Critique Welcomed Telegraph Road

[Chris Dodkin]

Taken as we headed West on Old Highway 80 in Ocotillo, California this evening.

Hwy 80 used to be the main road from Arizona to San Diego, until Interstate 8 was initiated in 1964 - after that, the road, and the businesses along it, gradually fell into disuse and disrepair.

But the old telegraph lines still run along the old road - a reminder of it's former glory.

X-Pro1 and 60mm Lens

 

[Brian Moore]

Lovely tones to these, Chris. Especially the first one. I like the compo on both.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, beautiful. The tones and comp give a sympathetic view of the neglect of the road. Very nice!

 

[Davie Hudson]

The quality of the shots is going thru the roof at the moment, excellent !

 

[Beth Carter]

sweet! the layered silhouettes and the color are amazing together.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Love these old wooded poles as they go off into the distance.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks everyone.

The light was really something yesterday evening, and I've always wanted to get a shot which showed the layering effect on distant hills.

The old road came up as the next exit from the freeway, so I headed down the offramp to see what I could find.

Drove 100 yds and the picture was right there in front of me!

Good job the old highway is deserted, because I stood in the middle of the road to take the first shot!

 

[Ralph Thornton]

I also like the layers of the mountains as they get farther away. The stark black service poles and the lines they make help the eye go deeper into the image. My only nit pick would be to crop the first image to remove the partial Serevice poles at each side.

 

[Pete Askew]

Great couple of shot and lovely layers - certainly worth the detour. You weren't tempted to head further down and stay the night in one of the motels on the old route - I understand there's one run by a Mr Bates that is very reasonable!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Ralph and Pete

Ralph, here's an alternative frame that I've worked up into a final image - It doesn't have the pole breaking the edge of the frame. What do you think?

Pete - this was the same stretch of road where i photographed that disused gas station last year - so I don't think we'd have had much luck regrading hotels!