility that I've been wanting to get inside of, but I haven't been able to get past the "gatekeeper" (aka secretary) to get permission/access. Although, she has "authorized" me to shoot from outside the fences (chain link) at will. I'd love to become an "insider" and showcase all the "candy in the store".

I'm thinking a little play off the 1987 movie "Wall Street" might be a worthwhile endeavor ... i.e. personal gift for the president of the company (local) to at least warrant a chance to speak with him about it.

Both work well for me. For me the second conveys the hard steel strength well.
Nice job with the symmetry and BW conversion.
POV is excellent.

Scott

I like both.

A perfect subject for a symmetrical composition and the combination of the subject matter with specular reflections off the rails combined with overcast lighting allowed you to capture the full tonal range like a well executed B&W film shot; something that isn't possible on digital on a clear sunny day.

Well seen Kent!

I prefer the first image with Auntipode's mods.

Bob

Thanks again,

Scott ... that "hard steel" thing ... seeing the slag, and the wear marks was kinda cool for me too. Might need to break out the macro's for a reshoot, as this was just a center crop from my 24mm. Curious how the Oly 18 would handle it also. I can see this becoming one of my favorite 'test beds' to play with.

Watching the trains roll by on this and feeling the massiveness of them via the rumbling ground ... it is somewhat of a marvel to think how impervious this steel is, and how much pounding it has endured in order for those wear marks to evolve.

Chuck ... I've been playing with the specular rails theme for a long while, but was always chasing it @ "Sunny 16" and never seemed to be able to find something with a composition that I took a shine (pun intended ) to. FYI ... I learned the "no shame" thing from Karen.

Bob ... hopefully the first of more to come. With a little help from my friends, of course.

RustyBug wrote:
Karen ... I guess that would be MORE mid-tone bump and MORE burning.

Sometimes more is worse. Sometimes more is better.

Also confess to a little bit of selective sharpening.

+1 @ selective sharpening ... I hadn't decided yet where/how I wanted to "draw" things, so this WIP didn't have any done to it yet. Thanks for the reminder of the need to do so.

A dose of my own medicine is in order, as I still have to answer the question of "What's the point" / "Where do I want to take the viewer" before I finish/rework it.

FYI Update ...

Received "Honorable Mention" tonight @ Mitchell Museum's Annual competition.

congrats.

Yay!

Thanks guys.

The breakdown on entries:

200+ Entries
38 Juried For Exhibit (34 Digital, 4 Film)

It was interesting that the judge awarded all four monetary awards (Best Of Show, 1, 2, 3) to film entries.

Always the bridesmaid ... never the bride.

Saw some really nice pieces, several that I thought deserved recognition more so than mine ... judges, go figure.


But ... the OMG of the night was the opening of a world class "Contemporary Glass" exhibit ... blew me away. Stunning work from around the world, including some from the Met in NY, Europe and Japan. Only about 25-30 pieces ... but WOW, the excellence of workmanship in the glass made me feel I need to "up my game" to another level. Not sure what that'll become ... but it at least generated a another "spark" of escalation intent. Very, very humbling, btw.

Funny ... seeing the AA exhibit inspired me to garner a better understanding of AA and his work. Seeing this glass makes me want to raise the (personal) bar even more. I can only imagine the hours, days, weeks & months that went into some of this glass (not unlike AA's work or knowing what we see of Kaden's tedious efforts, etc.) ... amazing stuff, that pics can't do justice to the scintillation, color, shape and dimension. Not just "pretty", but masterfully crafted to draw you in and keep you there ... as we say around here at times "much goodness"



If you're in the area ... exhibit runs till January 6, 2013 and is in concert with 50th anniversary of studio glass movement that began in the 1960's. Also, a wire art exhibit that includes 2D images made from 3D sculpture line art (yeah, like that makes any sense to say) ... more "goodness" to partake.

thanks for the update, Kent.
Some of us are never the bridesmaid or the bride. Lucky to get an invitation.

Scott

Congratulations on the honor. A wonderful image and deserving of the Honorable Mention.

Thanks guys ... sorry for the delayed reply.