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| This "used" to be a screened in porch. I suspect someone "used" to sit in this red chair and enjoy summer evenings. (click to enlarge) |
...something catches your eye and, as a photographer, you say to yourself, "I have to stop and photograph this. It is too unusual."
That's what I did last week with the image above. I was driving on a country road and out of the corner of my right eye I noticed something red. When I looked over, I saw this old abandoned, dilapidated house in the woods with an old red recliner on the disintegrating front porch. I had driven that road numerous times in the past and had never noticed the house previously. So, of course, I made a (safe) U-turn, parked (again safely well off the road) and made some images.
The chair could have been any other color but it was red. Having something red in your frame is the old National Geographic Magazine plus Kodachrome trick. If you look at old NatGeo photos from decades ago, many times, something red was in the photo. That was because red catches your attention and Kodachrome reproduced red well.
This subject was rather difficult to capture. I'm still not sure if I captured it in a manner that suits me. The old wooden house was backlit. The sky was bright. The chair and front porch were extremely dark. The trees restricted viewpoints which, from many angles, blocked portions of the chair.
I recorded several compositions trying to find one that pleased me. Also, I used the camera's exposure bracketing feature, shooting three stops under and three stops over, just in case I needed it. However, it turns out the camera's dynamic range had no problem recording the brightest parts of the sky as well as the darkest parts of the porch.
I suspect, after the foliage comes out in the spring, I will try again. As I said, I'm not sure I captured this little scene to my satisfaction.
Here is another variations on this theme.
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| (click to enlarge) |
As I mentioned, I'll go back when the canopy is full of leaves and see how different it looks then. I recommend revisiting many of your subjects during different seasons as they can look entirely different.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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Dennis, I have a question based out of curiosity. You mentioned that you were driving a county road. How far away from home base are you likely to drive on outings like this?
ReplyDeleteThis story and your final sentence also remind me of something I've learned the hard way. Make plans to go back in different seasons, but take the shot even if conditions aren't perfect as the subject matter may be completely different the next time. - Jim
Jim, thank you for your comment and question. When I go out to “wander,” I may drive as far as 75 miles or so in one direction from home. I rarely if ever drive to and back from a destination by the same roads. Mainly, I’ll head out in a general direction, then wander the back roads just to see what I can find that is interesting. On occasion, usually railroad related, I’ll drive to a specific location to photograph trains and such. Also, it may be an old country store or old iron bridge or other such subjects that I’ve found on Google maps that will get me to drive to a specific location. Setting out with no particular destination is my favorite way to explore as I liked to be surprised by what unexpected I may find, like this red chair on the old porch.
DeleteI agree. Photograph now even of not ideal, but plan to come back, several times if necessary, to capture the subject in different moods, lighting, weather and seasons. ~Dennis
I know semi ruined properties often make good images, but this strikes me as so poignant. Apart from the lounger there seems to be items left on one of the windowsills upstairs. Just makes you wonder (like your recent RIP Mum post). A genuinely powerful image despite the unfavourable conditions (IMO).
ReplyDelete