My Corner of New Hanover
Clearing Storm Over Chester Springs
Posted by Russ Devan (New Hanover, United States) on 4 April 2009 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
This image was made Friday evening after an all-day rainstorm began to clear and was moving out of our area. I managed to overcome my purist ways and included the power lines in the photograph. As a landscape and nature photographer, it went against everything in me to do so. Mainly because there was no way to get around them and still include the cloud and the church in the photo. Just don't ask me to do it again.
"The Master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both."
- Zen Buddhist Text
Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States
It must have been a struggle. But this is part of the "natural" landscape most of us see anyway, so maybe you haven't done your reputation any irreparable harm. Or our eyes. Heh. Really I think it's an amazing capture of that storm system's exit.
4 Apr 2009 11:22am
Monte Stevens from Westerville, United States
And, to photoshop those power lines out would take forever. LOL It is getting to the point where it's almost impossible to take a rural area image without finding power lines. However, I really like your contrast and the great details in the clouds, Well done.
4 Apr 2009 12:48pm
@Monte Stevens: ...and I have been known to do just that, even if took a few evenings to accomplish it. However, last night, I just didn't have the energy. Thanks for your kind words, Monte.
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
I like it...and the power lines are just part of our landscape so go ahead, embrace them! Beautiful sky for sure.
5 Apr 2009 3:17am
DenisSm from Prague, Czech Republic
just amazing Russ.....i really like...
and....power lines....lie landscpae photographer you sure know it is part of current landscape....so it belongs there....
If you don`t like and don`t want play hours with PS, than i would advice faster way....chain saw is solution :-)), i hope this silly advice will bring some energy to your morning
5 Apr 2009 9:28am
@DenisSm: Thanks, Denis. My chainsaw usually resides in my shed in my backyard, but perhaps I should start carrying it in my gadget bag for times like these.
Betsy Barron from Chester Springs, PA, United States
that's Reese's preschool! I shot a hail storm from the very same spot - great vista - terrific clouds that day and you got a good one here (powerlines schmowerlines)
6 Apr 2009 12:34am
@Betsy Barron: I remember that hailstorm photo of yours. I've been eyeing up that church and that beautiful steeple for years, but have always cursed those powerlines. I like Denis's solution.
Dan Creighton from Pottstown, United States
Russ- That was some evening. I think the clouds are spectacular. I personally would prefer to see more of a strong visual anchor in the foreground to draw me into the photo. I don't think the post processing, or more to the point the lack of saturation, enhances the feeling of a pending storm or the power of it. I think it feels a bit "cold". As for the power lines I'd probably embrace them here. Just getting low and using the power lines and tops of the poles would have given a strong visual foreground anchor that literally says "power" and then that awesome cloud behind would really be dominant. Just an idea of a possible positive way to use the power lines and look at your next line cluttered scene in a different way. But I too wish there were fewer of them cluttering what few great landscapes we have here in the north east!
6 Apr 2009 2:30pm
Nikon D200
1/40 second
F/11.0
ISO 100
32 mm