Old Farm Stand by Richard Lewis 2014
Since I’ve started photographing them, I’m noticed more and more abandoned structures along the side of the road. This odd structure recently caught my eye. It was barely visible through the trees and vegetation that have grown up around it. I wondered what it was so stopped to explore. An old, barely readable sign said “Fresh Fruits and Vegetables” so it was a farm stand.
Farming is a big part of South Jersey and farm stands and markets dot the landscape. This one didn’t make it. It was well built with steel beams and an enclosed office. A lot of care went into building this place and it may have thrived in its time. Now it is left to history and the New Jersey Pine Barrens’ ability to quickly reclaim structures that are no longer wanted or needed.
In addition to my new passion for photographing abandoned places, I took this photograph because of how the shadows juxtaposed with the wooden beams that cast them. It creates a kind of abstraction.
How I Did It – Yes this is an HDR photograph. Those of you who follow my work probably know I’m not big on using this technique. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and is meant to extend the range of light a camera sensor can record. It is great for brightly lit scenes that also have dark shadows. HDR images need more work than just running them through your HDR software and picking a suitable preset. HDR causes innumerable defects like chromatic aberrations (fringes of blue and magenta that shows on the edges of darker objects) halos, noise and more. All these need to be taken care so the finished HDR image is as technically perfect as a non-HDR image.
HDR has been a controversial technique ever since its inception. There is good HDR and bad HDR and the definition of each may change from artist to artist. HDR is a tool and like any other tool it needs to be understood and mastered. Whatever new worlds the technique opens up, it still must end up producing technically good art.
Enjoy
Yes… the lines and shadows are what drew me in also… love your take on ‘HDR’. I use it whenever the subject or my whim needs it. Great last line…”Whatever new worlds the technique opens up, it still must end up producing technically good art.
Mike, your HDR work is some of my favorites. With your work it is not necessarily about the technique but using the technique to bring out the places and things you photograph.
Great image on a difficult subject for me, ie road side stands.
Thank Lou. These things have been a challenge for me as well. It’s kind of hard switching from beautiful scenery to old and dilapidated structures.
Nice comp. I also like the open roof joists. As to HDR, you must have edited this well because I didn’t think HDR until you mentioned it.
LOVE IT! The lines, shadows and all the crisp details are wonderful … and the processing too! What I tell people all the time is that there is ‘good HDR and bad HDR’. This certainly is good HDR!