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Features Finding an Oasis in a Desert of Madness

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Nov 11, 2024.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,039

    Ryan
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    Ryan submitted a new blog post:

    Finding an Oasis in a Desert of Madness

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
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  2. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 7,926

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    Wow - two totally separate emotions in one post.
    Actually that is normal with in this case these life events.

    The next step in life- nudging a little one out of the nest always catches you unexpectedly as you know it's coming but then hits you like a meteor across the sky.
    You want to be a helicopter Dad but you know you can't be.
    They have to find their way and all you can do is be available when they call no matter what time of the day, or night.
    You taught right from wrong so now they will now carry on that in their next step in life.
    It's ok Papa....It's ok.

    Great Pics.
    Desert light certainly gives all the light angles you need.
    What I have learned over the years is without being told where a picture was taken, I can almost tell you what part of the country by light color, shadows. The desert is on a bucket list to see / visit at least once in my life.
     
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  3. Michael Ottavi
    Joined: Dec 3, 2008
    Posts: 311

    Michael Ottavi
    Member

    Beautiful photos, available light is your best friend in outdoor photography. A long road trip like that alone sure gives you time to wonder about the big picture of life.
     
  4. Thanks for sharing Ryan. I was right with you when you were describing dropping off your kid and heading back. I have three kids similar age and it is tough to see them transition into the next stage of life no matter what it is. Surreal to say the least and makes everything else in life seem less important.

    Oh, and cool pictures of a very cool 32. :D
     
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  5. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,039

    Ryan
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    Backlit with a super wide mounted to a pano camera shooting expired film… I literally couldn’t have made it harder on myself, but I was trying yo make the lens flare as often as possible to sort of portray how hot it was.

    Can’t really find a bad angle on that car though.
     
  6. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 57,422

    squirrel
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    Your pictures make it look a hell of a lot better than mine!

    glad you survived your trip....

    227.JPG
     
  7. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 7,926

    corncobcoupe
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    I get it - great flare effort with exposer challenges.
    Numbers don't lie - anything over 100 is hot.
     
  8. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 4,984

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    The pictures of the car and the desert are good. The lone cactus, surviving under some of the harshest conditions in the world while giving it the finger, that's great.
     
  9. Great story and a bitchin coupe!
    It’s tough when the offspring leave. Seems so long ago.

    (No picture of you and the electric truck?:rolleyes:)
     
  10. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 5,153

    51504bat
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    Great trip, stories, and photos. Especially liked the nail in the driver's door window handle.:cool:
     
  11. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 5,153

    51504bat
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    The truck would be definitely OT and @Moriarity would have to delete the photo?:cool:
     
  12. Sky Six
    Joined: Mar 15, 2018
    Posts: 12,163

    Sky Six
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    from Arizona

    Remember, it's a dry heat.
     
  13. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,348

    Ebbsspeed
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    Just a few short days ago we wrapped up a 4000+ mile road trip to Seattle to visit our daughter. We experienced the same emotions as Ryan when we dropped her off at college in 2016. Eight years on, she is employed by a great company, travels the world, is surrounded by a community of incredibly caring friends, and is thriving. Of course the worrying that a parent does never ends, but there is comfort in knowing that they can be as resilient as we think we are. I still have hope for our country.

    @Ryan Can you explain what causes the distortion in the second color photo with the car on the right hand side of the photo? It makes the car look extremely lopsided. I assume it's due to the lens, but there doesn't seem to be nearly that much distortion at the edges of the other color photos. Or is it a darkroom trick?
     
  14. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,203

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Great post.

    Your on the road journal entries are often my favorites, and I think it’s pretty cool that after all these years I could have seen those photos out of context and knew you’d shot them.
     
  15. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,039

    Ryan
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    So these were shot with a Hasselblad X-Pan camera using a 30mm lens. For all intents and purposes, this is just about the most expensive 35mm setup in existence:

    L1000229.jpg

    What makes this camera special is that it is uses 35mm film, but it essentially shoots a double wide negative to create a panoramic image. Because of this aspect ratio, the 30mm lens becomes ULTRA wide... and while this is fantastic for landscape photography, it is entirely inappropriate for portrait photography or, in this case, automotive photography. Reason being is the barrel distortion that you see in that photo.

    You can hide this distortion with angles and composition and I was able to do that in most of the photos, but not that one... obviously. You can also fix this in post, but I elected not to as I wanted to be able to flex and say all the photos were straight from the negative and not messed with digitally.

    I bought this camera and lens about 10 years ago for $2k and my wife thought I was nuts. Now, the whole kit is bringing as much as 12k... And since I only use the thing a couple of times a year, I think I'm gonna sell it. Most likely, this was my last shoot with it... and I'll miss it for sure, but that money is nuts...

    Edit: Going over the images, I think that's the only shot I used taken with the 30mm lens... I believe the rest of the images were taken with a 45mm... and therefore, have far less distortion.
     
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  16. Ron is a true hotrodder. Been friends with him since I bought his old house in Tucson in 2006. You were in my part of the world Ryan. I've seen the transformation of that coupe from the beginning. I honestly never thought I would see it as it is today. It was very rough. Perserverance is the key word here. Photos are great. Was it too hot for you? It builds character! Ha! Now if we could work something out for the HAMB drags here in the Southwest that would be killer. When it's cooler though. Dale
     
  17. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,039

    Ryan
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    Him and T both came across as just really fantastic human beings. My kind of people... and I selfishly didn't do the car as much justice as it deserved. Distractions and all...
     
  18. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 7,926

    corncobcoupe
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    Quote " I bought this camera and lens about 10 years ago for $2k and my wife thought I was nuts. Now, the whole kit is bringing as much as 12k... And since I only use the thing a couple of times a year, I think I'm gonna sell it. Most likely, this was my last shoot with it... and I'll miss it for sure, but that money is nuts..."Quote

    Give your wife the 10K in appreciation she won't think your nuts. :D
     
  19. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,172

    41 GMC K-18
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    Great topic, great car.
    My 3 favorite shots are, the one that shows the nail in the door handle, the one that shows the little bumper sticker that says "Get Schlitz Faced" and the cactus that appears to be flipping off the Universe!

    An epic journey, to and from, two entirely different Universe's.

    You are fortunate to have a daughter, that is on her own journey, and your daughter is fortunate to have a dad, that is lost in time, but often finds his way back to a variety of times, and captures frozen moment's of time, to share with a vast audience!
    Thanks from Dennis.

    US camera 5 (2).jpg youth and old age.jpg US camera 6 (2).JPG
     
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  20. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
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    That cactus was maybe 30' away from the car as I shot it... I'd bet it's 30' tall? Fucking huge!

    It was also my last shot of the night. Sun was pretty much down at that point. It's the best shot cuz it's the only one that I actually knew for certain how to shoot using a camera that I have used for almost 20 years. But even then, it's got user error in it...

    I also like this shot okay:

    [​IMG]

    I like it cuz of the muted yellow tones of the suburban match the tones of the film stock and I love front 3/4 views of 5-windows. It has a technical issue too though... Any shot with that tree in the background has some weird fringing due to it being harshly backlit. I recognize that now, but didn't in the moment.
     
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  21. [​IMG]

    Is that license plate copper? HRP
     
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  22. Malcolm
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 8,106

    Malcolm
    Member
    from Nebraska

    All great stuff... The car, people, photos, well written. Thank you, Ryan!
     
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  23. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 21,415

    alchemy
    Member

    A 32 5-window and a 72 Suburban. Two of my favorite vehicles.
     
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  24. hrm2k
    Joined: Oct 2, 2007
    Posts: 5,150

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    All the shot are great. Always love a natural lenses flare. You were working that flare real good !!!
     
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  25. Great shots, great story. Just like usual, I am learning stuff on the hamb. This is great practice for you, for when your daughter finds her life partner and takes another big step…
     
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  26. continentaljohn
    Joined: Jul 24, 2002
    Posts: 5,678

    continentaljohn
    Member

    Wicked cool pictures and amazing car. I’m digging the spreader bar axle.
    @HOTRODPRIMER yes original 32 plates from AZ were copper and one of the hardest to find..
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2024
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  27. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,039

    Ryan
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    yes. Spreader bars front and rear are super cool.
     
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  28. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,497

    Joe Blow
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    Me too....not sure if I've ever seen axles used for spreader bars......very cool look.
     
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  29. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,039

    Ryan
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    I actually didn’t notice until Ron pointed them out to me. They are very subtle and look like they belong there.
     
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  30. I was so taken with the copper license plate I completely missed the axle spreader bar, it looks like it came that way/ HRP
     

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