Road of Mystery Photo

Photographer’s Note

The dusty road from Fresno to the Pacific Coast passes through lowlying farmland for many miles and then, at Paso Robles, the scene changes to hills, vineyards and ranch country. A storm was brewing as I headed to the Coast this night and crossing high hills I came to a plateau and observed a dust storm in the distance and this interesting unmarked side road meandering toward distant mountains. A black pick-up with a gun rack passed me as I stood shooting this, and I reluctantly decided not to take the "road least travelled upon," and instead followed Hwy. 46 out to Cambria and the ocean. But I shall return to visit those distant blue hills.

CliffW, weswang, singuanti, HOBO, Gix, MoosicMan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Paul57 (1635) 2005-05-25 22:14

Beautiful picture, John. This road is an invitation to those mountains but I would also like to discover what lies beyond!
Interesting composition,

CliffW (2310) 2005-05-25 22:17

John, this is an excellent shot. A side of California you don't see that often. The long winding country road works very well as a bright line through the brown grass and takes your eye right where it should, up to the approaching mountain range.

snuggleaphagus (4138) 2005-05-25 22:36

I've traveled this road alone once a long time ago in a very late summer night or perhaps it was a very early moring. It was desolate and scary, i was so afraid I would run out of gas..
The hills are majestic and you captured them beautifully, the curve in the road is fascinating and somewhat sensuous.
Great framing, and a lovely feel to the whole photo...

singuanti (15240) 2005-05-25 22:57

John, a breathtaking landscape shot! You really nailed this shot and I can't see any way of making it any better. Some light you have here. The sharpness is perfect. Good job John!!

ckuhn55 (2270) 2005-05-25 23:41

I've been thru Paso Robles many times. The colors are original or ??? how much processed? Thanks CK

Cormac (26449) 2005-05-26 0:09

Interesting light John. I like the look you are able to achieve with this - the whole picture has a silvery blue hue that is quite appealing. Great job! I'm leaving on a trip in a few days (isn't that what all TE members love to do?), so if you don't see any critiques from me, it's not because I don't like what you've posted.

HOBO (5244) 2005-05-26 9:23

The long and winding road...

Wonderful view over the valley on the mountain chains, John. Fine decent colors with good sharpness. Great place for meditation; well done.

weswang (18223) 2005-05-26 10:14

Hi John, I took a similar road before. The scenery gets prettier after you drive pass the peak to the ocean side. The roads are fun to drive. Make sure to pump enough gas before you hit those roads.
An excellent composition to have the strange L shaped road with long tail ahead. The blue mountains are beautiful ahead. A nice contrast between the flat land and the high mountains. A great view. Well done.

Fis2 (45799) 2005-05-26 14:35

Hi John!
Nicely composed landscape. i like the colours and frame.
Regards
Krzy¶

foxy (733) 2005-05-26 15:07

Hi,
Magical landscape and what a great shot too. I like the golden brownish dry dusty farm landscape againt the misty blue cool wet hilly valley. What a contrast.
Great job there!

Gix (3559) 2005-05-27 2:47

Hi John,
another title can be "on the road with Easy Rider"...! (where is the Harley ??!)

Nice how the snaked road guide the eye to the dark hills, and another 'spot' of sunlight in the hills back.
The only pity is not to have some bright colors in the frontside (apparently, brown is the only color of the nature, here!)
Nice 'threatening' landscape!

ciao, Giorgio

faubry (32291) 2005-05-27 5:18

very beautiful landscape, good colors and contrasts, i like this shot, well done

francine

Galmeida (12559) 2005-05-27 5:31

Hi John,
You managed well the light conditions and you captured a very impressive road and a nice background mountain landscape. Excelen colors, sharpness and contrast. Very well done and composed.

Congratulations.
Fernando

Gregtom (7119) 2005-05-27 5:58

What a beautiful landscape, John! I'm really impressed by the sharpness, good composition, and special atmosphere in this cadre. This photo has a spirit...
regards,
Greg

MoosicMan (1231) 2005-05-27 6:41

I really like this shot, it has an eerie feel to it with the muted colors, threatening clouds and distant dark mountains. John, unless my eyes are deceiving me, it looks like there 4 or 5 dust clouds (or perhaps mist?) across the middle of this shot. Is that from periodic cars passing down this road? Nice note, too, you make a nice turn of phrase, learned friend.
Good traveling,
Matt

alexlie (5359) 2005-05-27 16:11

Hi John!
Very good composed scenery, this road looks great. Light was nice, fine colors and contrast. Well done.
Regards.

Stepan (27175) 2005-05-28 7:45

A strange place, plenty of mysteries you caught and shared with us.
Thanks for that !
Stéphane

mumek (17468) 2005-05-29 12:52

Fantastic scenery with nice contrast between foreground and the hills in the middle of the picture. Beautiful view at the chain of the mountains in the background. Very well done.Thanks for posting
regards
ziggy

dsidwell (9745) 2005-05-30 8:10

Aptly titled photo, John. I really enjoy the mysterious feel to this--both lovely and compelling. Your composition is right and very effective with effective amounts of road, sky and mountains.

aros (0) 2005-06-22 7:50

Looks like a still off a sports car ad... evokes all sorts of feelings about freedom and the Open Road and things of that nature.

Landscape-wise, California has got to be one of the most photogenic - and varied - places on Earth. From Yosemite to the Death Valley and everything in between.

This image has captured the mood of the area well, the composition is good where the road meanders into the picture and then back out of it. Please post more images from this area when you re-visit it

lucinka (9902) 2005-06-23 4:08

John, your previous photo made me have deeper look into your gallery and I especially like this photo. Great depth, beautiful colors and perspective. I love the road motives. L.

t0mmm1 (5434) 2005-07-10 14:46

Beautiful composition, with the road that is dissapearing in the storm. Excellent sharpness and colours.

Greg1949 (8507) 2007-08-08 15:32

John, what an interesting shot the shadows really give it life. The fields could as easily been covered with a dusting of snow because of the reflectivity of what ever it is growing there.

Interesting how you "come acroos" another's gallery that somehow you've missed before, your work is really great, I'll be back to learn and comment more.

Greg