Interesting Photo of the Day: A Bolt Through the Countryside

Upon first glance, this image draws comparisons to modern realist paintings from the likes of Grant Wood and Edward Hopper more than the photographic landscapes many of us are accustomed to. However, upon closer examination it becomes evident that a camera did indeed capture this incredible shot:

long exposure railroad

From the back of a speeding train (Via Imgur. Click image to see full size.)

By balancing the camera on a steady surface and pointing in the wake of a moving locomotive, the photographer was able to employ a slow shutter speed and create the resulting painterly image. Straight steel rails appear to intersect with power lines in the sky, forcing the viewer’s eye toward the center of the flat, blurred horizon. Meanwhile, ominous storm clouds hover precariously over an inviting yet empty field of green, further adding to the surreal appearance of the land.

Blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, today’s photograph serves as a prime example of how the photographer’s eye can effortlessly cause a banal scene to transform into a mind-bending portal to another world.

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