Bodie - How did I do?

[3Honu]

I know the sky is blown out on a few. I know there are specs on my sensor. There is no PP at all because I don't have a handle on lightroom yet and I don't own PS yet. That being said :) , how did I do?

#1
http://ocpickle.smugmug.com/photos/104783903-L.jpg





#2
http://ocpickle.smugmug.com/photos/104727289-L.jpg




#3
http://ocpickle.smugmug.com/photos/104746570-L.jpg




#4
http://ocpickle.smugmug.com/photos/104761347-L.jpg




And if you want to slog through the rest of them they can be found HERE (http://ocpickle.smugmug.com/gallery/2039917)

[red hot sheep]

You did a great job! Especially when these are OOC.

I love number 2 :)

I was there this summer - it's a great place isn't it?

[sando]

I love them all except the last. #2 is an amzing shot, I love the composition and the angle. :)

[Cindi]

Number 2 does it for me! Great shots.

[3Honu]

Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate them very much. What do you not like about the last one? Is it the angle of the post?

Also, I should have definitively stated, as much as I am sharing these shots with you I also want C&C. Fire away! :D

[asolie]

the 2nd one really stands out, love it. :)

[thomascanty]

Great job! I really like the reflections in #1.

Also, I don't think I've ever seen a photo of the Swazee Hotel (#2) from that angle. It's pretty unusual to get a shot in Bodie that hasn't been done a thousand times already...

[CarolP]

Very nice shots! I love the reflecion on the hills in the first shot and the angle on the second shot! They inspired me to look up Bodie on the computer. Interesting history!

[3Honu]

Thank you Carol.

Thomas, yes I know what you mean about the same shots of Bodie over and over. I have been there before and did the traditional thing. Go around and snap shots. I tried to be more creative but that was somewhat more difficult with my P&S. This trip I decided to get different looks of things. I think my 10-20 really helped with that. What also helped was I scheduled this trip around the Friends of Bodie photography day. Getting in early and staying late was the key for me. I am hoping to take my family there soon.

[thomascanty]

What also helped was I scheduled this trip around the Friends of Bodie photography day.

You were there for that? I'm so jealous! I missed that by a week... I went there the week before on a whim. I only learned about the FoB event after I'd returned home. Not that it would have done me much good though, since I had to work the week of the event anyway.

I did meet Daniel McIntyre the day I was there, though. Maybe next year, or on one of his photo workshops I'll get to stay after dark and get some star trail shots with the buildings as backgrounds. I've wanted to do that for years!

[3Honu]

That would be cool. Star trailer shots over the mine might be cool. THen again that building looks a little modern and not "ghosty" enough. Maybe a UWA in front of the hotel?

The FoB is every 3rd Sat. You can't stay late enough for star trail shots on those alone though. And it is impossible to get any kind of dramatic sunset shot because of the surrounding hills. But the setting sun with all that weathered wood was fantastic. Oh yeah, the FoB photographers day is spring through fall only. You'll have to wait 'till next year. What I really want to do though is go in the winter with lots of fresh snow on the ground. Have to snow mobile it in from the 395 though. Although there are some, there are not a lot of snow shots in Bodie.

[thomascanty]

Dan Heller has a great star trail photo on his site with the church as the background. That's what's given me the yearning to do the same. I've been wanting to go there and experiment with that since I saw that a few years ago. Of course, I'd probably do at least one or two in the cemetery also, maybe with Evelyn Myers' ("The Angel of Bodie") marker as the backdrop.

I thought the FoB was a once a year thing... It's monthly, huh? Unfortunately, I work every Saturday, but I just might have to arrange to get a weekend off sometime so I can join the fun. I saw some pictures posted on the Death Valley forum after the one I just missed in August. It sure looked like fun!

The logo for my web site was created with a photo I shot in 2003 a day or two after the road had been reopened. There was still a lot of snow around, but it wasn't fresh snow. I'd love to see the buildings buried in the white stuff sometime... lol

[3Honu]

It is monthly but not year round monthly. April to Oct. I think April.....I know October.