Before The Coffee » Photography

Actually I did some colorizing on this one, I didn’t intend to, I just started day dreaming while adjusting the color sliders, when I woke I thought, “that ain’t bad.”

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  • MEM - July 17, 2009 - 2:32 pm

    Not bad at all – in fact, quite good. 🙂 I watched part of the classic African Queen film recently on tv, the colorized version. Made me think of how our brains “see.” Imagine our believing black and white was all; that my red is your red is their red.. Color-eyes. Hmmm.ReplyCancel

  • JRP - July 22, 2009 - 7:32 pm

    so much in this shot that i love…
    I’m a huge barn fan..I pull over on the side of the road to photograph barns constantly.
    I love the tracks in the foreground – this is shot a perfect angle.
    I love the colorizing – great muted tones…definitely reminds me of a dream.
    And that sky…ahh…my kind of sky!ReplyCancel

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I did a U-turn when I saw this old home and had to get a couple shots with the magnificent sky in the background. I walked on the property a few steps to shoot and it wasn’t long before I spotted a tractor moving toward me in high gear. I thought “Ok here comes the codger to chew me out.” I could have walked to the car and driven away but I thought I would stay and hear him out. His first words, “you wanna hear about the history of this house?” The guy was so nice, we talked for an hour and he asked me to stop by and meet the family. I thanked him and said he could see the picture on the computer and he said “I don’t mess with computers.”  I said “you’re a lucky man.”

The home was built before the Civil War with additions later. The original wood planks are the wide ones adjacent to the front door and were “pit cut” meaning one man stood in a pit and another man above, they would pull the long saw blade back and forth to cut the wood. I wonder what the pay was back then?

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  • John Barclay - July 9, 2009 - 9:04 pm

    Nice Ferrell. I’m thinking a bit of PS work to get rid of the annoying poles and wires might not be a bad idea though…ReplyCancel

  • Nadia - July 10, 2009 - 6:56 pm

    I don’t know … I think that the poles and wires add to the “charm” of the image … old meets new. Now, I guess that I will have to head over to St. Mary’s County for some scouting. Thanks for paving the way Ferrell.ReplyCancel

  • JRP - July 10, 2009 - 7:13 pm

    I love the angle of the hay in the field leading you up to the house…i dont mind the wires as all as Nadia said – it’s old meets new. You had an amazing sky and the colors just POP!! Wonderful processing!ReplyCancel

  • Bob Towery - July 10, 2009 - 8:58 pm

    Gorgeous, “Americana” shot.ReplyCancel

  • Mike Palmer - July 15, 2009 - 7:28 am

    Great Find!!!ReplyCancel

  • Rich Dahlgren - July 21, 2009 - 8:54 pm

    I love the silvery “quilted” feel of the roofing. Nice restraint on the hdr makes this one easy on the eyes. Great work!ReplyCancel

  • Anna - August 4, 2011 - 1:01 am

    God damnit…
    You know what that means…ReplyCancel

  • Gary Guest - September 20, 2011 - 2:14 pm

    Great shot and processing. You have captured the moment well. Well done.ReplyCancel

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I enjoy photographing the rinky dink carnivals run by gypsies more than the hi-tech ones with super-sonic rides. Who doesn’t love the music, kids screaming, the food and clicking sounds from loosely assembled rides with rusty bolts. I drove past the carnival on Rt. 5 St. Mary’s County, it was closed and surrounded with a chain link fence but the skies were too good to pass up the chance to get some decent shots from the outside. I composed pics that included only the top of the rides so my images were clean. Circling around the fence I found a gate left open by the staff so I slipped through and walked around an empty park. It was exciting to be the only one there, and just in case I had my story all ready in case I ran into someone along the way. “Oh I’m looking for someone to get permission to take pictures for a newspaper article.” No one showed, then 2 guys left the bar across the street and walked toward the park. One guy zig-zagged and staggered toward me, stopping at times talking to himself. I hid behind the carousel and dashed back through the gate, never noticed. Whew, that was a close one.

If we’re not friends on facebook yet, what are you waiting for, search: Ferrell McCollough or
http://www.facebook.com/ferrellmc


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Carnival

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  • John Barclay - July 7, 2009 - 12:03 pm

    Really… a drunk carnival worker? I’m shocked.

    A moving image Ferrell. I like the PP work as well. You still are da man!

    That’s funny John, Actually, you da man!ReplyCancel

  • JRP - July 7, 2009 - 6:59 pm

    Texture is my favorite technique besides HDR to work with. This is a great combination. The angle works and so does the texture!

    You lucky dog getting to go into an empty carnival ground! I would have loved that! I gotta come hang out with you! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Nadia McIlhany - July 8, 2009 - 8:05 am

    Love the colors and the texture Ferrell. I guess that I may have to start driving around St. Mary’s County. You find all the best places.ReplyCancel

  • MEM - July 10, 2009 - 8:50 am

    I love these, Ferrell! I’ve always had a soft spot for carnivals, big tents, the creaking sounds. The angles you’ve chosen get the sense of sky texture, shine of colorful chrome, even old, and the sometimes dizzying movement from child’s eyes to lift of mushroom-topped car into clouds. Thanks for sharing them.ReplyCancel

  • Bob Towery - July 10, 2009 - 9:00 pm

    I’m going to have to learn to do these textures. If I can get myself back into PS that is (I’m a dedicated LR guy). What a great and different “feel” to these images.ReplyCancel

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Babies become tots, tots become kids, kids become teens. All those toys you buy get discarded and that’s why we have yard sales. Yard sales keep our junk moving around the country and out of the landfill. Think of it as a green alternative, the recycling of junk, less mucking up the water system and soil. When your junk gets too much for you to manage it’s moved to another home and the best part they pay you for hauling your junk away. The government could never have come up with an idea so clever.


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Babydoll Waits

  • John Barclay - July 1, 2009 - 11:08 am

    Brilliant! I’ve got to have a Yard sale and now have a reason. It will make me politically correct! Yeah, thats me… politically correct… NOT.ReplyCancel

  • Mike Palmer - July 2, 2009 - 11:39 am

    clever and spooky, why is it that dolls bring such joy and yet in the right setting be so scary.ReplyCancel

  • JRP - July 6, 2009 - 10:32 pm

    I’m actually having a yard sale Saturday – LOL! 🙂

    Now this is just so full of mystery!

    Fantastically lit and the scene was set up amazingly!

    I’ll be sending the buyers your way, good luck!ReplyCancel

  • Felipe - February 10, 2010 - 5:11 pm

    I must say, this is a masterfully done picture. I love everything about it, the feel of it… everything.ReplyCancel

    • beforethecoffee - February 10, 2010 - 10:52 pm

      Hi Felipe, Thank you for stopping by, feel free to use the pics if you like them. A link back would be great too!

      If you buy Photomatix don’t forget to use the coupon code for 15% off. Coupon Code: beforethecoffee

      Happy Shooting, FerrellReplyCancel

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I’m a little rusty on my farm equipment but I know an out of plumb barn when I see one. I didn’t trespass on this one.

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  • JRP - July 6, 2009 - 10:08 pm

    Oh what can I say that I haven’t already said. You’re work is exactly what I strive for my work to look like. I’ve been so caught up with the portrait side of my business that I haven’t had as much time to go out and get the things I love capturing such as scenes like this. The B&W REALLY works perfectly like this.

    I love your work so keep on bloggin!!

    Jen

    Jen, Thank you so much, I’ve been checking out your blog too. I enjoy seeing your creative twist on composition and processing techniques. FerrellReplyCancel

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