Bus Graveyard
I’m pretty sure these old buses are very SQUEAKY, which happens to be this week’s PhotoHunt theme. This picture was taken at an old bus graveyard just outside of Basset, Virginia, and is a very poor representation of the hundreds of old buses that are there. This image is a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image, and is one of my first attempts at this type of photography. It worked pretty well in this case because it was an overcast day and I was able to produce an image with a lot of detail in spite of the conditions.
Having worked (briefly) as a mechanic for Trailways many years ago, I can tell you there would be plenty of squeaks and groans in these guys if they were ever to move again.
I can see the difference in dynamic range in this shot, but how did you get it? Is this a filter? Camera setting? Did you revert to film and use a specialized film for it? It kind of reminds me of Velvia in some ways. Inquiring minds want to know! Especially since digital images tend to suffer in the dynamics department anyway.
Mojos last blog post..Shutterday #8 – Theme 97: "Skeletons Not in the Closet"
Mojo, I created this by taking three bracketed exposures with a range of +-2.0 EV. I then used Photoshop to combine into a single image making some adjustments for sharpness, color and contrast. There are several applications out there for creating HDR images and Flickr has several groups with some examples that are much better than what I put up here.
Now I know where old buses go when they fade away! You’d never know that it was an overcast day with the quality of that picture – it’s fantastic!
Lindas last blog post..A Christmas Collage 2008
Thanks for the compliment, Linda. HDR images are an interesting tool to have in the arsenal. It really helps to overcome difficult situations.
Great photo, and interesting how you made it. Our little Fuji does OK, but we don’t think these HDR images will be in our future!
Happy Hunting!
Cats~Goats~Quotess last blog post..Photo Hunt ~ Squeaky<
Actually, if you can adjust the exposure settings on your Fuji, or can take bracketed exposures, and have a tripod, you can create HDR images with that camera. If you’re interested, do a search on Flickr for HDR and there are some pretty good instructions there.
pick one out Lee and we will convert it to a motor home..:)))
robert bournes last blog post..A Guest Post by Ignored
Don’t tempt me, Robert. If I had the cash flow and the know-how, I would love to convert one of these to a motor home. Wouldn’t that be great?
Nice shot! And excellent choice for the theme too! Merry Christmas!
philoss last blog post..Merry Christmas Y’all!
Thanks for stopping by, Philos. And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well.
That’s something different for squeaky. The shot came out real good too.
http://crizcats.blogspot.com/
Criz Lais last blog post..PHOTO HUNTERS – SQUEAKY
Thanks, Criz. I liked your mouse pictures too. I especially liked the fact you hadn’t chomped him yet.
Cool shot, great colors and details. I did not get a chance to do the last two weeks. Hope to be back soon.
Claudias last blog post..Snow in Redding
Thanks for stopping by, Claudia. Especially since you haven’t been able to participate recently. I’ll look forward to your contribution soon.
There sure are a lot of buses in that graveyard. Great post and have a happy new year.
kissedalotatoadss last blog post..Saturday Photo Hunt : SQUEAKY
You just don’t know, kissedalotatoads. There are acres and acres and acres covered with old buses. I’m betting there are some real unusual specimens out there too. I can’t wait to go back next year. I found this during a camping trip with a group that goes back to that area every year. I’m planning to try to get permission to do a little more thorough exploration.
Nice shot, Lee. Imagine how many passengers those buses have seen! The stories they could tell.
Kathys last blog post..Weirdest Trip Memento I’ve Ever Saved
No kidding, Kathy. Can you imagine if these guys could talk like the characters in Cars?
That’s some color…composition is good too. One day I’m going to have to learn to do HDR.
It’s really not hard to do HDR, June. The secret is to use a tripod, get a good application for doing the tone mapping and learning how to use it. It really does give great vibrant color under difficult shooting conditions.
I bet they smell really musty as well as being squeaky
rachs last blog post..Photohunt – Squeaky
I’m sure there are some musty smelling ones out there. I didn’t stick my head in the door to find out!
I was pushing my luck as it was since it was posted no trespassing.
I love the reflection in the window of the bus. That really makes it even more interesting! Very nice picture, and a different approach to the theme! I love it!
Jientjes last blog post..Photo Hunt ‘ Squeaky"
Thank you, Jientje. One of the things that made this shot special for me was the reflections in the windshield. As you said, it just adds another level of interest. I appreciate your kind comments and am glad you enjoyed my contribution.
Very sharp – Squeaky image.
Ailenis last blog post..PhotoHunt – ‘Squeaky’.
Aileni, thank you for paying my blog a visit. I appreciate your comments.
I think you’re right – those must pretty squeaky. Great shot for a dull day!
as last blog post..PhotoHunt: squeaky
I’m glad you liked my submission, A. And thank you for paying my blog a visit.
Interesting topic. I suppose old buses have to go somewhere. Out of inspiration so far, so no Photo Hunt from me this week. Have a nice holiday season.
Colin Campbells last blog post..WTF Where are the Corgis?
Colin, I was really taken aback when I drove past this bus graveyard. It’s hard to appreciate the scope until you see it in person. In fact, if you go to Basset, VA in Google Earth and look just west of town you can get an idea how big an area all of these buses cover.
Excellent photo. I had to look up HDR since it is new to me. I like it. As the first commenter mentioned, it does have the nice color and saturation of Velvia. Do you also use raw when you do these types of shots?
It is also a very interesting subject – Where do old buses go? I’ve seen a airplane graveyard outside of Tucson AZ. That is pretty interesting especially since there are planes from all the old air cariers like TWA, etc.
Nice shot for this week. I like shots that make me research. And thanks for stopping by.
martas last blog post..PhotoHunt: Squeaky
Hi, Marta, and yes, I do shoot in RAW when I create the images for HDR. In fact, I shoot pretty much exclusively in RAW because it gives so much flexibility in post processing. And any editing I do is then non-destructive, which is important to me. However, these HDR images can also be created from JPG or any other format, depending on which application you use for the tone mapping.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere. I hope you’ll come back to visit often.
Your photo has intense color, very rich! Your subject is kind of sad; a bus graveyard, who knew! Oh the story they could tell! Thanks for visiting!
kellys last blog post..Squeaky
Thank you, Kelly, that’s one of the nice things about HDR images is that the colors end up being so rich. And you’re absolutely right about the stories the buses could tell. I’ll bet there are also some stories we’re glad we don’t know.
I bet they are pretty squeaky. Beautiful pic with all the colors!
goofy girls last blog post..Squeaky
Thanks, Goofy Girl, I appreciate your kind comments. And thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for visiting my photo blog.
I’m sorry that my blog is in Dutch, but on the bottom of the blog there is a translating tool. Maybe you can use it in the future. (but it translates a little bit weird I think)
Greetings from Belgium !
Mamapippa, I did miss the translation tool. And I apologize for assuming it was in German. It was actually kind of fun visiting a blog in another language. We Americans can be arrogant sometimes in thinking that English is the only language in use on the Internet. And that’s definitely not the case. I will be back to visit for sure!
Great shot. A lot of work to get an amazing photo. Like your choice for squeaky. I thought is was a tough theme.
Thanks for dropping by.
Hi, PastormacsAnn! I have found that in order to be able to post most weeks I really have to use my imagination and stretch. If I didn’t post an explanation I’m sure a lot of people would think I didn’t even pay attention to the theme. But with a little imagination and some creative writing, I can find a picture in my collection for almost any theme, I think.
Thanks for stopping by, and I appreciate your comments.
Great photo!
Happy New Year!
Blessings,
~*~
Lauras last blog post..Photo Hunt #5 – Squeaky
Thank you, Laura, I’m glad you enjoyed my submission. And Happy New Year to you as well!
Nice choice. The buses here in Portland have a horrible squeal to their brakes. Even the new ones! And the doors, and the seats…must be inherent in buses.
Terri – teelgees last blog post..PhotoHunt – Squeaky
I think you’re right, Terri, it’s just not possible to build a bus that doesn’t squeak. Thanks for stopping by my humble spot in the blogosphere.
Oh, I can just hear the squeaks and squeals in those, too. Excellent choice…and thanks so much for your kind comments. Have a great week and a happy, happy new year!
Patricia (Pollywog Creek)s last blog post..
Hi, Patricia, I enjoyed my visit to your blog and will be back soon. Thank you for returning the favor.
What a great choice for this week’s theme! I can hear all of those buses squeaking now! My school bus was very squeaky many years ago!
sammawows last blog post..PhotoHunt Theme: Squeaky
I can’t remember if my school bus was squeaky or not. It’s been too many years. It’s funny, but your comment sparked a thought about how long it has been since I rode the bus to school. If memory serves, the last year I was a student on a school bus was 1968. So it’s been forty years. The last two years I was in high school I lived within walking distance of school, so that was when I was a sophomore in high school.
Thanks for reminding me how old I am, Sammawow!
great DOF and I love the colors, wonderful addition to squeaky!
Amanda
Amandas last blog post..Name 3 of each
Thanks, Amanda, I’m glad you enjoyed my contribution.