DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
Four Aces Diner, Palmdale, CA
Four Aces Diner, Palmdale, CA
tanguera


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2011
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR
Location: Palmdale, CA
Date: Jul 2, 2011
Galleries: Landscape, Rural
Date Uploaded: Jul 3, 2011

This diner is part of a roadhouse I read about around two weeks ago, but didn't get a chance to shoot before I left on vacation. But for once, the Challenge Gods were in my favor: upon my return, the Diner challenge was announced, and I had the perfect subject. This roadhouse has been used in several movies, and is available for filming, although no longer open for business.

I drove 150 miles (round trip - gyaban, my renewed appreciation for your extreme dedication...). The 6 lane highway became a 4 lane highway, then a two lane road with small town businesses. Then the businesses went away. Then the houses went away. Then the pavement went away. But I kept driving. Then suddenly there was this roadhouse, in the middle of absolutely nowhere, at the intersection of two dirt roads. There is also a motel component and a tiny gas station, plus about 7 old cars in the back. I had originally entered a more panoramic shot which included the gas station part, and an old Chevy pick-up, but decided this was more about the diner. I was worried I'd left too late to get sunset lighting, so I was rushing a bit, even though I had to pee like crazy. But I got there at just the right time. I only wish there had also been some clouds.

merged 3 exposures in Efex HDR
brightness/contrast
darkened sign in lower right
darkened a couple of sun flare spots
layers for painting, d&b
save for web

Can't BELIEVE Allen ( nightpixels) ribboned with a shot of this very same place!!! I almost entered a very similar shot to his, but the Cloud Gods were definitely favoring him :-)

Statistics
Place: 11 out of 57
Avg (all users): 6.2460
Avg (commenters): 7.6000
Avg (participants): 5.8286
Avg (non-participants): 6.4066
Views since voting: 3818
Views during voting: 311
Votes: 126
Comments: 17
Favorites: 0


Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
07/15/2011 10:42:53 AM
Love the fish eye. Cool beans. I love that tv show by the name of the challenge title. Let's take a road trip and explore some of those dives!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/15/2011 08:55:18 AM
I didn't even realize this was the same place as the other entry! What a difference the perspective made. Well earned high placement! I can't believe how far you drove for it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/15/2011 05:12:53 AM
Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/15/2011 12:32:08 AM
Go, Johanna! well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/15/2011 12:14:19 AM
I was dying to see who else went there besides me :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/14/2011 11:58:22 PM
Love the fisheye look, vivid, 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/14/2011 11:54:09 PM
I like both shots of this place that have been entered into this challenge! I like how the sun burst frames the left of this image highlighting the contrast of the shadow filled right. I dig the slimy greens & the way the florescent bulbs highlight that tone. Feels very 'Natural Born Killers' (the snake juice scene to be specific) to me...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/14/2011 12:56:56 PM
I know this is weird but I look at this and I see a spaceship - R2D2 style kind of jazzed up... but with the happy face on front and all.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/14/2011 12:08:06 PM
nice use of the fisheye, and I love the processing, ought to ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/13/2011 05:43:15 PM
awesome
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/11/2011 10:11:53 AM
Loved it
+1
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/09/2011 07:55:57 PM
I like the fisheye on this. Nice colors too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/09/2011 04:45:43 PM
All in one diners, lunch, and a breakfast? and the owner...sponge bob square pants 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/08/2011 11:58:59 AM
Did you want the distortion to be part of the composition?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/08/2011 09:18:08 AM
Nice use of fish eye. Love the colors and descriptions.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/08/2011 09:07:40 AM
Great colors and I like the fisheye perspective.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/08/2011 08:12:07 AM
I have lived in Palmdale (early 80s), didn't know about this place so I googled and discovered the real story :) Great image, highly scored.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/19/2024 07:13:00 PM EDT.