Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
February 2025 - Ghost Truck
Original
About the Image(s)
This is one of my crazier experiments. One evening, I came across a solitary truck that was in park in the empty yard in an industrial area, with a background of fir trees and pines and a lonely star in the dark sky. Some light was coming from the surrounding buildings. It came to my mind to see if I could achieve a motion effect by zooming to the truck during the long exposure. I set the camera on tripod in a low angle in front of the truck, focused on the bumper, and turned the 18-300 mm zoom maybe half the way during the 2 s exposure. Fuji X-T4 , f/7.1, 18-150 (?) mm, 2 s, ISO 160. I thought that the reflections and lens flares created rather interesting effects. I turned the image into BW and used the NIK Silver Efex Low Key 1 preset as a starting point to make the most of the surreal mood. What do you think? Any ideas for improvements?
11 comments posted
Hi Kirsti. I like your crazy experiments! Turning the zoom ring during exposure has some wonderful creative effects. Your idea of using the Mack truck as the subject and creating a ghostly effect is very cool. The trees exhibit a nice ghosting effect, and the white fog-like light compliments the truck. Additionally, the front grill of the truck has good texture. Some potential adjustments to consider include removing the very bright heptagon-shaped flare as it tends to draw my attention away from the rest of the image. Compositionally, the dark negative space on the left side of the frame seems to overwhelm the subject for me - possibly consider a square crop to place more emphasis on the subject. Also, consider enhancing the midtones of the truck as it could help to create more separation from the background. Posted: 02/05/2025 14:16:02
Thank you, Barbara, very good ideas! I'll try all of them out. - I quite like the darkness in the left side myself, as something mysterious for the truck to move in. Also, I got so fond of those narrow oblique stripes that come from the fence in the darkness that I just could not let them go, and then there is the tiny star above the forest in the left upper corner, too… Posted: 02/05/2025 17:53:47
I fully understand a connection to those elements! Most importantly your vision and artistic choices reflect your perspective and that matters most when creating a photograph. Posted: 02/05/2025 21:18:16
Keep experimenting; Is there any wasy to eliminte the bright disc of light at the right hand side of the truck? Try playing with your blur tool Posted: 02/07/2025 20:09:06
Thank you very much, Al -I think that this made a lot of difference!
Posted: 02/08/2025 14:15:00
Posted: 02/08/2025 14:15:00
Good morning Kirsti,
The title really conveys the thought behind the image. I have read the other comments. While I can see the points that were made, and they are worth further investigation, I have to confess that to my eye your first version is the most effective. I like the balance that the right side gives to the truck.
In truth this image was one I studied for some time before commenting and came down on the side of your original. A great concept Kirsti thank you for sharing it with us. Posted: 02/08/2025 15:59:18
The title really conveys the thought behind the image. I have read the other comments. While I can see the points that were made, and they are worth further investigation, I have to confess that to my eye your first version is the most effective. I like the balance that the right side gives to the truck.
In truth this image was one I studied for some time before commenting and came down on the side of your original. A great concept Kirsti thank you for sharing it with us. Posted: 02/08/2025 15:59:18
Thank you, Ed! I have been looking at the different versions side by side now, and I think, too, that the halo may actually add to the ghostly mood, after all. - I have not played with the zoom effect before, and find these unexpected results so fascinating. Posted: 02/08/2025 18:28:36
Hi Kirsti - What a great idea to try a new technique to turn a static subject into more of a dynamic image to get the mood you were after! However, to my eye, the bright circle/octagon really overpowers the image and diminishes the impact of the shot. Regardless, you are to be commended for your out-of-the box thinking to create an image where few would see the potential! Posted: 02/09/2025 01:39:22
Thank you, Jeff! I know - it was the bright reflection from some corner that produced the unexpected octagon that I then decided to try to use in the story. - I think I'll continue with the experiment to learn how the lights behave in the process. Posted: 02/09/2025 05:00:08
Hi Kirsti,
Your technique was obviously effective for me because I thought you had stepped in front of a moving truck to get your shot :)
I'm mixed on the octagonal halo. I think I'd need to see a version without it to decide but I understand your commitment to it to match your vision. I do like the diagonal lines coming from the left side, they add some tension to the photo.
It helped for me to open the photo in PS and use a light background in order to get a real good look at the perimeters of the photo.
This is a very original and creative photo!
Rob
Posted: 02/10/2025 18:09:42
Your technique was obviously effective for me because I thought you had stepped in front of a moving truck to get your shot :)
I'm mixed on the octagonal halo. I think I'd need to see a version without it to decide but I understand your commitment to it to match your vision. I do like the diagonal lines coming from the left side, they add some tension to the photo.
It helped for me to open the photo in PS and use a light background in order to get a real good look at the perimeters of the photo.
This is a very original and creative photo!
Rob
Posted: 02/10/2025 18:09:42
Thank you, Rob! I am so glad that the motion effect worked - it actually felt almost scary to crouch on the ground in front of those big wheels! The light background is a good idea! Posted: 02/10/2025 18:32:34