Inspiring Photo: IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR #12869297

IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR

Uploaded: April 02, 2012

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Exif: F Number: 9, ExposureTime: 100/1499 seconds, ISO: 100, FocalLength: 70.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Comments

Debbie E. Payne April 02, 2012

This was one of my favorite images from the Pueblo Walk About. Am putting in a few more. This was not exactly what I expected because when I heard the word "architecture" I was thinking more in terms of how to take the larger buildings and such and they were wanting us to simplify and hone in on detail. So I put my 70-300 on the camera and it was actually a good lesson to see what you can find looking for the details. So I have a mixture of shots. #1453976

Jeff E Jensen April 02, 2012

These are all nice, Debbie. I agree that the first is my favorite as well. It can be a fun exercise to look for the detail in the buildings. There are some amazing images to be made. I will be focusing on this in DC. #10072516

Dale Hardin April 02, 2012

Debbie, I love the textures you are bringing out with your images. This is a great series and had I not known better would have suspected that Jeff had taken them. It's reminiscence of his style.

The first is my favorite also. #10072876

Debbie E. Payne April 02, 2012

Thanks, Dale. Saying they look something like Jeff would take makes me feel good! I couldn't resist the dandelion sprouting up out of this manhole type thing that was around a tree.

Here is a sepia version of the train yard. I'm torn between the two. #10072910

Stephen Shoff April 02, 2012

Well, just to expose my more typical, contrarian persona, I don't care much for the original. The subject is good but compromised by the towers, the air conditioning unit and the parking barriers. Converting to B&W only increased the contradiction.

That aside, however, it looks like you had a fun time and a learning experience on your Walk About. A great combination in a location which, along with Santa Fe, I would love to experience too. Good job on focusing in tight.

My vote goes for simplicity. I like the dandelion on the manhole. It is a little messy...you could have at least removed the pine needle...but the stong graphics and directional lighting are wonderful. There is dichotomy but without contradiction. #10072937

Anthony L. Mancuso April 03, 2012

Nice series Deb and I am with the 1st one being the fav camp. I to tend to agree with Stephen that the more modern elements seem to detract from the image. For that reason, and because I think it would work better compositionally I would go horizontal 8x10 starting from the right and keeping the full height. That will eliminate the A/C unit and put the garage door in a more balanced position IMHO. I think the towers are less of an issue than the A/C, but could be cloned out even though it might be a bit labor intensive to do so. #10073597

Michael Kelly April 03, 2012

Nice series Debbie. I like the idea of concentrating on details and I agree with Jeff that this will be a good way to go in Washington.

Of these shots, I also favor "Spring Is Everywhere" as my favorite. The lighting and clarity on that one, along with the contrast between the man-made object in the organic work well. I also like "The Old Train Yard", even though it has a few problems noted by others. I definitely think the color version is the way to go. I would like to see Tony’s suggestions, but what I like best about it is the nice perspective, so I am not sure cropping and changing the format will work for me. I'm thinking that some cloning and context aware fill on some of the distracting elements might work better.
#10073654

Debbie E. Payne April 03, 2012

Well, I have two changes. I actually had already done quite a bit of work on more weeds coming up through the manhole but the pine needles were easy to get rid of and like Mike, I did not like the 8x10 crop so I just took off the AC and did a bit of Aimee's color blending to get the clone work to transition. I looked at trying to get rid of the satellite disk or whatever that was but too many lines crossing in front of the houses. Sometimes the only thing you could do to make an antigue looking perfectly in 2012 would be to have access to a time machine you could jump into with your fancy DSLR around your neck, take the picture and return home to 2011 with an 1890's picture. #10073664

Debbie E. Payne April 03, 2012

I meant 2012, why would I want to go back to 2011? Of course if I could do that I would be in sunny Santa Fe taking pictures of Pueblos and haciendas instead of sitting here editing pictures that can't be edited properly because I don't have everything I need to make a time machine... #10073671

Peter W. Marks April 03, 2012

I have no idea why I like rust and decay but the first image fits the bill nicely for me. I guess it is the story telling thing in me and I drift off into the whats, whys and whens of abandoned buildings this. These old tin buildings probably don't have any romantic story to tell; Jesse James most likely never held up the train here and there was no shoot out with Doc holiday so I am free to compose anything I like.
The practical side of me does not mind the microwave-cell phone tower; I figure that whoever owns the property now gets a nice bit of rent for them using the land.
Thanks for sharing' Debbie. #10074015

Anthony L. Mancuso April 03, 2012

I think it looks better with the A/C unit gone, but I still think my suggested crop will work because the brick wall to the left of the garage door is the largest area in the image without anything going on and I think it attracts too much attention because of that...would like to hear some more input from the others about it... #10074297

Debbie E. Payne April 03, 2012

Well, Tony...I'm liking it better than the first time I cropped with your suggestions. There is no place for the eye to wander out of the picture and I like how the orange of the barn is in a place where the viewer can't miss it. I may be eating crow here, but usually I like the expansiveness of an 4x6 (8x12) image.I'd be interested in what Mike thinks. I still miss the perspective of the original but it's much tighter this way... #10074331

Debbie E. Payne April 03, 2012

Dale Hardin April 04, 2012

I like the tighter crop. It really makes the buildings stand out. Of course it also accentuates the tower but that's a matter of choice. If this image were converted to vintage, then the tower would have to go, which wouldn't be too difficult.

I'm very impressed with your increased foray into post processing and the way you are seeing and composing images in camera. Your photography is noticably getting more interesting. #10074888

Michael Kelly April 04, 2012

Debbie I think the crop is quite acceptable for the reasons stated. I still think I give a slight edge to the original though because of the perspective and the better feel, at least for me, of the abandonment it portrays. #10074954

Aimee C. Eisaman April 04, 2012

Very interesting that they really didn't take you to shoot any 'architectural' images in the traditional sense. I do like all the textures and strong lines in your first image although it does look better without the AC unit and with the 2nd to the last crop. Tony's crop does work well, but I like to wonder more in this image. The last post of the dandelion on the grate is very nice and I also liked the lace for some reason. Even though it seemed a bit bright in areas it attracted my attention. :~) #10075019

Teresa H. Hunt April 04, 2012

It looks like you had a fun time on your photo walk. You captured some great shots.

I like the train yard photo. I have to say I really like Tony's crop. :)

I also really like "Spring is Everywhere". I'd have to say it's my favorite of the bunch. I like the organic next to the man made. It shows me that nature will always find a way. :) #10075090

Debbie E. Payne April 04, 2012

Thanks guys -- I think I have begun to find the balance between the real world and the world of HDR. I like what the processing does to "normal" images as long as it is not overly done.

Teresa, I had a blast on this walk and would like very much to go back just to the train yard. I think you could probably shoot just there alone for several hours. I will post a couple more train yard shots that I really liked.

Dale, we may just have to go to Pueblo when you come. When will that be, anyway? #10075221

Carla Capra Anderson April 04, 2012

These are all awesome images and sounds like a great time. You have a great eye for seeing and capturing the details. I like the original crop and removal of ac unit but, wonder why you left in the tower. Very nice work Debbie. #10075441

Dale Hardin April 04, 2012

I should be there about the end of the second week or in the third week of September. Hope we can get together. Will be there awhile. #10075490

Debbie E. Payne April 05, 2012

Carla - I did work on the antique tower one and am semi-happy with it but at full-size the clone work on the fine little lines criss-crossing the house is not good at all, but it is the first attempt at eliminating it. The AC and the other things on top of the first building were easy to get rid of.

I also had one more image of the train yard that I am showing you, but the first one is better either of the two crops, IMO.

Then there were a couple of individual train images which I liked. A treasure-trove of interesting things here.

And Dale, I hope you are going to be in the mountains somewhere in the last weekend of September because that is typically when the best color is: and the week between the fourth and the first weekend in October. The third weekend generally supplies some color but it spotty and not abundant. For the past couple of years we have always started our trip to the mountains with a Winemaker's Dinner in Canon City and then the next day, after way too much wine and amazing food head off into the mountains for the next day or two. I will have to check on the date for the event this month because if you like good food and wine, you'd enjoy this event. It isn't cheap- generally around $100 a person but its one of our big treats of the year and if your dates allow it, when we get our tickets, we can reserve three instead of two. #10076232

Ellen H. Robertson April 05, 2012

Debbie, I really the train yard. I am finding a unique beauty in the old buildings, not only the historic buildings but the middle aged buildings.

They have their own character and you brought that out in this shot, especially the BW.
#10077011

Beth Spencer April 05, 2012

Debbie, these are all great. I really like the last ones you posted. You have found a great balance with the details and colors.
It looks like you had a really great time on the photo walk. #10077125

Michael Kelly April 05, 2012

I like all of these last ones. OF course this is someone who still has their O guage Lionel trains speaking. #10077170

Aimee C. Eisaman April 06, 2012

O you did get some really cool shots....love the rusty black train! :~) #10077452

Debbie E. Payne April 06, 2012

That rusty black train is amazing, Aimee. It is HUGE and I want to go back sometime when it is overcast all day and get more shots.

Glad you like my train shots, Michael. We tried to get Mike interested in trains but it didn't work as we expected. I had a blast last year when I visited Michael in Chicago because the botanical garden there has this amazing yearly exhibit of miniature trains running through the plants. Very popular with the kids and older people. Not the best venue to take shots, I took a LOT more than I kept. And with the element of motion it was difficult to get any really good shots.
I think when I visit Michael and Allison is May I am definitely flying out but am toying with the idea of taking Amtrack back home. Just for the experience, as I have no idea if there will be opportunities for many pictures from the window of a train.

Ellen, thank you for stopping by. I like any older buildings and decided to try to get rid of the tower and it did pretty well. Even with it in it spoke of two times and so was still a storytelling image of long ago blending into today. Sometimes I think we all get too hung up on perfection in our photographs and I am constantly struggling with what I should keep in and what I should accept in the frame. #10077908

Stephen Shoff April 06, 2012

I was surprised to scan back through this thread and see that you put so much more effort into the Old Trainyard. I think the result of rework is exceptional. I'd almost put it in the category of Mike's removing an entire chain link fence last year.

Nice job. #10078185

Debbie E. Payne April 06, 2012

Thank you Stephen. I really didn't think I could do that extensive of an edit but thanks to Phellos, I guess I did a passable job. I remember that chain link photo of Michael's. Not quite as hard as his but I did have to remove a bunch of Christmas likes from the old black train. No one ever thinks of photographers with all the little details that we need just so..... #10078275

Teresa H. Hunt April 06, 2012

I love all the new photo's you posted. That train engine looks like it would be so much fun to shoot! :) #10078872

Rita K. Connell April 08, 2012

wow I am very very late to this one but glad that I am. all your image are really great debbie and you did a great job on the distractions for sure. I love all your train one. train engine one is very cool. I need to go back to my seattle picture I have some great ones that I have forgotten about. Great job! #10080995

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