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:
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.
Like This Article?
Don't Miss The Next One!
Join over 100,000 photographers of all experience levels who receive our free photography tips and articles to stay current:
This is a delightful photograph and it really does look as if it were painted on canvas. I am truly disappointed, however, that a photography site would publish this without indicating the name of the photographer. Isn’t this exactly what all the fuss is about on Tumblr, etc., these days – about people dodging the ownership of images? Wouldn’t a site concerned with photography be particularly diligent about assigning the copyright to the photographer?