Swazey Hotel, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

Remains of the Swazey Hotel near the corner of Main and Green Streets in Bodie California.

Bodie is a California State Park as well as California's Official Ghost Town and is located between the towns of Bridgeport and Lee Vining off US 395. While 95% of the town's buildings have succumbed to fires and neglect the remaining structures (~200) are preserved in a state of arrested decay. At an elevation of nearly 8500 ft Bodie makes for great summer visiting. It's usually much cooler than the surrounding high desert with cool breezes. The elevation can be both tiring and drying so be sure to bring something to drink.

Also of interest in this photo is the cloud in the background. Sometimes in desert areas you'll see clouds like these. Water is falling from the cloud in the form of rain but because of the heat and dryness of the desert it is evaporating before it reaches the ground.

Signal-Womb, Galeota, danbachmann, Didi, digi-mom, nmess, FrancisVachon, desmo, borax, KevRyan, anney, Benedict has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Signal-Womb (13048) 2004-06-26 5:01

Ian this a great shot the B&W on this one really works well I think. Good job. Good footnote BTW.

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doreeneden (1014) 2004-06-26 5:09

A great shot, dramatic in B&W but I wonder what it would look like in colour with those impressive clouds. Very good and interesting note as well. Well earned 2 smileys.

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Galeota (10338) 2004-06-26 5:10

Excellent B&W shot that works perfectly, always in fact, in this kind of abandoned houses scenery. Wide range of tones and good composition. Well done.

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bebel (7512) 2004-06-26 5:20

Belle image qui rappelle les vieux films de western américains projetés en France, sans doute l'image du passé des US.
Cadrage bien composé avec les différentes tailles d'éléments, les poteaux électriques qui s'enfuient vers le lointain et le ciel parsemé de gros nuages. Beau travail.

danbachmann (1744) 2004-06-26 6:10

Great job with tbe B&W and excellent note. It's amazing to think this was a hotel on Main Street!

You also have very good composition and exposure here. Maybe cropping out the distracting part of the support board that catches the sun on the left would improve things if it does not throw it off balance

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Didi (48930) 2004-06-26 7:43

Le contraste est parfait sur ce B&W. Très bonne composition digne d'un vieux western.
J'apprécie surtout la gris foncé du ciel.

Contrast is perfect on this B&W. Very good composition worthy of an old western. I appreciate to especially it gray dark sky.

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Cat (0) 2004-06-26 10:14

This is a great shot, love the B&W choice, it is the one I would have made also. Very dramatic effect with that amazing sky!

nmess (2301) 2004-06-26 11:45

I like your composition and choice of b/w here. The image is clean, sharp and well exposed. The only thing that bothers me a little is the power lines, but then they are just there and nothing you can do.

Proxilva (2157) 2004-07-08 16:52

missed this one.. i love it the composition is again great and B&W is perfectly done

desmo (29) 2005-02-13 18:57