More than a Wedge

I'm not a big fan of wedgies, although of course I take zillions of them, just like most of us. Well, maybe fewer than I used to, but still, plenty. But sometimes that is what can be done, or sometimes doing something else is a lot of effort and one is constrained by time or company. So, can one max out the wedge?

Well, here's one example, by Mitch Goldman (captioned version here). Now, this one is not constrained; taken during a photo charter. But there wasn't much to work with, in terms of immediate scenery. So what does one do? Do a pan, as Mitch is wont to do? Tele-smash? Mitch went wide, not ultra-wide (17mm on a crop body), but wide. But what else did he get in the shot?

First, there is something about the way the wide angle enhances the angle of the pilot (and the far grabiron on the nose) that gives the shot a stronger dynamic feel than most shots. Of course, can't do that with a diesel (unless it's something like an EMD E)!

Furthermore, the sky is helpful. Not glorious, but it contributes, as the lines in the clouds, a gentle diagonal from the left edge, the near-vertical diagonal of the leading cloud edge coming down from the top, draw the eye to the engine. Some of the swirls near the top give a subtle framing to the plume. (Too subtle? So subtle that this comment is a real stretch, making something of what is really nothing?) The sky has an interesting presence, not at all strong, but not blank blue either. Furthermore, the relatively monotoned gray plume sets off beautifully against the white.

Up front, the whitish grasses help enhance the presence of the black engine. Finally, the linepole adding just enough to make it more of a scene than a roster (of course, the trailing cars also, but the pole does a lot). Call it an action-wedgie-portrait. :) Not an excellent shot, but a really likeable shot. It has grown on me. Mitch got out of it all that was there and a bit more.