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Off Into the Horizon... an image of New Mexico · 09:14 PM

Westbound train in E. New Mexico.

Peter Zack · 04-25-2008, 10:02 PM

Matthew, It's a funny thing, some shots. If I was standing by the roadside and saw this scene, I'd bet you $100 I wouldn't take this shot. But looking at it I find it really compelling and I can't say for sure why. I think it's the big sky. I only wish the flare wasn't there. Glad you took the shot though and posted it. Nice B&W conversion as well.

Matthew Roberts · 04-25-2008, 10:46 PM

Thanks Peter. To me there's a romantic, wild sense, evoked by the openess and endlessness hinted at in the picture. with just a little bit of civilization: the train and grain elevator.

I just realized that the flare looked much better in the color version; I had a picture without the flare, but chose this one on purpose b/c of it, looking at it in color.

roentarre · 04-25-2008, 11:07 PM

It certainly looks good. A bit of grain might even make the shot better

**monochrome** · 04-25-2008, 11:07 PM

Matthew: 125 years ago William Henry Jackson could have taken this photo - and might have done so quite near this spot. I knock around the edge of the sagebrush prairie every three or four years (Raton, Trinidad, CO / Cimarron, NM, etc.) and this has a familiar feel that really grabbed me. For me the distant grain elevator makes the shot - that land makes us seem so small in it. Choosing to desaturate it was a great decision.

If I may ask, where is this and what railroad is it?

Matthew Roberts · 04-26-2008, 07:15 AM

Thx, roentarre.

Monochrome, it's a really familiar place for me, I live in Austin, Texas, and get out to West Texas and E. New Mexico at least once or twice a year.

IF I remember right, I think this has to be Melrose, NM, on the BNSF Transcon between Clovis and Vaughn.

**Sailor** · 04-26-2008, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

Matthew, It's a funny thing, some shots. If I was standing by the roadside and saw this scene, I'd bet you $100 I wouldn't take this shot. But looking at it I find it really compelling and I can't say for sure why. I think it's the big sky. I only wish the flare wasn't there. Glad you took the shot though and posted it. Nice B&W conversion as well.

Mathew, Peter hit the nail on the head - I don't think I would have "seen" this shot at all. I'm not troubled by the flare.

Great job.

Jer

Matthew Roberts · 04-26-2008, 03:48 PM

Thanks Jer. I took a second look at the flare, and it's fine with me now.

The place was pretty desolate, that part of N. Mex. and the Texas Panhandle are pretty much one and the same.

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04-25-2008, 10:02 PM	#2
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Matthew, It's a funny thing, some shots. If I was standing by the roadside and saw this scene, I'd bet you $100 I wouldn't take this shot. But looking at it I find it really compelling and I can't say for sure why. I think it's the big sky. I only wish the flare wasn't there. Glad you took the shot though and posted it. Nice B&W conversion as well.

04-25-2008, 10:46 PM	#3
Matthew Roberts Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bertram Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 584 Original Poster	Thanks Peter. To me there's a romantic, wild sense, evoked by the openess and endlessness hinted at in the picture. with just a little bit of civilization: the train and grain elevator. I just realized that the flare looked much better in the color version; I had a picture without the flare, but chose this one on purpose b/c of it, looking at it in color.

04-25-2008, 11:07 PM	#4
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	It certainly looks good. A bit of grain might even make the shot better

04-25-2008, 11:07 PM	#5
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Matthew: 125 years ago William Henry Jackson could have taken this photo - and might have done so quite near this spot. I knock around the edge of the sagebrush prairie every three or four years (Raton, Trinidad, CO / Cimarron, NM, etc.) and this has a familiar feel that really grabbed me. For me the distant grain elevator makes the shot - that land makes us seem so small in it. Choosing to desaturate it was a great decision. If I may ask, where is this and what railroad is it?

04-26-2008, 07:15 AM	#6
Matthew Roberts Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bertram Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 584 Original Poster	Thx, roentarre. Monochrome, it's a really familiar place for me, I live in Austin, Texas, and get out to West Texas and E. New Mexico at least once or twice a year. IF I remember right, I think this has to be Melrose, NM, on the BNSF Transcon between Clovis and Vaughn.

04-26-2008, 08:38 AM	#7
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Originally posted by Peter Zack Matthew, It's a funny thing, some shots. If I was standing by the roadside and saw this scene, I'd bet you $100 I wouldn't take this shot. But looking at it I find it really compelling and I can't say for sure why. I think it's the big sky. I only wish the flare wasn't there. Glad you took the shot though and posted it. Nice B&W conversion as well. Mathew, Peter hit the nail on the head - I don't think I would have "seen" this shot at all. I'm not troubled by the flare. Great job. Jer

04-26-2008, 03:48 PM	#8
Matthew Roberts Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bertram Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 584 Original Poster	Thanks Jer. I took a second look at the flare, and it's fine with me now. The place was pretty desolate, that part of N. Mex. and the Texas Panhandle are pretty much one and the same.

Off Into the Horizon... an image of New Mexico

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