Don't just sit there, shoot something! (Explore)
Big storm came through Thursday. So, naturally, I wanted to document the incoming storm clouds. I returned to the park bench which featured in a few of my other photos. I like this bench. It's sturdy, comfortable, and well-placed. Conveniently positioned for colorful sunsets over a grassy park, it's also handy for pre-jog stretches (not that I ever indulged in the jogging, but I have been known to lean here for a hamstring stretch now and then), and it's about the only seat around for a hundred yards. It sees a lot of action. When designing the park, somebody's boss must have said, "This is only one bench left — place it well."
The bench is also about 40 feet from my front door. So, I wasn't worried too much about the developing storm: if I needed to bolt back to the house, I could. I felt pretty comfortable just hanging around the bench, using it to compose some shots. Taking my time.
That's what you do around benches. You take your time. Nobody's in a hurry when they're sitting on a bench. They're not wasting time, they're passing it.
Yet while strolling back to my abode, attempting to maintain my park-bench-casualness, my wife said, "Hurry up, you're the tallest thing in the park!"
Okay, so lightning. It's not respecter of park benches.
At least, if I'd been struck, I wouldn't have to worry about not having a decent flash when I needed one.
[Highest position in Explore: 137 on Monday, August 27, 2007]
(2007-08-23-storm-4149-new)
#CapturedPhotoContest_Inhabitat
Comments and faves
citruskapsel, ajpresto714, bigbuckaroo, julie_h, and 18 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Fstop Mathai (58 months ago | reply)
wow ! this is an awesome perspective !
citruskapsel (58 months ago | reply)
love the perspective...
jordy_p (58 months ago | reply)
great angle!! love the colors!
Venvierra (58 months ago | reply)
Awsome!
Thanks for posting in the Park Life Thread!
Please add your Beautiful Photo to:
Beauty is in the *Eye* of the Beholder!
Gertie_DU (58 months ago | reply)
fantastic colours and angle :<)
seen in Beauty is in the *Eye* of the Beholder!
blogrodent (58 months ago | reply)
Thanks, everybody, for the kudos and the appreciation!
julie_h (58 months ago | reply)
You're invited to add this fantastic image toSaturday Shutterbugs.
Great angle. Fantastic capture of a seriously foreboding sky!
blogrodent (58 months ago | reply)
Thanks, Julie, for the invite!
Done.
julie_h (58 months ago | reply)
Great entry! I just love this!!
I saw this in the "C is for..." theme on Saturday Shutterbugs!
julie_h (58 months ago | reply)
You have my vote for the "C is for..." theme! I'd invite it, but I already did! - from Saturday Shutterbugs ;-)
mickymazda1 (58 months ago | reply)
Th colours, the clouds, the converging lines and the skewed angle all combine to produce a tense, dramatic, memorable shot! Well done.
You have my vote for the "C is for..." theme! Please add this fantastic photo to Saturday Shutterbugs!
blogrodent (58 months ago | reply)
Thanks, Julie and Micky! I appreciate the vote and the compliments! Thanks for checking it out.
Zack & Dana (58 months ago | reply)
Love the angle this was shot at!
You have my vote in the "C is for..." theme in Saturday Shutterbugs!
simply_victoria (58 months ago | reply)
Love this. I had no clue what it was until I really looked. Great angle!
You have my vote in the "C is for..." theme in Saturday Shutterbugs!
blogrodent (58 months ago | reply)
Thanks, Dana and Victoria!
rascalish [deleted] (58 months ago | reply)
You have my vote in the "C is for..." theme in Saturday Shutterbugs!
streakgirl (58 months ago | reply)
Love, love, love this shot. The angle is unique and the contrast between the red of the bench and the deep blue of the sky is wonderful!
You have my vote for the "C is for..." theme! Saturday Shutterbugs!
julie_h (58 months ago | reply)
Congrats! This was voted a winner in the "C is for..." theme on Saturday Shutterbugs!
Michelle Miramontes (58 months ago | reply)
simply terrific
blogrodent (58 months ago | reply)
Thanks for all the votes, and the nice comments! I really appreciate it.
wofusa (58 months ago | reply)
I have the same camera but i can't get this colours!
is it touched up?
ce3po (58 months ago | reply)
Good perspective. ;-)
golden fire (58 months ago | reply)
Great colours and shot...the circular arm rest glues it altogether for me!
Silent Observer (58 months ago | reply)
The contrast in colors in this photo is very powerful. Beautifully done!
blogrodent (58 months ago | reply)
@ wofusa, ce3po, golden fire and Silent Observer: Thanks!
ki.ka (on-off) (58 months ago | reply)
i like this pic a lot, saw it in the 5 flickr favs contest (winner!!) and still think it is one of your best shot!!
blogrodent (57 months ago | reply)
Thanks, ki.ka67!
blogrodent (57 months ago | reply)
wofusa, by the way, yes, I post-process almost all my work. The shot likes fine in-camera and usually looks pretty good on the computer, but almost everything can use a little digital noise romoval, saturation and contrast enhancement, and local contrast enhancement. For this shot, though, I really pulled out the stops on the saturation. I thought it looked much better with bright colors. Plus, the bench is really more of a brown color, but the camera saw it as a more reddish color (probably because of the warm light). So, I added some red to make it pop more against the blue clouds, and I enhanced the blue in the sky a bit more, too.
Fadzly @ Shutterhack (57 months ago | reply)
Composition is one area of photography that begs for constant nourishment. I keep looking for new ideas and new subject matter with which to improve my skills and creativity as a photographer. Sometimes I feel a little stale, and other times I'm "on the jazz" so to speak. It's when I see photos like this one here makes me feel creative and my excitement level for photography is so high.
blogrodent (57 months ago | reply)
Thanks, Shutterhack, for your viery kind and thoughtful words. I appeciate it a lot.
I've noticed you usually leave great comments. This one is no exception!
Pleased to meetcha!
Eden-Lys (57 months ago | reply)
Great Image!
You are I n v i t e d!
Pls Tag: FlickrElite
FLICKR ELITE GROUP
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Seen in Flickr Elite Group (?)
blogrodent (57 months ago | reply)
Thanks for the invite, Eden-lys!
dellafels (57 months ago | reply)
Superb!
Seen in:
FLICKR ELITE
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Seen in Flickr Elite Group (?)
Kirpernicus (57 months ago | reply)
Cool shot, love the color and unusual angle.
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Eye Candy!, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
blogrodent (57 months ago | reply)
Thanks for the invite, Kirpernicus! Done.
r.t.ficial (57 months ago | reply)
great perspective
Viewed in Eye Candy!
vingt_deux (54 months ago | reply)
whoa! this is gorgeous!
NebraskaSC (50 months ago | reply)
Please post your amazing photo to Illinois Thunderstorms
Please tag your photo "Illinois Thunderstorms"
Avant-Gardenist (48 months ago | reply)
Would you please plant this in the Avant-Garden?
.