Sitting on a park bench, waiting for a train to come.

[Cazzie]

But no trains come through here anymore. What a lovely morning hike this morning. A light 1 to 2-in dusting of wet snow came through yesterday and this morning it was on everything, the trees were beautiful. Knowing the snow would be gone form the trees soon after sunrise, I trekked out at 6:30 and took a five mile hike, These shots resulted from the hike.

At rest:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cazmodel/Railbed%20Hike%2012-5-10/onbench.jpg

An old shed on an abandoned farm. Somethings about these old outbuildings just do not look as good in color when rendered in black and white.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cazmodel/Railbed%20Hike%2012-5-10/shed_2_0_-2_tonemapped.jpg

Rails to nowhere, abandoned RR bed into Danville, VA. Another black and white image, the contrast in this format was just so much better than the color image.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cazmodel/Railbed%20Hike%2012-5-10/rail_hdr_deep_bw.jpg

A panorama of the Janey Byrd Farm using Microsoft ICE.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cazmodel/Railbed%20Hike%2012-5-10/sunrise_pano_1_stitch.jpg

Heavily played with HDR tone map of the Ringgold Station and Caboose.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cazmodel/Railbed%20Hike%2012-5-10/caboose_hdr_tonemapped_pain.jpg

[jmig]

I love the old shed and the tracks. You are right, they just seem to look better in B&W. I like the self-portrait, also. Except, you can hardly call it a 5 mile "hike" when to sit on park benches and take self-portraits. ;)

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

I too like the railroad tracks and old shed pics. The pano is interesting - is the house on the left really built on a slant?

As for the old guy on the bench - that can't be Caz cause Caz would be sportin a new 48 touque an jacket with the words Lowes and JimmieJohnson.com an the number 48 on it. :bump:

-Ed-

PS nice self portrait do you carry your tripod with you on these hikes? If so how? The k-x does a really good job - are you packing a few lenses or a zoom?

[demorier]

Am I seeing things or is the top of one shoe missing. I think we have seen that Ringgold shot before with heaps of snow around ??

[Cazzie]

Thanks all.

Yeah demorier, I had a shot from last year when we got a real nice snow, hoping for another like it this year, I despise Winter unless it snows, then I love Winter.

Ed, LOL on the jacket and cap, but it was 18° F when I left the house! I do have a large tripod, but it is much too heavy to lug around on my walks, I opted for this contraption last week, highly recommend for a portable tripod. They have them at Home Depot and Target here. Get the SLR version:

http://joby.com/gorillapod/slr/

Caz

[Chacha]

Cool shots Cazzie,

Thanks for sharing... I like that gorilla tripod. Very handy!

[Cloud9Gal]

Well look at you in the first picture!! I really like it! No way you look 64 Caz! Good on you for staying fit and in shape like you do!

My favorite shot is one of the tracks! I love any picture that shows off a road, a street, tracks. For me, it symbolizes the future, the days ahead, the hope of better days to come.

Thanks for sharing!

[Cazzie]

Well look at you in the first picture!! I really like it! No way you look 64 Caz! Good on you for staying fit and in shape like you do!

My favorite shot is one of the tracks! I love any picture that shows off a road, a street, tracks. For me, it symbolizes the future, the days ahead, the hope of better days to come.

Thanks for sharing!

Many thanks C9G. Just think of me as an old Peter Pan, in the flesh I still have the inquisitiveness of a 12 year old. Life, all life, arouses my interest. I try to find good in all, even on a 15° day.

To compare the black and white, here is a color rendition of the abandoned railroad tracks.

Caz

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cazmodel/rail_hdr_tonemapped.jpg

[djscoo]

I like it better in color!

[Cloud9Gal]

I like it better in color!


Me too!!

[Chacha]

I like it better in color!



... me three!

[demorier]

Black and white is a little challenging I think. Gotta have an eye and subject that is full of contrast for mine. This one I captured on black and white film quite some time back....gotta spot that heavy duty contrast. It could do with a tweak now it's getting a little old.