Route 66: More Seligman, AZ

The photograph above was taken in Seligman, AZ back when I was following Route 66.

Processing Notes: This is a single raw file converted using Adobe Camera Raw. I raised the Blacks and Fill Light sliders to get good shadow detail and then opened the image as a Smart Object. I then applied some of the actions that come with my new on-line HDR class (antique color and soft contrast). I also added a few curves and hue/saturation adjustment layers and painted on the masks to control which areas of the image were affected. Here's what the Layers palette looked like for the final image:

Comments

[Balliolman]

This photograph is superb! The combination of HDR artistry and the range of details means this image repays long and appreciative viewing.

The inclusion of the layers palette, Ben, is considerate of you and invaluable. Thank you.

Balliolman :)

[Todd Williams]

Ben, it's great when you share the information on your processing of your pictures here. With the layers, nicely labeled, it's a mini tutorial.

I am this far away from taking your HDR Tutorial, just waiting till I can spare up the $. Going to be money well spent.

I have been watching your site since you started it, and really have loved and appreciated the photo sharing that you have done lately. I think still, as a full sequence of pix, that I like the neon graveyard shots especially.

Todd

[Snick Dillmore]

Dude, you are taking some of the all time coolest, but perhaps not timeless photographs, of all time. Many of your "nostalgic" photos do not show love. Black and white is one way to do that. But merely (*merely*) showing an image with no story is lame, like a reporter who just sneaks into abandoned energy plant or aircraft hangers without taking in addition, photographs ƒ the people who used to make those places into real places, that paid them. I know you are an extrovert, so interview the people around there, if it takes another day or three, and show them the photo, and get some interview sound bites to add as text for each photo. - Your evil brother Nikolaos

[Ben Willmore]

Part of the idea of Route 66 is that many of these places are abandoned and lifeless. Many of the people who lived in the area are either dead, embarrassed that things have been allowed to become so run down, or have turned their place into something designed to attract tourists (which I largely didn't shoot). There were a few exceptions, but, like you said, I was in too much of a hurry to drive the entire length to spend the time to really get to know them. I would like to shoot more with people and I will as I progress as a photographer. Maybe I'll follow Route 66 once again to capture it from a different perspective. I'm currently thinking of shooting grungy environments with people... I've been thinking about shooting the people who run junkyards and other similar places.

Thanks for the honest feedback bro.

-Ben

[Idetrorce]

very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce