Most recently, this place was actually called the Fremont Inn, but I’ll defer to the huge neon thunderbird.  This was actually one of the first of the motels to be forcibly shut down under the nuisance laws.  I can’t say I’m sad that it isn’t up and running but I hope they turn it into something worthwhile instead of just another vacant lot or hole in the ground.

I think it’s safe to say, this place has seen better days.

Welcome to the Thunderbird Motel is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

Welcome to Seaview is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

Home Sweet Block is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

That wasn’t really how things started.  If you want to see the original and hear a little more, hit the jump.

I saw this sign down in SoDo/Georgetown and I knew I had to come back.  When I got there I found road construction, muddy puddles, and power lines.  Basically, I got this:

I came mid-morning and although the light was bright enough, the sun was up pretty high, making it hard for my little S90 to accurately capture the part of the scene I cared about.  Especially when you’re trying to draw out colors in harsh light, HDR is a great choice, so I immediately switch to auto-bracket and tried to hold my hands still while I got three shots.  Once I got home, I pulled everything together with Photomatix Pro (my HDR software of choice) but didn’t sharpen or otherwise correct, yet.  I decided that I really needed to get rid of the power lines.  I’m no Photoshop wiz, so I actually try not to do this kind of editing except when I have to and only when the things I want to get rid of don’t involve anything elaborate or man-made.  I used the Photoshop healing brush to get rid of the powerlines and it only took about 20 minutes.  If this had been over the building, it would have been much harder and I probably would have needed to stamp and clone.  I also thought about taking the rusty metal plates off the side of the building.  The upside is it would clean up that corner and leave more attention for the sign, but I liked the grit, I liked less editing, and I liked how it balanced out the lower edge of the frame.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with it.  I knew I was coming back as soon as I saw the sign, but the actual situation – the cars, the poles and lines – make it harder to produce the picture I had in my mind.  I’m glad I tried!

Diesel – A Reason To Advertise is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

If you’re a property owner, however, I’d be a little more worried.  The cliffs are always eroding, sometimes in a spectacular way, and I wouldn’t want my house right across the street.  They put up these little fences around areas of particular danger, and I thought the sharp man-made lines just seemed so out of place in all the rounded nature around it.  I like the lines in this picture, and it’s one of the few that makes me feel ok breaking the rule of thirds.  Maybe even more than in this one.  I think that because there is one man-made object in the whole frame, it makes sense to sort of hide it in plain sight.  It lets nature stay balanced all around.  I think it would have looked sort of funny anywhere else.

Update 2009/11/19/16:25:

Oh yeah… one more thing I didn’t mention above.  I threw a little vignette on this picture.  I don’t use this a ton and when I do, it’s mostly for portraiture.  I tried to keep it pretty subtle too, but I think it works well here for the same reason it does in portraiture – you’re bringing all the eyes into the middle and you don’t want people drifting out the sides.  Just thought I’d mention it!

Stay Back – Unstable Cliffs is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

I was in a big hurry.  I only had my 50mm, which makes it hard to frame something this big from up close.  Unfortunately, farther away means standing in the middle of a major street or getting some unfortunate buildings and power lines in the background.  You shoot now and decide what you like later.  I surprised myself and liked the one shot I got with a very partial view of the sign.  I gotta remember that.

This Elephant Wants To Wash Your Car is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

I would have liked to come back and shoot this at night, but we didn’t have time.  Also, hanging around a bus station at night with a camera?  Not necessarily the best idea.

Leaping Dogs – Too Apt? is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures