This makes me think of fashion, because the colors are so incredibly elegant. It’s gorgeous – I love this one.
I imagine it’s not always easy to make these photographs. It would be interesting to hear a little about the process – like what mistakes you’ve made and how you’ve figured out better ways to photograph this type of surface, both in camera and in processing.
Thanks, Lynn. I did save this one for last because I thought it was special, so I’m glad you love it. I think what I’ve learned is that the other elements of the dumpster have to be pretty minimal. Otherwise all you see is a dumpster instead of what I want you to see: the gorgeous colors and etching-like lines and little explosions of something that turns out to be rust but you don’t exactly know that but that must be what they are. So composition is the most important part. Beyond that, it’s pretty straightforward Lightroom sliders, with minimal tweaking with clarity. I want to bring out the beauty I see, but I don’t want to present a dumpster that really doesn’t exist. Sometimes I remove “spots” at the edges of the composition, and sometimes I don’t. I always walk around all four sides of the dumpster, and I always, when I can, look at all four inside walls. After what I saw as the floor of the dumpster whose photos ran just before these last two, I have vowed always to look at the floor. Sometimes there are plastic hinged covers on a dumpster. I never lift them. The bacteria count in the air around the bins is probably already more than I need. Though I’d love to kneel on the pavement to get a better view, I don’t, for the same reason. I keep my crouching to a minimum because my back is not terribly trustworthy. Wish I could do more of it.
I was going to say (before I read your reply to Ken) that I’ll miss the series too, but I know you’ll do more. Thank you for the details above, it really is interesting. Especially the beginning – from “I think” to “important part.” I always appreciate the thought that goes into your work. I see the wheels turning! 😉
I’m glad you don’t lift the covers.
Romancing Reality 
Love it!
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August 31, 2017 at 6:42 AM
Thank you, Harrie. This is the last of the dumpster photographs for a while.
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August 31, 2017 at 8:58 AM
This makes me think of fashion, because the colors are so incredibly elegant. It’s gorgeous – I love this one.
I imagine it’s not always easy to make these photographs. It would be interesting to hear a little about the process – like what mistakes you’ve made and how you’ve figured out better ways to photograph this type of surface, both in camera and in processing.
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August 31, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Thanks, Lynn. I did save this one for last because I thought it was special, so I’m glad you love it. I think what I’ve learned is that the other elements of the dumpster have to be pretty minimal. Otherwise all you see is a dumpster instead of what I want you to see: the gorgeous colors and etching-like lines and little explosions of something that turns out to be rust but you don’t exactly know that but that must be what they are. So composition is the most important part. Beyond that, it’s pretty straightforward Lightroom sliders, with minimal tweaking with clarity. I want to bring out the beauty I see, but I don’t want to present a dumpster that really doesn’t exist. Sometimes I remove “spots” at the edges of the composition, and sometimes I don’t. I always walk around all four sides of the dumpster, and I always, when I can, look at all four inside walls. After what I saw as the floor of the dumpster whose photos ran just before these last two, I have vowed always to look at the floor. Sometimes there are plastic hinged covers on a dumpster. I never lift them. The bacteria count in the air around the bins is probably already more than I need. Though I’d love to kneel on the pavement to get a better view, I don’t, for the same reason. I keep my crouching to a minimum because my back is not terribly trustworthy. Wish I could do more of it.
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August 31, 2017 at 8:59 PM
I was going to say (before I read your reply to Ken) that I’ll miss the series too, but I know you’ll do more. Thank you for the details above, it really is interesting. Especially the beginning – from “I think” to “important part.” I always appreciate the thought that goes into your work. I see the wheels turning! 😉
I’m glad you don’t lift the covers.
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September 3, 2017 at 4:03 PM
Thank you, Lynn. I promise not to lift the covers.
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September 3, 2017 at 4:08 PM
I am going to miss this series. You left us with a great shot, though.
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August 31, 2017 at 4:19 PM
Thank you for your sustained interest and frequent comments, Ken. The series will resume, I promise.
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August 31, 2017 at 9:00 PM