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Modern Coal Mine
Modern Coal Mine
Ristyz


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study XII (Advanced Editing IV*)
Camera: Canon EOS-10D
Lens: Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM
Location: Underground coal mine in NM
Date: Aug 29, 2006
Aperture: 4.5
ISO: 400
Shutter: 2 seconds
Galleries: Photojournalism, Science and Technology
Date Uploaded: Aug 17, 2006

 This was one of the most interesting shoots I've gotten to do. Also it was one of the most difficult with all the safety gear you are required to wear for a descent into a coal mine including emergency breathing apparatus and methane monitor, never mind the battery pack for your head lamp! There are not lights in the coal mine except for on your head, a few vehicles, A few special use niches and this longwall mining machine. This coal mine is using the one of the longest fully automated longwall systems in the world.

No I wasn't scared other than worrying about being in the way of what the miners needed to do but my guide was super knowledgable (he set up the system) and made sure all was just peachy. Did have to sit through an hour long video on what I was allowed to touch and not touch amongst other safety issues for a visitor. A special permit was necessary for taking pics.

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Statistics
Place: 424 out of 684
Avg (all users): 5.4089
Avg (commenters): 5.8125
Avg (participants): 5.3418
Avg (non-participants): 5.6667
Views since voting: 2129
Views during voting: 338
Votes: 247
Comments: 18
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 09/08/2006 07:35:17 AM
Great shot Cristy, I only got to vote on about 54% of this challenge and didnt get to this one. The leading lines are great and the miner being small in the distance gives it a great sense of how long those tunnels are. I worked for a mining house in South Afica for 5 years (2 gold mines, one diamond, chrome and platinum) but never had the urge to go down one of them. What a great experience and a great picture under difficult conditions for people who would never get the opportunity themselves.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/07/2006 08:49:36 PM
Hard shot to capture! Wish it was a little more detailed in on the miners but hunting them down in the shot is interesting too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2006 09:06:39 PM
interesting image. but something is still missing. Not sure.maybe going down instead of up? It is a nice image. just needs one more thing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2006 05:48:50 PM
And I just used the example of shooting photos in a mine the other day ... just as glad I'm not there : )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/05/2006 05:19:01 PM
good shot..nice and informative ! Good perspective
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/05/2006 04:09:12 PM
To out of focus for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/05/2006 09:10:54 AM
Not a scene most of us would ever get the chance to see.
Most unusual colors down there. Good use of leading lines to draw the eyes to the miner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2006 10:09:05 AM
Great photo to show what people normaly doesnt see just pitty I cannot really find the point of focus.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2006 09:36:22 AM
thats very very interesting. never seen anything like it. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2006 07:36:59 AM
This is a lot different from the old copper mine I went to see a couple of weeks ago (it started in 1610 and closed operations in 1973). For a start, there's so much headroom!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/03/2006 02:54:05 PM
looks like a scene out of Alien. cool
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/03/2006 08:31:27 AM
Well-documented and nice use of lead-in lines.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/03/2006 07:09:12 AM
This seems like a really good idea and an interesting topic, but there's a lot going on here, so it's kind of hard to know what I should be looking at. The lines lead to a miner, but he kind of blends in with his surroundings, which becomes a bit confusing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/02/2006 06:31:35 PM
I tihkn this may have worked better in portrait format.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/02/2006 08:18:32 AM
Nothing like the tin mines I used to work down. Hats off to my soft rock brothers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/01/2006 08:43:15 PM
I think this would have benefitted from a high aperature to get as much clarity throughout as possible. It's difficult to tell what, if anything, is supposed to be the subject since the foreground objects are soft and the figures in the distance as so small.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/01/2006 05:38:55 PM
What a great view of something most of us will never see in person, in fact this is the first time I have seen a photo like this. Its a very interesting shot, that gives the viewer something to study. I really love the originality of your entry and wish you luck, my vote is a positive 10..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/01/2006 10:35:36 AM
That is scary! I'm always amazed that people will do this job! Excellent capture and I applaud your bravery!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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