As I logged into my blog tonight there was a featured story about someone’s nude pictures taken on a cell phone that had found their way to the internet. The cell phone had been lost at a McDonalds restaurant and the pictures contained were posted later on the web.
I didn’t read the whole story. But, I started thinking (and smiling) about my “Behind the Wheel” series, this week. What if I left my camera behind one morning, after eating some hashbrowns at McDonalds. Would my photos of driving around town make it to the internet?
Nah, I don’t think so.
But, If someone saw this one, they’d surely think it must have been taken seconds before impact. In actuality, it was a lonely country road, early in the morning, and I had seen no vehicles for at least a mile. Then, this bright red SUV came around the corner and as it passed me, I took this photo with a slow shutter speed and an 85mm lens.
After looking at it, I’m thinking I’d better quit while I’m ahead and switch to taking sunrise and sunset photos from now on. I simply liked the color red approaching me on a quiet November morning but there is nothing about this photo that communicates that quiet or repose.
You can make the camera lie. I hope it’s not a fortune teller, too.
©Pat Coakley 2008
PHOTOGRAPHS CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION
wow that is so cool. i thought it was a red firetruck at first speeding in the opposite direction. but as it is a picture of a red suv approaching well ha ha no wonder sunrises and sunsets are calling at least i presume you werent going at 85 mph though you coulda fooled me -still, or rather moving, its a wow photo no matter what else
Hmm. I thought it was a black flatbed semi-truck with some red thing on it’s front… maybe a red bug guard.
Of course, my (what seemed liked) endless hours on the road this weekend may have influenced what I saw.
another interesting perspective/perception lesson from you Pat. Bravo
Your scariest driving photo yet. I love it.
Good shot and I’m glad it wasn’t your last.
Like one of the last images captured before the tsunami and you wonder: Jeez, just when did the camera person realize this isn’t worth the photo or the video and run for the hills?
Looks like you escaped the speeding red locomotive and I’m glad it wasn’t you who had to run your caboose off the tracks.
Now if that locomotive was NUDE, these photos might have a shot at circulating around the web.
Just being a great photo, probably won’t do it.