kenievans Loc: Dallas

I drove out to shoot a dam spillway a few weeks ago and found they were not releasing much water but very near the dam was this huge oil pumping machine just pumping away, parts moving up and down and around. I was able to actually drive up and park near it then get out and walk around it. It was HUGE! I thought there must be some way to capture this beast that speaks to our use of fossil fuels. I finally stepped away from the project frustrated because I couldn't find the image I wanted in all the shots I had taken. Then I saw David Chinn's work on UHH. It inspired me last night to go back and try and be a little more brave about my post production work.

The first image I thought was going to work. I could see the head of a T-Rex staring menacingly down in the hammer shape of the pump. I liked the dark shadows from the back light with the texture lines in the cloudless sky. I had enlarged it to clone out something when I saw the second image. I cropped it and thought, there is my image. Now I just need to know does it work as an abstract? Does it have the message I see in it?

As always your thoughts and and downloads are welcome.

On a second note, if I am posting too much and being annoying please let me know. I am just excited to have folks I can bounce things off of and learn.

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Fossil Fuel

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rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

No, you are not posting too much, you are not posting enough. Our community welcomes participation.

Really interesting perspective on something as common as one of these. And, the name is Pumpjacks, or Jack Pump, or Sucker Rod Pump or Big Texan.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

In Kansas we called them grasshopper pumps.

For me, the second image works as an abstract but in becoming abstract, it no longer delivers your message.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I don't see the fossil fuel message, only because I'm not familiar with the pumps and wouldn't know their purpose.

#2 is mesmerizing! One of those where when you blink, what seemed to be in the foreground has now reversed. And I am looking at a face in the middle that may very well be eyeing me. Really fascinating work, Keni!

As for posting "too much," I don't think anyone feels obligated to comment; we pretty much come and go as we please

FYC is small enough that the first page usually contains all active threads. In Photo Gallery, where 100+ new topics are posted daily, people may be using only that home page to browse - or the daily digest, which only includes about 1/3 of all new topics from Gallery - so a thread can disappear quickly.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Don't stop! Many of us get inspiration to try things from this forum. Pictures that reflect nature, etc. are good and appreciated, but pictures that cause us to think are also necessary.,

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Hear, hear!

kenievans Loc: Dallas

I wish I could get out and shoot enough to have something new every day. Unfortunately I like sleeping under a roof and food in the fridge.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Thank you for the feedback OddJobber. I do like it from just an abstract perspective as well.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Linda these pumps are ubiquitous in Texas. They replaced the old windmill looking derricks and they look really cool in back lit sunset shots. They are pumping the crude oil out of the ground into pipelines. The hammer shaped heads in the first picture move up and down driving the attached pistons. I don't have a full shot of one but here is another section to give another perspective. This is what the pistons are driving. This was shot standing looking up with the top in the down position not fully extended. Looks kind of like a praying mantis in this shot.

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kenievans Loc: Dallas

Thank you Mike. I hope I don't give you cause to regret that comment!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks Keni! One of fun aspects of a worldwide forum is seeing new stuff through another photographer's eye. Around Yakima we have irrigation equipment that also resembles praying mantises

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Powerful shots, and I agree with a previous commenter that the top one has an emotional impact, the bottom one is abstract. For me, the bottom one is more unusual, and a cut above. The top one does exactly what you wanted, and very well, as a comparison of it to your descriptive color shot shows.
It's very good to have you showing your work, and your openness will take you far, I am sure.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I really like both of these, Keni, but particularly the second. It looks totally abstract to me. Without the first shot I would have no idea of its real identity but I love the lines and the optical illusion effect. Very well done!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

We all have Smartphones (assumption around here, but yes), and carry them with us all the time. Just today, I was walking down Yucca St towards Cahuenga in Hollywood when I glanced down and noticed somebody had painted multicolor Koi fish on the sidewalk. I took a quick image with Adobe Lightroom Mobile and will work on it later.

Expand the possibilities.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Bob that means a lot coming from you. I really admire your work that I have seen. You are all amazing artists. I hope to be half as good you some day. I feel like David Venable on QVC doing my happy dance. I'm ready to shoot.....now!