This past Saturday I met up with Nick Marzinski, you know that cool guy that let us use his brackets for this months concert? He happened to be in the Kansas City area so we decided to make plans to photograph the West Bottoms of Kansas City.
This place is intense to say the least! It is an HDR photographers dream world! Epicly grungy from street to street, perfect for tone mapping and exploiting some serious dynamic range. Apparently this was a hopping place in Kansas City history but has since fallen by the wayside leaving it distraught and dilapidated. The elements are starting to ware the environment in beautiful ways.
Just as the sun was setting we stumbled upon a Piano shop. Left outside were some beautiful pianos, I don’t know which part this is from, but it is not everyday you get to shoot a piano that has been beaten by the environment.
The plaque reads, “This firm deserves the Greatest Commendation for Superlative Merit and Variety of Exhibits, and also for having attained the Highest Standard of Excellence in all branches of their manufacture. THE ONLY MANUFACTURERS THUS HONORED.” A shame it ended up here…
Nick reminded me to turn around and take a look at the sun setting behind us. These trees were perfectly set in the middle of all of this industrial mayhem.
I had a great time shooting with Nick and am quite thankful for the people I have met along the way with the HDR blog. I have met some great photographers like Keith Moyer, who I have shot with often (and am overdue for another get together). And Paul Ciura, the engineer and creator of the EverydayHDR Forum.
If you are every in the KC area and want to go shooting, send me an email, I’d love to meet up with you!
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6 comments
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Keith Moyer
November 26, 2012 at 11:38 (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Good stuff Blake! Yeah, we need to get together and shoot again soon!
Blake Rudis
November 26, 2012 at 21:53 (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks Keith, yep, we are over due. When you get some free time let me know, we can come up with a location!
Nick Marzinski
November 26, 2012 at 21:41 (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Had a great time. Those piano parts we saw are called soundboards. They amplify the vibrations from the strings.
Blake Rudis
November 26, 2012 at 21:53 (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Nice, thanks for the input on the pianos. Incredible stuff.
Mark Hammond
November 27, 2012 at 20:17 (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sedalia isn’t too far from where your at and I drive to the Ford plant at Claycomo everyday maybe someday? These shots are awesome
Blake Rudis
November 27, 2012 at 20:50 (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Very cool, we should definitely go shooting sometime Mark! Thanks for the warm feedback!