Wind
Man in nature is an interesting combination in photography. Our relationship to the rest of creation has more often than not been to the benefit of man and the detriment of the other inhabitants of the earth. Where is the balance between our needs and nature?
This photographer has selected one of those inventions of man that may strike that balance, the wind farms of Southern California. These majestic structures rise above the desert in passes where consistent wind provides energy to generate electricity. I find it interesting that this photograph captures the wind turbine generators in the traditional landscape layers of foreground, middle ground and distance, while the hills are all in the distance plain. The shutter speed selected by the photographer captured just the right amount of movement in the blades to indicate rotation. The low hanging clouds tell us that weather is involved in the story of the wind mills.
I would like to make a couple of suggestions concerning the sky. I like the clouds but by allowing us to see the clear sky above them we have defined their size. If the sky were cropped down just below the top of the clouds our imagination will tell us they are much larger and more threatening. Also the clouds are a little muddy in tone and could be lightened up a little in the highlight areas and darkened in the shadows to give more contrast. I think this would add additional drama to the image.
Click on Image 
Modified 
January 30th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I have viewed wind turbines on numerous occasions wondering how to best capture an image that depicts more than just a massive propeller. The recent storms in Southern California provided the fine background of clouds and snowcapped mountains. A dark neutral density filter with an f/22 aperture slowed the shutter speed enough to produce the motion blur.
Your cropping and cloud adjustment adds to the feeling I sought.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:52 am
I like the fact that the photographer has chosen to include four(4) windmills in the foreground. Since even numbers in a photograph create symetry and odd numbers create flow, the four windmills convey to me the symetry of the wind farm.
I wonder what this landscape image would have looked like shot in “infrared”?