Yellow Tractor, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

This farm is located immediately north of the small town of Nicasio. On the day I visited, late in May, there wasn't much activity but just two days ago when I drove through the Nicasio Valley I noted that workmen were busy weeding plants in the field immediately to the right of the tractor. Since they had a newer red tractor next to where they worked I concluded that this yellow companion is now only a piece of sculpture left in the midst of this field. I wouldn't suggest this rivals Carlos beautiful photos of rural France, but then this palette is distinctly different from the rolling hills with which he works. Here you have rugged hillsides covered with fir trees between which lie deep valleys. California has a remarkably arid climate in which agriculture thrives only because of careful irrigation with what little rain is collected each winter. In a few days I'll show you the Nicasio Reservoir nestled between rock strewn hills to the north that serves both the farmers and homeowners of the Valley. But tomorrow I'll show you a barn...

Liora, RGatward, ale, Galeota, kikvel, elroyie, Rinie_Hoff, bertolucci, Gix, pamastro, timotey, cmartos, guyfortier, TheG1, alford has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Liora (1857) 2004-07-24 3:32

This series keeps getting better Curtis! I like the combination of the red mountains in the back and the man-made green in the front. The tractor is strange thing to use as a sculpture, but it works well here. Keep 'em coming!

RGatward (20108) 2004-07-24 3:44

I agree with Liora about the quality, and I also think that the tractor makes this shot. Very well seen.

RegisMinot (1543) 2004-07-24 4:09

I like the hills and the sun rays. The tractor adds a bit of originality to this landscape which already makes a very good photo.

centurion (0) 2004-07-24 4:20

Another good shot Curtis.

ale (1819) 2004-07-24 4:23

Hello Curtis,
this is a beautiful landscape, I like very much the tractor in the right angle, it's a great touch and it's perfectly positioned...I've lost a lot of your works too! Thanks for your kind words.

spence (65) 2004-07-24 4:27

Very nice composition Curtis. I love the light on the hills and the curving lines of the bare hills against the sky. Well done.

Galeota (10352) 2004-07-24 5:08

Wow, this one is a must! Extremely well composed. The light is particularly advantageous to render the details. Well done.

jackwp (519) 2004-07-24 7:20

I am color blind, but the tractor looks orange to me. Other than that, the capture is wonderful. Peaceful, well focused and DOF is right on.

kikvel (4784) 2004-07-24 7:44

Hi Curtis:

thanks for sharing the photo, certainly this yellow machine had its time, and now maybe it`s time to rest...
Lovely composition, the hills as you mentioned, rugged as it is typical in your region are beautiful and pleasant to see.

There were clouds above you by the shadows I can see at the ground and at the top to the left.

I like this a lot.

Kikvel

elroyie (2750) 2004-07-24 10:55

Great composition with very good exposure, I like the combination of the dark and light surfaces because of the clouds, what is the little black spot in the sky, is it a bird or dirt?

jhm (211736) 2004-07-24 11:42

This is a beautiful landscape, Curtis, the tractor is strange thing to use as a attraction, but it works well here. Well seen!

cdewet (0) 2004-07-24 14:01

VERY nice, on the right spot and in the right colour oo, Curtis. Nothing against France, but these rocky hills are just super.

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-07-24 14:05

Hi Curtis, apparently, not all of Nicasio valley is lush and green, and ready for the cattle, or plants. The barren hills are beautiful, and the trees here and there, make a nice contrast. This a nice landscape for sure. I liek it how nature is taking control over the tractor (yellow or orange, whatever)

oochappan (4880) 2004-07-24 14:21

Hi Curtis,
Impressif scandlape (lol) here, like I saw from the other photo's, you try to make it more dramatic with a color overlay on the land (orange ?), your personal choice of course.
Tell me what you choose, I tell you what you loose : and here you loose the clarity of the green and yellow a bit reducing it to mineur in contrast to the rather emphased cyanic sky. Your way to put your personal stamp in the landscape-approach. So we come to the issue: Degustibus et coloribus non dispitandum.
More then words see WS.

[workshop] [compare] +

avigur_11 (22553) 2004-07-24 16:22

Very well capture of nature and a machine. The side position of the tractor is well selected and the colors of the mountains are beautiful. Very good shot, Curtis.

bertolucci (14052) 2004-07-24 18:12

This is a wonderful capture Curtis. The colours and light(play) are great and almost not from this world (this is a compliment :-) and the compo with the two hills meating off-center is a very good choice. Together with the position of the tractor the balance is super.
I like the exquisite PP too. Great job!

pamastro (7296) 2004-07-25 1:26

This countryside just seems to get better and better, Curtis. This is just amazing. The depth is excellent. I love this lone tractor out there resting for the night. And these hills are beautiful. The trees, the steepness, the texture. It's all great. The distant hills are my favorite textured surface here. The trees really bring out the crevasses and the undulations and the rocks underneath are really strongly felt in this shot. And the lighting was very helpful to you, too. Those pockets of light are really great adding an even stronger calming aura on this photo. Amazing. Excellent!

Hanssie (11022) 2004-07-25 4:07

Beautiful landscap with good colours and.....an industrial detail...oh,oh, Curtis

timotey (119) 2004-07-25 4:21

Great ! This picture renders an astonishing light giving a nice contrast and improving the various curves crossing this frame. The composition is also very well done with the main subject placed in order to emphasize this great landscape. Very well done !

cmartos (242) 2004-07-25 9:39

Great landscape Curtis. The lighting on the hills is beautiful and I like the way you positioned the tractor on the frame. Very nice composition, wonderful hills and overall colours too. Excellent catch!

manny (22032) 2004-07-26 2:38

Excellent composition. Nice color tone. Perfect light bhere. This is a VERY good shot Curtis. Congratulations.

TheG1 (1509) 2004-07-29 12:21

Nice series!
The color of the hills in the background along the green make it great.

maphoto (8082) 2004-07-31 9:04

Very beautiful and great sharpness, lovely landscape, great light, well seen.

maciekda (19895) 2004-08-14 4:07

very nice image Curtis, nice compo with the tractor in the corner, wonderful colors, it is like a postcard...

doreeneden (1022) 2004-08-15 7:02

What is there left to say. Great picture!

cyril (2748) 2004-08-17 8:08

Waouh...
With this one, Curtis, you did a sensationel work.
Composition is perfect and those vivid colours are just gorgious.
Thanks for sharing.
Cyril

touristdidi (8583) 2004-08-22 11:15 [Comment]

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sn00zie (2384) 2004-10-16 7:39

there are some really beautiful colors here Curtis. the sky is such a beautiful tone of blueeee....

rabani (9645) 2004-10-18 5:20 [Comment]

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alford (4063) 2004-11-18 3:17

Wonderful farm shot Curtis! The hills in the background are perfect; very clear shot, an excellent composition! I love the farm, and when I read your story about the tractors, I just can't help but think about the farm situation here in our country. You see, farmers here rarely own tractors, and they still use traditional ways of farming, so it's really a different world. thanks for sharing! rgds.

Calico_Demon (18) 2005-06-21 16:06

I'm fairly new to photography, so don't know much yet about how to make photo's "technically good". i just go on what i see...

And what i see here is a beautiful picture. Really beautiful. The colours, the shadows of the clouds, the tractor. Lovely.

optic (0) 2005-08-18 20:25

Hello Curtis,
You did a very nice landscape, i like the composition the vivid colours & detail very well done TFS,

Regards,
Christian

MON (135) 2005-08-31 10:57