Ghost Mannequin, Ghost Town Photo

Photographer’s Note

Bodie is perhaps the most famous ghost town in the West. I made a quick trip there the other week to take advantage of the clear, cold morning light, which let me get photos like this one.

The mannequin - actually, a dress form - was in the window of the Bodie general store, part of the town which has been restored to its heyday and then left to gracefully age and decay. The store windows face east, so the morning sunlight was full on this form. The light was strong enough to make a full reflection in the opposite window - and that is what you are looking at here; the ghost-like reflection of the dress form with the shelves of the store shining behind it.

Technical: A number of adjustments to bring out the shelving and also highlight the form. John Munro and I had had a brief discussion about my photos being too dark - partly the result of my tendency to use negative EV (-1 in this case) combined with an aging monitor that can be misleading if I don't keep that in mind. I have raised Levels substantially on this image to compensate for all that.

AROBN54, jwmunro, feather has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

AROBN54 (10789) 2009-10-11 18:27

Hey, Dan,
that's a cool shot. It does have a ghostly appearance. The lighting worked well to make that great reflection and I like the way you can see the shelving and boxes behind it. Nice idea and very well executed. Many thanks and hope you are well...
Shelly

jwmunro (6255) 2009-10-11 19:08

Good evening Dan -

I remember this scene very well. The morning light does make the details of the general store reflect nicely as well as add light deeper to the interior of the store. My most recent visits have always been in the afternoon and I have struggled with this setting. I guess the next trip should be in the early morning hours. I do like the ghostly feel brought out by the reflections, the dust and grime on the glass, and the imperfections of the window itself. The brightness of this post is spot on with my monitor. Well seen and presented.

Thank you for sharing.

John

pajaran (3871) 2009-10-11 23:23

Dobro jutro, kod nas pada kisa.
Dobra fotografija, dobre umerene boje.
Interesantan prikaz izloga, svidja mi se.
Pozdrav, Paja

feather (50144) 2009-10-13 8:30

I've seen a few posts from Bodie, but never this one. I've enjoyed figuring out which are reflections and which viewed through the window. I guess the writing gives us a helping hand. Good to see something different from here.
Kath

marietom (32076) 2009-12-06 12:14

hello Dan,

Jolie composition, avec ce reflet. Photo un peu mystérieuse, et très belle.
Bises
Marie