A few hours after a couple of my colleagues declared that power lines were most definitely the most boring sight in the world, I decided to see if I could find an interesting perspective.
I drove out to a great lookout point, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) away from the city centre. There is a long, deep valley here and although I was hoping for a dramatic sunset, there was no flaring colour to work with.
Then I suddenly realised, as dusk faded, that all I had to do was swap my 18-125mm lens for my 70-300mm lens and use the wonderful series of shapes and silhouettes that surrounded the gentle arc of the power lines, against the monochrome of the sky.
By shooting from this angle and keeping the frame asymmetrical, I was able to highlight the shapes, while allowing the pylons to disappear into the distance.
I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 70-300mm lens. F5.6, 1/45 sec, ISO 800, focal length 300mm.
Featured in SKYSCAPES, November 2009.
Featured in 60s GLORY, November 2009.
Featured in A VIEW SOMEWHERE, November 2009.
Challenge winner, POWER LINES, July 2010.
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Comments
Greetings David; Excellent effect and title. Nicely done. I hope your friends changed their minds about power lines.
steve
Thank you very much, Steve. They did have a chuckle when I showed them this image – and it drew some VERY interesting feedback when I posted it on my blog at the time!
– David McMahon
Pretty SHOCKING but I like it!!! :))
Full marks for humour. The perfect spot for an AC/DC concert!
– David McMahon
Thanks, Di
– David McMahon
A good spot for a Frank ZAPPA concert too :))..lolololol…i am soooo funneeee
I concede defeat – you take the points in this contest. But the atmosphere is electric!
– David McMahon
it’s easy to find beauty in the obvious places – flowers, pretty people – i think the power lines are beautiful too!
Thank you so much, Helen. My parents would be delighted to read that comment, because I was raised to appreciate beauty in the most unexpected places.
– David McMahon
great!
Thanks very much, PhotoLoi.
– David McMahon
You can even make the unsightly into a work of art – great shot!
That’s a huge compliment, Shulie – thank you so very sincerely.
– David McMahon
Great shot, David. Might be a good venue for the Electric Light Orchestra, too.
That’s a top pun, Sir Michael. Yes, ELO would have been very ``switched on’’! Or even Sir Cliff Richard, singing Power To The People!
– David McMahon
Or Monty Pylon’s Flying Circuit…..
I bow to genius …. but I’m glad this is not a ``power struggle’’!
– David McMahon
Nope. Just keeping up on current affairs. Cheers!
Like Buzz Lightglobe!
– David McMahon