Mary Ann Carrasco
April 2026 - Old Truck
Original
About the Image(s)
This was taken recently at a visit to an almond orchard in the Capay Valley in Yolo County which is about an hour drive from Sacramento. There is a program called Yolo Art and Ag and various agricultural areas open their ranches, orchards, etc. to artists and photographers. This old truck was on display near the welcome center and olive orchard. I took this with the Nikon Z9, ISO 64, f/11, 1/160. I edit in camera raw and photoshop. I took the saturation to zero and then made adjustments to get the monochrome version. I look forward to your comments/suggestions.
9 comments posted
That is a nice flatbed and sitting nicely on a mound overlooking the view. The conversion is very good and looks a nice large flat field in front of it. I take it that the view from the front was not that good. But this is a very pleasing image. Posted: 04/07/2026 10:35:15
Paul, thank you for your comments. You are correct...the view from the front just didn't work! Posted: 04/12/2026 21:37:11
Very nice image, Mary ann! What a great idea to open up the farms to artists. Did the artist share any of their work with the farms?
This image needs some more contrast in order to make it pop. In your description, you said that you reduce the saturation to zero and then converted it to a mono. Try increasing your saturation substantially and then converting to mono. You need to have more saturation when you make the mono conversion in order to have a lot of contrast. A good mono image can benefit from a saturated color starting point. Give it a try and see what you think.
Have you tried a version of the image cropped so that the truck? Is out of the center maybe a little to the left and lower?
Make sure you let us know the dates of this event next year!
Posted: 04/10/2026 20:14:28
This image needs some more contrast in order to make it pop. In your description, you said that you reduce the saturation to zero and then converted it to a mono. Try increasing your saturation substantially and then converting to mono. You need to have more saturation when you make the mono conversion in order to have a lot of contrast. A good mono image can benefit from a saturated color starting point. Give it a try and see what you think.
Have you tried a version of the image cropped so that the truck? Is out of the center maybe a little to the left and lower?
Make sure you let us know the dates of this event next year!
Posted: 04/10/2026 20:14:28
Bob, I adjusted the contrast on this. Let me know what you think. Posted: 04/12/2026 21:36:05
I like this a lot more! Remember that I prefer more contrasty B&W images! Did you saturate the color image and then convert it to a mono image? Posted: 04/12/2026 22:40:04
Bob, no, I added an adjustment layer and increased the contrast. I haven't tried editing the color and then converting because I experimented with this one by just decreasing the saturation to mono and then doing adjustments. I usually edit a color version and then use silver efex pro to convert. Posted: 04/14/2026 18:58:58
Indeed very nice opportunity for photographers, and very nice from the owners. Such picture (subject) call the B&W and the conversion is well done. The advice of Bob about the contrast is pertinent.
I like the composition (truck between 2 yucca's?) and the angle of view (from the back). The truck can go through the orchard. Nice texture of the grass. Posted: 04/13/2026 11:02:51
I like the composition (truck between 2 yucca's?) and the angle of view (from the back). The truck can go through the orchard. Nice texture of the grass. Posted: 04/13/2026 11:02:51
Thank you for your comments, Vincent. Posted: 04/14/2026 18:59:31
Your focus and clarity are "spot on" with this shot. I like how you have used the ( de )"Saturation Tool" rather than NIK, for example. This could have been taken from a scene in "The Grapes of Wrath". The weathered truck cab and tires allow us to date this area . Very nice! Posted: 04/16/2026 17:29:18