Israel Yosef  


Ford in the sands of Namibia by Israel Yosef

December 2020 - Ford in the sands of Namibia

December 2020 - Israel Yosef

Original

About the Image(s)

In August 2019 I toured Namibia with a group of photographers. On the way to the nature reserve, we stopped for a rest at the Solitaire Center. This place is very famous in Namibia and also very special, it has a collection of antique cars that stand inside the dunes. Interesting question how did cars get there? Your opinions?

I shoot in RAW format and process with Lightroom: basic adjustment, detail, texture, etc. Then I convert to B&W in Alien Skin Exposure 7, B&W Split Toning - Sepia.

Camera settings: Sony a7r III. ISO 100, 1/320s, f/9.0, 32mm, lens: Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
20 comments posted




Bob Legg   Bob Legg
Another great image Israel. A rusty truck framed so perfectly to show the name "Solitaire" and with the Sand mountains in the background and nothing else from civilization showing. A minor point, but I think you could of gone a little wider on your zoom to include all of the shadow from the truck. Understand, it might of been impossible while keep the Solitaire showing in the back window or not getting others in your frame.
Bob
  Posted: 12/06/2020 13:11:39



Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hi Bob,

I checked the photo,
I have the ability to enlarge the frame and show the shadow at the bottom and it's much more interesting, you're right.
Thank you very much.

Best regards,
Israel


  Posted: 12/06/2020 14:13:40



Bunny Laden   Bunny Laden
(Group 43)
What a wonderful composition! The way you lined up the Solitaire sign is, to my eye, very clever and emphasizes the lonely space in which this truck is abandoned. I also like that I can see a distant tree through the door window. I agree with Bob about the shadow, but it is a very minor point. Nicely done!   Posted: 12/06/2020 17:49:13
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hello Bunny,

I welcome you to our wonderful group.
Thank you for your comment.

All the best.

Israel   Posted: 12/08/2020 10:15:57



LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
Hello Israel,

You have become quite an amazing photographer since I first met you in this group! This is a great image. I agree with the other comments, love the solitaire sign, the desolate area, rusted old truck, everything about the surroundings works together to make this a great image.

My sample edit experiments with geometric distortion. I am not good with Lightroom as I do not use it on a regular basis. I have it on my IPad so I was trying out the Creative Cloud version. I raised the exposure because I think the image was a little dark and I felt the need to see inside the shadows in the front of truck. I added a little negative vignette, and in the Geometry section I used -50 distortion. Distortion pulled the front end of the truck closer to the camera making the truck more prominant in the frame.

Let me know what you think about the shadows and distortion.

Keep shooting, my friend!

Best regards,
LuAnn   Posted: 12/07/2020 21:16:54
Comment Image
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hello LuAnn,

I'm always looking forward to your comments and ideas.
You once again taught me something new.
I thought about lightening the front of the car, but decided not to do it, but now I see that it's great.
I didn't even think about distortion, you gave me a cool idea, I will use this idea in the future.
You can learn endlessly.
I'm looking forward to your arrival in Israel, I really want to travel with you and show you the country, take pictures and, of course, learn from you.

Best regards,
Israel
  Posted: 12/08/2020 10:38:23



LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
Hello Israel,

I am glad you liked my edit. I have never used distortion before but using LIghtroom on my IPad; the version was different than what I have on my desktop computer (Adobe Lightroom for IPad); it is so different it is like using a new software program everything is set up different than the desktop version. So I, too, learned that the distortion tool is a great option for the right image!

Israel, I have been watching Amir Tsarfati with Behold Israel ministries on their website. The view of Galilee is impressive from where he is speaking. I have Israel on my list when vacations are allowed again, and I definitely will take you up on your offer as a tour guide. Maybe others from the group would be interested in a group outing with Israel in Israel!

Best regards (shalom, my friend),
LuAnn   Posted: 12/08/2020 11:36:04
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hello LuAnn,

With great pleasure I'll show all members of our group our small but very beautiful and interesting Israel:
Jerusalem - the city of three religions
Galilee
Nazareth
The Negev Desert
The Dead Sea
The ancient cities of Yafo and Caesarea.

I invite everyone after the pandemic.
It will be very wonderful to meet everyone together, travel, take pictures and communicate.

Best regards
Israel   Posted: 12/08/2020 12:30:45



 
Israel, this is a great image, and the choice of sepia tones works really well with the old truck/wild west/abandoned feel to the image. I also like the way the word "Solitaire" is captured in the windscreen. I agree that lightening the shadows in the front helps. Love the story behind it as well - in Namibia, of all places. In their heyday, American cars made it everywhere, did they not?   Posted: 12/09/2020 17:23:07
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hi Leah,

Thanks for your comment,
I agree with you about the cars.
The only place in the world where you can find old American cars that still drive it is Cuba.

Best regards
Israel
  Posted: 12/10/2020 08:52:30



Emil Davidzuk   Emil Davidzuk
Israel

You ask a great question about how this old Ford got stranded in Namibia. Only the shadow knows.

I am glad you stopped to take this photo during your rest stop. I love to photograph old cars and trucks. The sign in the truck window is a sign to me that you were deliberate in your composition - sorry i had to phrase it this way. Sepia works here and you have enough of the desert and hills in the background to make you ask How did that truck get there?

Emil   Posted: 12/15/2020 12:40:43
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Emil,
Thank you for your comment.
I took a few more pictures of old cars there.
I'm thinking of publishing them in the next months, I am very interested in your opinion and the opinion of other members of our wonderful group.

Best regards
Israel   Posted: 12/17/2020 07:25:43



Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Isreal, I love this image. It conveys the heat of the day and the age of the area. You really did well to capture the feeling of the truck and its resting place!

I've been playing with a new approach for lighting monochrome images and thought it might be interesting to use your excellent photograph to try some of my techniques. Basically, I wanted to emphasize the heat and the direction of the sun. It is definitely not better than the image that you submitted; however, it's a bit different. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.

Take care, my friend... and keep shooting!

  Posted: 12/15/2020 19:01:46
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Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hi Oliver,

I'm so glad you liked my photo.
You have a good view of the environment and I really like that.
You always see more than me.
I'm learning from you.
There is something special in your processing, you removed the wood in the window opening, the photo became warmer and the foreground is darker and much more natural.
The sun was behind the car and on the left, so it is not entirely natural to lighten the front of the car.

In general, I like it.

Best regards
Israel   Posted: 12/17/2020 07:43:50
Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Israel, you're an excellent photographer. If I'm able to provide a bit of helpful input, it's my honor to do so!

Yes, I thought the original image had a few distractions from the wonderful car. Also, I felt that it would be interesting to try to give a sense of heat without a great deal of brightness. I've begun to use a technique for directing light in a monochrome image that is really impressive. I have Emil to thank for that.

  Posted: 12/18/2020 08:13:45
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hi Oliver,
I would love to know how to use the technique of directing light onto monochrome that Emil taught you.

Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Israel
  Posted: 12/20/2020 10:57:01



Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Israel,

There are actually two techniques. One of them uses only Photoshop and the second uses 3rd party software. Unfortunately, the 3rd party software is very complex and there aren't very good training facilities available. So, I'm still struggling to learn that one. However, I'd be glad to show you the Photoshop process.

Would you be able to participate in a zoom meeting? (I have a zoom account.) If so, I'll be glad to set it up at a date/time that works for both of us. Early evening for you would be mid-afternoon for me. That would be convenient for me, but please suggest a time and day that works for you.

  Posted: 12/20/2020 18:24:23
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hi Oliver,
I'll be very happy to meet you in Zoom and learn from you.
I can in:
1.Friday, 25.12.2020 from 19:00 to 22:00
2.Saturday, 26.12.2020 from 19:00 to 22:00
Israel time.

If it is convenient for you, I will be very grateful to you.
If you aren't satisfied with this time and day then write me what suits you.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,
Israel   Posted: 12/21/2020 05:53:02



Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Israel, Saturday the 26th at 20:00 would be great. (I believe that will be 1:00 pm EST for me.) I suspect that you'll find the process is fairly straightforward.

Looking forward to our meeting! I'll email you the link for the Zoom session beforehand.

BTW, if anyone else is interested in joining us, just let me know.

  Posted: 12/21/2020 12:00:37
Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Oliver,

Very good.
I look forward to our meeting.
Thanks in advance, Oliver.
I would be very glad if our friends from the group join us.

Best regards,
Israel   Posted: 12/21/2020 12:23:16