Roadside Rocket

[Chris Dodkin]

America is a strange place. As you drive along the freeways, you'll see giant donuts, giant burgers, and maybe even a giant rocket!

This is the payload stage of a Delta III rocket - sitting on the side of Interstate 5 in Santa Ana, CA.

The Delta III rocket was designed and engineered by Boeing in Orange county, and first launched in 1960. This nosecone would carry a 4.5 ton orbital satellite.

You can find information on this and many other roadside wonders here: Roadside America - Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions

X-Pro1 and 18mm Lens

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Close up of the engine bell and plumbing

X-Pro1 and 18mm Lens

 

[Dave Moss]

Amazing some of the things you find beside the side of the road!! I remember when they built a flying saucer resturant outside the gates of USAF Alconbury in Cambridgeshire for the US serviceman to use somebody had the bright idea that it would attract them (the resturant closed in the end it became a macdonalds)Love the second shot Chris

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Dave - I think I've been in that McDonalds!

There's a flying saucer motel in Gila Bend AZ that we drive by sometimes - I'll have to take some pics

 

[Brian Moore]

I like the first shot very much, Chris. How do you get the dark sky? Is it a filter or in-camera processing or post-processing or what? Thanks.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Brian - I used a polarizer when I took the shot, then used a RED filter in my B&W PP to get the sky nearly black - so a bit of both.

You could have used a polarizer and red filter on a film camera with B&W film to get the same effect I think.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Nice shots, Chris. Good to see lots of detail in the second, despite shooting from underneath. Love the tone in the first.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Rob - used a push process preset to start the B&W, think it suits the theme nicely with slightly harder blacks and more grain

 

[Pete Askew]

Lovely pair of images Chris. Great PP on that first shot and I really like the tones on the second. Not quite as compact as stamp collecting, but an interesting hobby none the less!!