Side Tracked
Graphics often are those features in a composition that lead the eye through to image to a point of interest. Some common graphic elements are; diagonal lines, ‘S’ curves, vanishing points, etc. These lines often take us to the subject but that is not always the case.
This photograph utilizes leading lines to take the viewer to a vanishing point some distance past the subjects however the eye is drown to the side lined freight containers as we move through to a tunnel of trees. The strong horizontal bridge unites the two cars on the right with the series of cars on the left. This is a very satisfying layout.
The photographer has found it desirable to alter the sky by replacing it with a graduated gray fill. This is interesting but a little forced. A second filter, perhaps sharpen, has been applied to the rest of the photograph. This has worked very will with the surrealistic sky to give a feeling of trapped light, like the light is bouncing off the sky and earth.
Click on Image 
July 27th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Thanks Jim, your talent for describing photographs, like “Side-tracked” is truly amazing. I added the
surrealistic sky, for the effect of the light as
you described, and mounted the print on canvas in
an 11X14 Mat, that I find very satisfying to look
at. We spent hours, on the rail tracks waiting for
the best moment to photograph these rail cars, without
attracting too much attention.