Classical Gas Museum Embudo, New Mexico
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My last three posts have all highlighted beautifully restored classic cars. As a change of pace, I thought we should return to the Classical Gas Museum which we first visited a couple of months ago. Located on Highway 68 at Embudo between Espanola and Taos in New Mexico is one of the most unusual museums in the country. Here the cars, as well as most of the other exhibits, are not what one might call in immaculate condition. Rust abounds. To say the least this is an HDR photographers nirvana.
Classical Gas Museum Embudo, New Mexico
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Not everything at the museum, though, is covered in rust. As Johnnie Meier, the owner and curator of the museum put it, this Studebaker pickup would make a nice simple renovation project for someone. The bodywork is in remarkably good condition, showing very little rust that is the trademark of most of the other exhibits.
Classical Gas Museum Embudo, New Mexico
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The image above is more representative of the collection. This rusty shell was once a late 1940’s Hudson pickup. Looking at the grill work, I think it could be a 1946 or 1947 model. As with most shots at the museum, this image was made using a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle. This lens adds an extra dimension to the images through the deliberate distortion created by not having the lens parallel to the subject.
Although published back in June 2011, I still think this is the best and most comprehensive guide to HDR post-processing around and the reference I return to more often than anything else, including much more modern books and web publications.
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| April 24, 2013
Shadowns and Rust = Perfect! Nice work
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| April 25, 2013
Many thanks, Mike. This is truly an HDR photographers wonderland.
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| April 25, 2013
The third image in particular benefits from the wide angle approach – an almost cartoonish distortion of its proportions. That looks a fascinating place for a long photographic safari.
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| April 25, 2013
Many thanks, Andy. There is so much crammed into this space that the wide angle is the only possibility. The trick is using it to your advantage and creating something different.
Twitter: JimiJones
| April 26, 2013
What a playground this is for HDR photography. You’ve done a great job on these shots, Mark. Really digging that first shot above all for some reason. Takes me back to my childhood, most likely. 🙂
Good stuff, man!
Twitter: jimnixaustin
| April 29, 2013
I love that place, having shot there a couple of times. It’s fabulous. I think I need to dig back into my library, you got my excited! Nicely done Mark, great shots of this most awesome HDR hot spot!
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| April 30, 2013
Many thanks, Jim. I look forward to seeing your images from this wonderful place.