The Quiet Road Photo

Photographer’s Note

This one is for Mohammad (Elihesamian ). His recent post Shadows on the Road and speaking of the coming fall colors reminded me of this shot I had taken last fall. I mentioned I was thinking of posting something similar and since he asked to see it, here it is. And it's also a reminder that Fall is just around the bend (at least for us in the northern hemisphere).

This is on Huron River Drive which winds its way out of Ann Arbor along the Huron River. Actually it runs from source to outlet but the most convenient place for me was the area by Ann Arbor where I went to college.

Winding along the roads was great. Most often I did it by car. The only thing that always bothered me was the fact that there were very few places to pull a car over and take photographs. And it always was the case in the most photogenic area. On one side of the road the hillside rose directly from the edge and on the other side it dropped to the river. And trees took up any space there might have been to pull over. But I have no complaints because it is so beautiful.

One day I finally pulled over in a small park and then walked by a mile to the place I wanted to photograph. This was on my walk. I eventually ended up meandering through the woods under their golden canopy and running into the University of Michigan's rowing team. I wish I could have taken the boat back but I wound my way down the road trying to keep from falling into the ravine and not getting hit by cars. But it was worth it.

Endy, gaetantgp, seneca77, cwong, orme, bpelvan, elihesamian, jhm, pulezan, hojper, CVTJan, papagolf21, kajenn, phi729, rabani trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

cgrindahl (6109) 2004-09-16 20:22

This puts me in the mood for fall as well, Paul. The trees are changing in California as well. This is not a spectacular image, but certainly it is evocative of seasons changing, leading to new directions. Colors and details are nicely rendered, the composition serene and inviting. Well done. You motivate me to check out Mohammad's image. I'm forever amazed at how like country scenes I know from America are his images from Iran. What a wonderful contribution to my understanding of another part of the world that is most often discussed in terms of geopolitical tensions rather than in terms of shared humanity.

Thanks Paul, for this simply contribution to mutual understanding.

Endy (1025) 2004-09-16 20:50

Nice scenery Paul! The fall is coming for us too and I am always astonished by all the warm colors created by the trees. In spite of depresses generally accompanying the fall (because of the long winter coming up next), I find this season the most beautiful.
To come back to your picture, I like the perspective created by the road and how it disappears behind the trees. The trees just start to change colors and the mix between green and yellow colors is well rendered.

Well done Paul and thanks for sharing!

gaetantgp (1310) 2004-09-16 21:01

Watch that curve Paul! :-)) I see that you start to get these colors also in your area. I particuly like these sings that takes us to the unknown road ahead, to those nice sceneries that you will present us in a near futur. Well done as usual Paul...Gaétan

seneca77 (405) 2004-09-16 21:09

Nice golden colors and simple composition. Normally, for me, signs such as the arrows in your photo are a distraction for me, but in this case they work beautifully because of their color as well as leading you further around the curve.
BTW, I almost gave you no points since I'm an Ohio State alumnus! ;-)

vapours (7913) 2004-09-16 21:44

Very warm shot, youve captured the autumn feeling well.

orme (6746) 2004-09-16 22:48

A very beautiful shot, Paul. Lovely colours. like the combination of the curve of the road and the arrows pointing the way. Well seen and framed.

Zanni (5891) 2004-09-17 1:17

I think soon we will admire many "fall" pictures. Infact also in Europe fall is coming. Next Sunday I am going to Monferrato (Piedmont) famous for its hills and over all for its wines. If I am lucky I will find a fall atmosphere. Your picture remembers me the fall scenes in New York of Woody Allen's films. An amazing angle yuo catched and, yes, this is the right road towards fall!

bpelvan (3786) 2004-09-17 3:04

This is perfect shot of the season which I always wait impatiently. It's a little melancholic but the colors, ligt and shadows are beautiful as seen in this pic.
Well done Paul.Thanks.

elihesamian (26091) 2004-09-17 5:57

Paul
Really ,no doubt,it's beautiful & poetical.I'm very thankful for your feedback,I was waiting,and it's a surprise for me with your kind words,I take my hat,Friend:)
I like the road with its bending here.with this atmosphere,I would like to imagine about persistance of the road,behind the trees,and go on & go on more,during fall trees & yellow & brown leaves,and go on...
very well composed,Paul,in a fine way you show this seasone's atmosphere,Really I like it alot.You did great.
And Thanks again.
Sincerely yours,Mohammad.

jhm (83193) 2004-09-17 6:38

The autumn colours are good the see, Paul, a very beautiful shot. Like the combination of the curve of the road and the arrows pointing the way. Well seen!

pulezan (767) 2004-09-17 6:50

symbolic photo, really. it s saying - the summer is over, prepare for the cold winter. arrows are pointing in to direction of next part of the year, just follow them, behind the corner you will find the snow. just ordinary road, ordinary trees and ordinary signs, everything well composed and you have a good result.

hojper (2830) 2004-09-17 10:52

Nice note to a nice shot. There is actually something quite ominous in this image. It could be used as a poster for a thriller. I guess it has something to do with the unknown waiting round the corner - and man's genetically programmed fear of the dark forest. You could maybe have cropped a bit more at the bottom.

Spoony (3539) 2004-09-17 12:53

Beautiful. It´s a nice photo idea with a fantastic final result. This photo got something... ;)))
Fine work Paul.

wilkinsonsg (8646) 2004-09-17 12:53

Good note - colours are well produced - I supose that you could say that Autumn is driving you round the bend :)

CVTJan (1244) 2004-09-17 14:04

Dear Paul, atmosphere is great, wonderful, I love it. Picture out of a movie. On the other hand I think it is not really sharp and those were really difficult light conditions as we can see from the hot spot in front. But those points are to be neglected as the composition is so nice with the repeated arrows and the street correctly placed within the rule of thirds. Well done. Yours, Jan

papagolf21 (56675) 2004-09-17 17:10

Un virage représente toujours une surprise : que se cache derrière ce virage ?
J'aime cette composition très bien réalisée. Les couleurs des arbres annoncent que l'automne est déjà arrivé.
Belle réussite Paul.
A bend always represents a surprise: that hides behind this bend?
I like this very well realized composition. The colours of trees announce that the autumn came.
Beautiful success Paul.

kajenn (2325) 2004-09-17 18:27

Very beautiful fall colors, Paul, and a beautiful bend in the road - revealing nothing. I guess your nature is very similar to southern Sweden, as this could be shot somewhere in Scania. No, not really, as our signs in a bend are blue/yellow. So these fit more into your scene and are actually what gives your image an extra touch. A nice heralding of what is to come. I guess you've scanned this - from a print? Very well done!

phi729 (2099) 2004-09-19 18:36

Hi Paul :)

You kept your's promise (answer to Mohammad). Colorful tones given by the fall. Indeed, like on the shot of Mohammad, there is a road. But here it is curved and disappears behind the forest, offering a mysterious atmosphere to the composition. The sign in foreground is well located in the framing and attract the eye.

hdl (6737) 2004-09-20 14:05

that's what we are all waiting for now: those beautiful autumn colours. The road is a good element for me; it gives some dynamic (good word??) to the picture. Just some thing that is very bizare to me: the roadsigns are yellow and black and they are very difficult to see with that natural brownish palette on the background. Wouldn't it be better if they changed that?

rabani (9421) 2004-09-28 1:54

That was an adventure by itself, coming over through the woods getting this photo. What I love most about your photo Paul, is the tree with its light golden leaves, in the middle. Its sheen is, for lack of better word, is attractive, but in a quiet sort of way. I believe it is the tree that caught your attention.

taivo (1840) 2004-10-03 10:32

Simple but very nice shot. The colours are harmonious and even the man-made signs blend in the surroundings. The middle areas are a bit overexposed, so I would reduces the highlights a few notches to balance out the darker areas.

roconnell (327) 2004-10-10 16:57

A very tranquil autumn scene. The bend in the road provides a sense of movement and anticipation and the golden hues bring out the beauty of the Mid-western woodlands. Well done.

danbachmann (1684) 2004-10-25 3:28

Good use of the fall colors that match the road signs. Country roads look like this all across the USA, but often we do not stop to "see" the images they can create like yours.

joseelias (367) 2004-11-23 8:20

Very nice framing of the road. The way you've placed it the right lower corner and the curve it describes creat a a great dinamic feeling. Also like the autumn colors. Asimple but captivating image.

vascao (192) 2004-11-29 19:45

Wonderful atmosphere, what a mood! One can almost picture the sounds, birds, a creek... Light is great in this photo.

quantabeh (5203) 2005-03-26 1:24

great capture of the fall colors and the quiet road. I had heard of the beautiful fall colors in Michigan, but this picture clearly shows that.
good job.
Behrang