Thunderhead over Bodie, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

I had a hard time deciding which of three photos I should post of Bodie. With a massive thunderhead moving in from the Northeast, the sky was an ever-changing light show. Since I couldn't really decide I posted the two following alternates in the WS. Let me know what you think of my selection. The sky was much brighter when facing the Southwest. Just before the scant rain arrived the sky grew much darker.

Bodie is a State Park between Bridgeport and Lee Vining along Highway 395. The town has a long history of bad luck. It's named after William Bodey, who died in an 1859 snowstorm shortly after discovering gold in the area. The town reached its peak of 10,00 residents in 1879, the same year a powder magazine exploded, vaporizing several of those residents. A fire hydrant system was completed in 1888 but in 1892 a fire destroyed much of the town. In 1910, Bodie became the first area to transport electicity over a long distance, In 1911, an avalanche destroyed the power plant.
Dan Heller says, "The town had about 2,000 structures at one time, but a fire in 1932 destroyed the gold mine and a good portion of the housing nearby. Worse, in 1937, a young child "Bodie bill", upset that he got Jello instead of cake at his birthday party, set fire to the kitchen table and pretty much leveled the town. There are now only 150 buildings left, as people left as quickly as they arrived, leaving behind most everything. The town's high elevation (8375 feet), rugged terrain and difficult weather made it virtually impossible to transport things in or out." He places the mine's very brief boom from the late 1870s to 1882. Estimates of mine output vary from $35 to $100 million.

Shortly after we visited Bodie, it was listed as the coldest place in the nation while near-by Death Valley was listed as the hottest.

lcarolan, Floydian, pboehringer, Cormac, Angelillo, josepmarin, xuaxo, edytungkal, gunbud, ALIRIZA, robertosalguero, jwmunro, bakes888, daddo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ensonick (84) 2007-06-17 6:27

i think is to much of sky on this shot :-)
thats my opinion

bwiti (402) 2007-06-17 7:01

This a really beautiful picture and I'm not aggry with ensonick... I like this impression than this town suffocate under the weight of the sky... It's a very nice representation of Far-west (for a french guy)... Congratulations....

holmertz (102636) 2007-06-17 7:19

Hi Pat,
A fine picture with a very clever composition. The threatening clouds are the obvious focus of this photograph. Interesting (and sadly funny) note.
Regards,
Gert

Floydian (30970) 2007-06-17 9:43

Hello Patricia,
What a comeplete different world then i was there last year. I had very warm weather with lots of sunshine. I looked at the ws versions and must admit that i like the photo "bonus" as best. Although this one is not bad at all with the house on the left that seems to collapse any time, but the sky here is more a dominant role.
I do not agree that there is to much sky, because you decided to do this on purpose and the sky has a lot to offer. There are even different layers of clouds, stunning..!!!
Please post some more of Bodie, this place was one of the highlights on my tour.
Regards, Henk

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pboehringer (770) 2007-06-17 10:45

Pat, that sky fascinated me too. I was drawn to take sky dominated pictures of Bodie and less of the houses and other things laying around, but forgot to do some metering compensation. The light looked to be OK and turned out to be pretty intense turning my shots to much overexposed. Oh well, life can't be perfect. I love your main post a lot. The sky is pretty dramatic and that litle shak flling apart adds a lot to this drama. Good framing and I prefer the main post. I agree with you that the WS are to classic.
The link to Heller is fantastic. Great shots through out!

[2] +

Cormac (26565) 2007-06-17 11:58

Great shot! I like the way you framed this, with the horizon very low and the sky so big. It gives lots of space for the clouds, which dominate the picture, and show how big the forces of nature are in comparison to man. Well done!

Angelillo (9374) 2007-06-17 13:12

Hi Pat,

This sky, so beautiful and contrasted, so wild and beautiful, deserves this big space you has given it. It's very clever the frame you gives us today. I like this little piece of earth, little but very interesting. It's great to see these little houses against the vastness of the sky. Magnificent! Thanks.

Regards,
Angel.

josepmarin (59385) 2007-06-17 15:34

Hi Pat,
Great work with the setting and the vertical format here, my friend.
I must say that I would have done the same setting, because the beauty of this so impressive sky deserves to be the protagonist of the photo. Though you have left the sufficient space to see these small wood houses on a very green landscape.
It is a magnificent work, and has a great quality of image.
Health, Love and Joy, my friend.
Josep

xuaxo (6854) 2007-06-17 16:07

Olб Pat
I prefer this one, but I think that half of that sky would be enough for a great effect. By other words: maybe I'd prefer this view in horizontal format.
SAA, F

lestans (17258) 2007-06-17 16:10

Ciao Pat!!

I like this composition!! I like the dark dramatic sky, and the wooden huts. Interesting note about this place!!
Ciao!!

Livia

ruisc_pt (11594) 2007-06-17 18:04

Pat
You have decided very well. The sky is superbly captured and you really choose the most beatifull image.
Sincerely
H
R

gunbud (34066) 2007-06-17 22:06

Hi Pat,
Wonderful dramatic sky above the old ghost town creates a lovely errie quality to this dessert landscape. These historic ruins are seen in excellent detail and outstanding color.
Regards, Tom

ALIRIZA (16423) 2007-06-18 7:52

Hi Patricia,
An interesting POV, wild and beautiful. An impressive atmosphere with cloudy sky and the frame. Well done my friend...
All the best...
Ali Rıza

toto (0) 2007-06-18 12:01

Belle photo de ce ciel menaзant,bien vu aussi le toit de cette baraque qui s' est laissй allй, bien prise et bons dйtails . Amitiйs Thomas

robertosalguero (292) 2007-06-20 1:38

Lots of clouds and sky in this picture. The shacks on the bottom look very nice and small. A typical scene of the wild west, only here the buildings are deserted. Good vertical shot to include different layers of clouds and colours. Nice picture Pat.

Roberto

darrasin (2860) 2007-06-21 0:57

Hi Pat! Yes, the light was very tough that afternoon but I think you made the most of it. The vertical format is well chosen here and it emphasizes the great size of the thunderhead piling up in the sky. The jumble of old shacks at the bottom of the frame captures the essence of Bodie perfectly.

Thanks for the great note too!

-Doug

Standa (1877) 2007-06-21 10:45

Hi Pat,
sky here looks like a painting, you had finaly good luck for weather conditions. Your composition together with framing are nice for eyes. I like it.
Regards,
Stanislav

Angshu (56760) 2007-06-22 3:35

Hi Pat
I would go with the main post...the sky, so much of it, has so much to offer. The battered wooden houses and the green offer a great contrast. The note is also well written
Regards
Angshu

jwmunro (286) 2007-06-22 16:12

Hello Pat -

I have been a little behind with comments due to a lack of an Internet connection at our camp in Fresno and Yosemite. I like this image, some may say too much sky, but to me the sky makes the image. Since I was there that same day I know the difficulties in trying to get the right scene and the right lighting conditions. You have successfully accomplished both IMO. The technical stuff looks to be right on. Well done!

Thank you for sharing.

John

bakes888 (18499) 2007-06-27 3:50

Hi Pat. It’s certainly a tale of woe you post for us here. Never mind it’s a great photo. The old buildings make a great subject and the background adds some powerful drama to the shot. Definitely a good choice for posting. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

daddo (28748) 2007-08-05 18:50

Hi Pat.The format you chose definitely accentuates the remoteness of the place and its rugged character. In addition, one gets the feeling that nature doesn't toy with humans there, but means business. Well done. Regards. Klaudio.