“Off the Rails”

© 2012 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

There was some lingering mist a few days ago, so I went to this spot where an old rail line runs between the trees.  The rails have been removed, but the ties still remain, offering a great texture and pattern for diminishing perspective.  I composed to follow the slight curve of the stones between the ties, used a 10 stop ND filter for a 20 second exposure, and used my credit card technique to hold back the sky from blowing out.  The fact that I still had a sunstar after a 20 second exposure is testament that it worked.  I processed to crush the shadows so that there is a clear distinction between the ties.  Enjoy!

Technical info: Canon EOS 5D MKII, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L, Haida Pro II MC ND1000 filter, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS5, and Alien Skin Exposure

Tags:  Adobe Lightroom 4, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Alien Skin Exposure, Atmosphere, Canada, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L, Canon EOS 5D MKII, Deep Color, Deep Depth of Field, Diminishing Perspective, Dustin Abbott, dustinabbott.net, Earthtones, Full Frame, Haida Pro II ND1000, Long Exposure, Manfrotto 190XB Tripod, Mist, Moody, Ontario, Petawawa, Railroad Tracks, Rocks, Shadows, Skimming Light, Thousand Word Images, Trees, Winter