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Hello folks in DSLR land. I've been travelling a lot this year. It is surprising that in these technological times how hard it is to find internet access. I now have my iphone rigged as a 3G modem and coupled with my macbook it gives me access to the web. It is fairly slow however.

I have hardly posted any images in recent months. Work schedule is taking it's toll. Nevermind, we have to do what we have to do.

About a month ago I was out at Moree in western NSW. We were pig shooting and while waiting for dinner (lamb, not pig), I snuck up to the Newell highway and tried to take some pictures of the big rigs against a beautiful sunsetted background. It was cold and dangerous near the road but the sky was beautiful. It actually is very hard taking photos of high speed objects in the near dark without flash. I never quite managed to get a truck in focus against the full red sunset, mainly because I would have had to have stood in the swamp near the roadside to do so and I didn't want wet feet!

Anyway, here's a couple of images.

I like the first, the colours are amazing. That truckie is really moving isnt he? No wonder it is dangerous to shoot on the road for you.

Cameron, would definitely have been easier with say a 50mm 1.4 or something faster than my f4 lens. Those big trucks are scary from a few feet away @ 110kph.

#1 has great colour but it lacks a focal point imo.
#2 is fantastic. LOVE the colour and the movement. great job and very original.

Love #2, the colour, the movement/speed of the truck. A flash would have been interesting, hand held speed camera!

Rooz wrote:#1 has great colour but it lacks a focal point imo.
#2 is fantastic. LOVE the colour and the movement. great job and very original.

What I actually was trying to do Roozsy was get a truck with the red/black sunset as the background. It was just too hard from where I was standing, which wasn't far from the road's edge.

As for using a flash, I actually thought of that too but wasn't too sure how the truckies would have appreciated it.

Ozi

#2 is fantastic. LOVE the colour and the movement. great job and very original.

As for using a flash, I actually thought of that too but wasn't too sure how the truckies would have appreciated it.

I reckon you would have a black eye if you pulled a flash on 'em!

you have done really well to get the grill in focus/sharp and maintain that blur giving the sense of speed! I downloaded it and had a little twiddle, I reckon if you use alittle d-lighting (or the CS levels/curves) you can bring out some light from teh bottom left and on the RHS of teh truck, this also brings out the sandy colour of the roadside and field on the opposite side...just a thought!

May give that a try Gerry. Thanks.

ozimax wrote:

Rooz wrote:#1 has great colour but it lacks a focal point imo.
#2 is fantastic. LOVE the colour and the movement. great job and very original.

What I actually was trying to do Roozsy was get a truck with the red/black sunset as the background. It was just too hard from where I was standing, which wasn't far from the road's edge.

A tough ask. The dynamic range in what you were shooting was very high, and working against your goals.

Gary, you're correct. Also, the reddest part of the sunset was where the trucks were closest, and 24mm on a crop body just wasn't wide enough. I should have tried using the 10-22. All in all it was (scary) fun. Those rigs are huge and from a few feet away at 110kph it is quite scary.

Hey Max. Love the 2nd pic mate as that is the type of truck i spend my 13 hours in everyday, only mine doesnt have all the pretty lights like that one but shot well done considering the time.

Cheers
John
BBJ

Great colour Max. It's close enough to call my home region too.
Give me a yell if you're in the area again.

norwest wrote:Great colour Max. It's close enough to call my home region too.
Give me a yell if you're in the area again.

It's a great area. Plenty of porkers to shoot, and great photographic subjects too. And those amazing sunsets...

John, I'll keep a look out (Scotts, K&S?) for your rig when I'm down your way next month.

The second shot is very nice und would have been an awesome shot with the sky of the first photo in the background the colours are great. I have to agree with biggerry the photo really gives you the sense of the trucks speed.