As a cold freezing rain and a driving wind whipped me about, I managed to sneak a few shots of these abandoned Airstreams, in a lonely desert landscape in Southern Colorado. The sky was stormy and gray, and I was being pelted with wind-driven sleet, but I knew if I shot using my new Nikon D600, which was converted to shooting in infrared, the sky would show details not normally seen with the naked eye.
I love how the silvery Airstream bodies glisten in otherwise darker surroundings. The desert grasses help add wisps of sparkly contrast to the darker gravel around them. When cropping this shot, I opted to keep the foreground cluster of grasses, in order to help complete a visual triangle- which you can see running from the top of the Airstreams and then down to the cluster.
Digital infrared photography involves having a camera that has been converted to sensing infrared light. Ordinary cameras have special filters that prevent infrared from being captured. What I love about shooting in infrared is how often the sky and water create surprises; showcasing clouds and reflections we cannot often see with the naked eye. Typically, blue skies go very dark. Clouds bloom with details and glowing vibrance. And often, dark items turn much lighter. Prior to shooting digital infrared, I shot extensively using Kodak HIE-2481 infrared film. And since there was no previewing a shot, the surprises in the darkroom, after processing were really fun!
For the full story behind this shot, go to westernspacesblog.com.
Although this shot looks great in any man cave (or is that one word? "Mancave"). Its colors, subject matter, and mood fit well in many areas of the house or business. I've even had people purchase the print to hang IN their Airstream!
One final note, one person has mentioned that at least of few of order these trailer RVs are actually Spartans. Still, I like to think of them as Airstreams, so I'm sticking with that since that's what so many of us think when we see such vehicles.
• This photo is printed on canvas in the gallery-wrap style. I first master the print (often with many proof prints to get things just right), then I print the shot onto canvas, varnish it, then stretch it on wooden stretcher bars. The process takes a few days since there is some drying involved in a few steps.
• There's no need to frame unless you want to. I include all the hanging hardware.
• This image was taken on a Nikon D800 that was converted to Infrared, giving the shot a surreal quality.
• Printed on an Epson 9900, the tones are amazing and archival.
• The image is varnished with an archival Breathing Color product, and hand-stretched to order.
• Let me know if you want a different size- I print these to order.
• The print is hand signed by me, Michael Parnham.
• I post new images to Instagram almost every day. Follow me at @westernspacesphotography.
• I recently blogged about this shot at westernspacesblog.com
Product code: Abandoned Desert Airstreams, order Photo Print, Colorado, 2014