The light went from good to great and lasted about three minutes. I quickly pulled off the road, not having any time to get in a good location for a great shot, and took this. I sure wish I would have known the light was going to do this! I would have set up and waited for it. If only there were a herd of brude mares along the fence line! Oh well, I think it turned out okay, even with such a weak composition.

What do you all think?

Gateway to Heaven with barbed wire in my way? Hope it is not that hard to get into. Glad you posted this image. My first reaction was "lack luster". Not sure what you were trying to say with this composition. Your explanation helped.

I did drop it in Photoshop and gave it some more saturation. Gorgeous sky! Maybe my being a horse person and my distain for that damaging wire has tainted my feeling for this image.

I think you captured that beautiful strange late afternoon light you don't see too often. I like soft colors and think it works on this one.

There are many shots I want to see really pumped up colors, but, this one I like subdued. I think it captures a realism of a afternoon light you don't see too often.

thanks for sharring. I agree that it's kind of lack luster, but it's just an image of the moment. I've gotten similar reactions from others. I've found that most westerners love it, especially people from montana and cowboy country, as they can realate to the image, the mood, and the light.

I really was capturinng that moment. By some measures, barbed wire would make easy access to heaven (if that were all that were required), but no matter what the strands, to me, it's all about the gate, it does open regardless of its appeal - sounds like most religions - LOL . . .

As per the barbed wire and livestock, I agree, I dont like it either and have had more that one horse (I'm a horse person too, but mine are for work and not so much play anymore - I quit rodeoing a few years back) cut up from barbed wire, seen a few people go through them on sleds durrinng the winter and even one or two a-horse-back too!

It's nasty stuff for sure, but what's the alternative out here in the wide open west? Any ideas what it would take to replace all that wire with somthing that would hold cattle and buffalo but not cut? Where's the money for gallager wire? There aint none. . . Better, would you put your horses behind hot wire? Not me.

Great comments, thank you two for sharring!

I like it - I would have shot it too. The old fence/gate in my opinion adds to the image - I think it would have been lack luster without! Tony I'd love to see it tried with a touch more contrast to perhaps bring the clouds out a bit more.

On a recent roadtrip I had thought about photographing some old bones (ex road kill etc) but then I thought the images might be met with protest by all the city people who have rarely ventured beyond suburbia. Life can be different "out there" and I am regretting I didn't take more photos.

I for one would like to see more photos of life 'out west'.

"If only there were a herd of brude mares along the fence line! Oh well, I think it turned out okay, even with such a weak composition."

Hey Tony,

Taking the name of the photo aside, I generally like the composition. While it is not your strongest piece of work, I do feel that it is rather unique - and that says something. Again, it looks better on my CRT than it does no the LCD - but that is a calibration issue on my end.

James