Wednesday, April 14, 2010

iPhone Wednesday #7 - Shovel

John got this close-up of a shovel near the Devil's Gate Dam not long ago.

There's still much work to be done over there. After rain last weekend the water has risen again, collecting debris behind the dam. Workers have corralled the debris (everything from driftwood to plastic bottles to stray socks) so when it's time to release the water, the debris won't be released with it.

shovel detail

John took a lot of photos of this medieval-looking thing. I'm fascinated by the irregularity of it, not to mention the colors. As John said, some forms of technology have been with us for a long time, and there's no need to change them.

27 comments:

Shell Sherree said...

I love these details too, Petrea ~ beautiful shots. I'm trying not to be distracted by the socks though. Do people suddenly decide, "I'm tired of wearing socks," then pull them off and leave them in their wake? Or is it the knitter's version of leaving a breadcrumb trail??? My wv is 'psake', which I'm sure is short for For Pete's Sake...

Unknown said...

Day's digging done,
fingers laced, waiting
for sunlight on dew.

Eleonora Baldwin said...

No need at all, this looks indeed Medieval. And so beautiful. Love the irregularity, as you say.

Ciao
Eleonora

Katie said...

The top photo looks like it could be a beautiful vintage bracelet (ok you have to squint a little). I do love a good close-up photo and these are wonderfully rich in texture and detail.

John Sandel said...

How positively post-ante-diluvian.

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't think people are so cavalier about their socks, Shell. But after the Station Fire left the hillsides bare, major rains washed all sorts of debris into the basin. Anything in the water's path came with it, including laundry.

Very nice, Cliff. You class up the place.

Thanks, Eleonora.

I'd wear that bracelet, Katie.

from merriam-webster.com
Main Entry: an·te·di·lu·vi·an
Pronunciation: \ˌan-ti-də-ˈlü-vē-ən, -(ˌ)dī-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: ante- + Latin diluvium flood — more at deluge
Date: 1646
1 : of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible
2 a : made, evolved, or developed a long time ago b : extremely primitive or outmoded

J, you're way ahead of me.

Petrea Burchard said...

Take a look at the cool project Ben is doing on his blog these days.

http://theskyisbig.blogspot.com/search/label/mosaic%20park%20signs

Virginia said...

I love me some rusty ......anything!
V

PS I wish I had a nifty photography assistant like J!

Bellis said...

The socks could have escaped from my washing machine - I always end up with a few singletons and the partners never ever turn up again.

As for the shovel, it's a gorgeous close-up. Are those rivets I see? It looks like something built in an old shipyard. New machinery is much lighter, because metal is now so much more expensive, and rivets aren't used any more. By the way, what's the shovel attached to?

Petrea Burchard said...

J is the best. My #1 blessing.

The shovel was detached and sitting atop a flatbed trailer, which was also detached. It's gone now. I hope it comes back because I never got to see it in person.

mark said...

Imagine all the dirt, sand, and rocks that shovel must have moved in its life. It looks quite sturdy and it never complains. Great photo John.

Anonymous said...

B: Metal? We are talking steel, hardened steel here, that’s a big difference.

P: Just wait for the next flood, it’ll be back.

Btw: the colors are great!

TheChieftess said...

I continue to be amazed at the quality of photo the iPhone takes!!! The detail in the closeup is wonderful!!! Why in the world do I think I need a new Nikon 700???

Margaret said...

Love the iphone pix. That's it's own blog.

Petrea Burchard said...

John's gotten pretty good with the iPhone camera. You can download apps to enhance or fiddle with the pictures; he likes panoramas but otherwise most of his shots are straightforward.

Have you checked out Kat's blog? She's doing a lot with the iPhone camera.
http://klikkonthis.wordpress.com/

TheChieftess said...

Leave it to Apple!!! I'm also a regular on Kat's blog...between hers and John's pics, I'm enthralled with the iPhone!!!

Virginia said...

I will meet J , right? If not, I"m outta there.
V

John Sandel said...

The iPhone is, basically, optical crap. Its camera was a sop to complainers, who don't grok Steve Jobs's minimalist bent. Plus, they hadda keep the price within reason, so its raw image quality is about on the level of an old Kodak InstaMatic camera …

Nothing a little sharpening & saturation won't gussy up. The real phun with phones is all the other goofy photo-apps & the tricks they can do.

I have a gallery of iPhone panoramas, if P doesn’t mind my linking here. Interesting views of Hahamongna basins, Boz &c.

I.e., it's not the tool, but the eye.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hmm, V, I don't think he saw your comment. We'll work something out.

Amy said...

Yay textures and metal - some of my very favorite kinds of photos. Amazing what you can find when you look a little closer. Great shots.

Ms M said...

Fascinating up-close study! And it does look like something from an ancient age.

Petrea Burchard said...

Amy, I know how you are about textures.

You know, Ms. M, the more I look at this the more I wish I could have it in my back yard.

Lisa..... said...

I love close up shots of random things.

Tash said...

Looks like intercrossed fingers - waiting. Very cool photography.

Petrea Burchard said...

John has taught me much of what I know about photography. He loves light and is constantly photographing amazing things I don't even notice.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Thanks for the link up. I'm a little late in discovering it. I must have disabled the thingy majiggy that informs me. I think it's called a ping back.

Petrea Burchard said...

You're welcome. Your post about the dam is one of my favorites.