Bodie, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

Bodie
Today bodie is a ghost town in California about 120 kilometers away from Lake Tahoe. In 1876 they found gold near the town and as they discovered even more of it in 1878, Bodie developed from a little mining camp to a real Wild West boomtown. By 1880, Bodie had a population of about almost 10000 people and over the years Bodie's mines produced gold valued at more than $34 million. It is also said, that there was at least one man killed every day. Well, as there were about 65 saloons, a red light district and lots of gambling houses, that people visited after a hard day of work, shootouts and brawls were nothing special anymore. As the mine brought less and less profit, in 1930 the town was left by its last inhabitants and in 1962 it became Bodie State Historic Park. It is a really interesting and beautiful place to visit, where you can spend much time, but therefore you have to drive along a 20 kilometers long dust road off of state highway 395. It is open all year, but the long road that leads to the town is usually closed in winter because of the heavy snowfall, so the most comfortable time to visit it is during the summer months, it΄s really worth it!

When I was there I immediately recognized some things I had seen before in the Internet or in brochures, like this famous rusty car you can see on my photo. I thought about posting it in b/w in order to get a more "Ghost-Town" atmosphere, but eventually I decided to keep the polarized colors. I used f/14 to get the buildings in the background sharp and didn΄t do very much of PP, just some of the standard stuff.

So, I hope you like this one and I΄m glad for any advice, hint or proposition, that could help me to improve my photography.

Floydian, WelshTraveller, denisn72, MarianneS, Sistercosmo, stego, hispic, gracious, riclopes, Cretense, pablominto, jhm έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη

Critiques | Translate

leo61 (0) 2008-10-24 9:58

Hallo Jonas,auf den Spuren von Henk!
I rember his fantastic B&W image of the same car and You`s is fantastic too.It`s a perfect exposure with excellent sharpness overall.Great POV and a very good angle to shoot.A real postcard!!!
Schφnes Wochenende,Leo

[2]

Burberry1 (6041) 2008-10-24 9:59

Excellent image with great foregrand and background.
Fantastic light, colors and well thought composition.
One of my favourite!!!

Bravo!

Agnieszka

[2]

Jeppo (17645) 2008-10-24 10:02

ciao Jonas,

ein Bild direkt aus einem USA Film....mir gefallen diese verrosteten Tonen....und die Einsamkeit dieser Szene

mfg
Silvio

[2]

Floydian (30970) 2008-10-24 10:08

Hallo Jonas,
Man this is nice, i see myself standing there two years ago...have you seen my footsteps there? ;-)
The car is very photogenic and creates very good composition. Normally we see a b&w (like mine) or duotone images, but here in full colour it also looks great. Pity the house on the left is a bit cutt off, but the car in front looks great.
When i ever return to California i also will visit Bodie again, a great place to be...
Have a great weekend, Henk

[2]

BWJ (3094) 2008-10-24 10:09

Hello,
This shot looks like it could win a prize in a photo contest. It is well composed with the old rusty car as the subject in the foreground and the village including what appears to be a steeple on a small chapel in the background. I like it!
Kind regards,
Betty

Greg1949 (9011) 2008-10-24 10:34

Jonas, this is a good image, it is well composed and the colors and details are superb. It tells a good story, one built in the mind of the viewer, a different one for each viewer. Well done.

Greg

maglex (1980) 2008-10-24 10:48

Hi Jonas, very nice presentation of 'primary' colors...the houses seem to be intact and the texture and tones of the wood is very nice. Did a WS, Thanks for sharing, Alex

[workshop] [compare]

mark_mk (266) 2008-10-24 10:49

Hi Jonas,
juhu, wieder was neues!!!!
Bodie also, super Bild, das Auto im Vordergrund, die Stadt im Hintergrund, der schφn polarisierte Himmel und die einwandfreie Qualitδt deines D300 Biests, was kann man nur dazu sagen, ich sag mal, Hut ab! Ich ebneide dich darum, dass du Bodie gesehen hast, das hδtte ich zu gern mit eigenen Augen gesehen, aber hey, man braucht immer was, das man όbrig haben muss fόrs nδchste Mal. Super Arbeit, gefδllt mir sehr gut!

Beste Grόίe
Mark

WelshTraveller (354) 2008-10-24 11:21

Great shot!!

totoamoto (1107) 2008-10-24 11:48

Salut Jonas..
Superbe cette vieille voiture en premier plan et dans les mκmes tons ces cabanes.
Une superbe mise en scθne (de cinιma...)
Bravo
Cyril

gneufeld (15890) 2008-10-24 13:10

Hi Jonas,
I am eager to visit Bodie - was in the area last year but was actually unaware of it - your shot is interesting and shows the essence of what I have read about it. good shot and TFS. Gerald

denisn72 (8314) 2008-10-24 13:27

Hi Jonas
It looks like a ghost town indeed! I like the angle you chose to show the old car body and the old houses further. Colours and details are impressive. You had a great light for the picture. Very informative note too! Thanks for sharing!
Best regards
Denis!

MarianneS (15338) 2008-10-24 15:02

Hi Jonas,
Your note is quite captivating. A good one to give everyone wish to visit this place!
Your photo is a great advertisement too. This old car is so photogenic!
I like the pov you choose. According to what I red, I will have to go on Henk's gallery to see his version!!
But you may be proud of yours!
Regards,
Marianne

stego (24132) 2008-10-24 15:52

Hi Jonas,
I remembered pboehringer and 'Dutch Boy' Floydian post when I saw this one. Venturing in the same fields of such masters is quite a challenge, but in my view, you passed the test with A mark! It's very well composed, very sharp and clear, with superb colours, a great eye catcher.
Regards, Josι.

mvdisco (17798) 2008-10-24 17:38

Hi Jonas,
Beautiful picture nicely composed and presented with amazing colors and sharpness, Excellent POV. and dιtails, good note of the sujet,
very well done.
Michel

hispic (9658) 2008-10-24 19:59

Hello Jonas,
Perfect composition, It seems to be available to boost saturation up a little, especially on the grasses. Captured the excellent image very carefully with high definition despite the famous sight.
Have a nice weekend, Hisashi

alexisborel (755) 2008-10-26 23:56

Hi Jonas
I hadn't go to Bodie who wasn't far from my road but time was missing. I know it's a popular ghost town and pictures opportunity are there.
So it's an excellent view of town in background and the best here is your choice of framing who largely integrate this old car in foreground. For sure time look like stopped here.
Have a good day

Alexis

danyy (0) 2008-10-28 12:48

Bonjour Jonas,
des couleurs vraiment interessantes, une scθne calme, la dιsolation. Le jeu des teintes est trθs sιduisant et inconsciement, je crois que c'est cela qui a guidι ton regard.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-10-29 1:11

Hi Jonas
The muted colours are splendid here with the old car certainly adding interest to the scene. Detail and sharpness are first rate which I expect no lessf rom you. Enjoy your trip to Ireland one of my favourite places on Earth.
Regards
Jim

gracious (20025) 2008-10-29 1:22

Hello Jonas,
Well captured on this ghost town with a great pov in depth! thanks for the notes and history of it!
good image with sharpness, natural colour and details
thanks for the sharing
cheers
Tony

riclopes (35577) 2008-10-29 3:29

Another superb work of yours, Jonas. And I'm glad you went for the colors because I love them here. The place seems fantastic to explore, a bit like a movie set for old westerns. Excellent idea of focusing the attention on this old car but at the same time presenting very well the place in the background. Congrats, once again.
Best regards,
ricardo

Cretense (68709) 2008-10-29 4:01

Hallo Jonas!

Very impressive photo, reminds the movie "Last man standing" a strange "mafia-western" film, starring Bruce Willis! Great composition and framing, beautiful wide angle feeling, excellent light managment and beautiful colours! Inmense depth of field, impressive overall definition! Congratulations!

Hercules

Waylim (25436) 2008-10-29 13:38

I was here a few year back, it look just as I remeber it, the same kind of weater. Clear blue sky, so much sun light. And this classic rustic car looks like it never move. No one has taken it out for a drive since I was there 5 years ago. Very nice place for photography and to relive the dream of great American Western. Perhaps make a movie there. Great composition and POV with beautiful color and well managed on the light. Thanks
Way

pablominto (53746) 2008-10-30 0:05

Hello Jonas,

This is a fine composition!
The scene is very convincingly captured, dynamic with the car wreck as an eye-catcher but with the old houses as a natural continuation...
Top tech quality and very fine colours!

Greetings,
Pablo -

baba_flies (8829) 2008-10-31 5:13

Das ist schon eine coole Community :) wenn sie auch die besten Zeiten hinter sich hat, dafuer wird sie umso attraktiver, je verlassener, je verotteter, dann kommen wir ins Spiel. Toll wie Du die Umgebung angegangen bist dem dem alten Schrotthaufen ;))) im Vordergrund und die Haeuser weiter hinten verstreut und natuerlich noch etwas blauer Himmel, der MUSS rein, schlussendlich sind wir hier in Kalifornien. Habe gar nicht realisiert, dass dies so nahe bei Lake Tahoe ist (dort haben Freunde von mir ein Haus ...), das muss ich mal nachholen. Tolles Foto, was fuer eine einmalige Ecke. Gruss aus CH ... Barbara.

jhm (211734) 2008-11-02 3:52

Hello Jonas,

An long forget time, exactly or here are all people disappear.
You create a very nice picture, the houses in background care for a nice scenery.
A very beautiful composition, spectacular light and the usual masterful post-processing.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2008-11-04 3:18

Was ein Zufall, genau den habe ich gerade in Nambia im roten Sand fotografiert. Muss das Foto mal die nδchsten Tage heraussuchen. Sehr schφne Komposition und gute Farben.
Best wishes,
Achim

toto (0) 2008-11-07 1:02

Bonjour,
belle photo de cette voiture abandonnιe dans ce village dirait on fantτme, jolies couleurs, beaux bβtiments, bien vu, bien fait.

Amitiιs Thomas

Sistercosmo (242) 2008-11-10 14:28

Hallo Jonas,
auf der Suche nach neuen Bildern aus Irland, habe ich gemerkt, dass ich dieses Juwel glatt όbersehen habe. Klasse Komposition! 1A!
LG
Linda

Bruno40 (6662) 2008-11-21 4:29

a classic!!, well done Jonas. I like this version from a higher than usual POV.
cheers
Jorge

jvsb (1382) 2009-01-14 12:05

Hi Jonas,
This is a wonderful presentation of this photogenic scenery. You have rendered a well balanced composition, with great depth, sharpness and such vivid colors. With that sky how can one post in bw? I particularly liked the perspective from which you capture the rusted car, placing the ghost town, hills and sky in the upper sixth of the frame. Quite nice!
Regards,
Victor

Angshu (56760) 2009-01-29 0:05

Hello Jonas
Long time! How are you? I remember seeing this car & town in Peter (pboehringer) & Henk's earlier posts. A different angle you've chosen showing a more detailed view of the houses in the BG. The old rusted car is of course the main subject & you've shown it really well. Good work Jonas!
Best Regards
Angshu

Photo Information

Copyright: Jonas Schmitt (Jonas_Schmitt) (3074)
Genre: Τοποθεσίες
Medium: Έγχρωμο
Date Taken: 2008-08-30
Categories: Φύση, Αρχιτεκτονική
Camera: Nikon D300, Nikkor 16-85mm AF-S f/3.5-5.6, 67mm Hama Polarizer
Έκθεση: f/14.0, 1/40 δευτερόλεπτα
More Photo Info: view
Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-10-24 9:53

Viewed: 1606

Points: 64

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