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Four Aces Diner, Palmdale, CA
Four Aces Diner, Palmdale, CA
tanguera


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2011
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR
Location: Palmdale, CA
Date: Jul 2, 2011
Galleries: Landscape, Rural
Date Uploaded: Jul 3, 2011

 This diner is part of a roadhouse I read about around two weeks ago, but didn't get a chance to shoot before I left on vacation. But for once, the Challenge Gods were in my favor: upon my return, the Diner challenge was announced, and I had the perfect subject. This roadhouse has been used in several movies, and is available for filming, although no longer open for business.

I drove 150 miles (round trip - gyaban, my renewed appreciation for your extreme dedication...). The 6 lane highway became a 4 lane highway, then a two lane road with small town businesses. Then the businesses went away. Then the houses went away. Then the pavement went away. But I kept driving. Then suddenly there was this roadhouse, in the middle of absolutely nowhere, at the intersection of two dirt roads. There is also a motel component and a tiny gas station, plus about 7 old cars in the back. I had originally entered a more panoramic shot which included the gas station part, and an old Chevy pick-up, but decided this was more about the diner. I was worried I'd left too late to get sunset lighting, so I was rushing a bit, even though I had to pee like crazy. But I got there at just the right time. I only wish there had also been some clouds.

merged 3 exposures in Efex HDR
brightness/contrast
darkened sign in lower right
darkened a couple of sun flare spots
layers for painting, d&b
save for web

Can't BELIEVE Allen ( nightpixels) ribboned with a shot of this very same place!!! I almost entered a very similar shot to his, but the Cloud Gods were definitely favoring him :-)

Statistics
Place: 11 out of 57
Avg (all users): 6.2460
Avg (commenters): 7.6000
Avg (participants): 5.8286
Avg (non-participants): 6.4066
Views since voting: 4157
Views during voting: 311
Votes: 126
Comments: 17
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-7D
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon
 07/15/2011 10:42:53 AM
Love the fish eye. Cool beans. I love that tv show by the name of the challenge title. Let's take a road trip and explore some of those dives!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO
 07/15/2011 08:55:18 AM
I didn't even realize this was the same place as the other entry! What a difference the perspective made. Well earned high placement! I can't believe how far you drove for it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
 07/15/2011 05:12:53 AM
Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 07/15/2011 12:32:08 AM
Go, Johanna! well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
 07/15/2011 12:14:19 AM
I was dying to see who else went there besides me :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon Canon 1d x Mark II
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 07/14/2011 11:58:22 PM
Love the fisheye look, vivid, 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm FinePix S7000
 07/14/2011 11:54:09 PM
I like both shots of this place that have been entered into this challenge! I like how the sun burst frames the left of this image highlighting the contrast of the shadow filled right. I dig the slimy greens & the way the florescent bulbs highlight that tone. Feels very 'Natural Born Killers' (the snake juice scene to be specific) to me...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
OM System OM-5
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko
07/14/2011 12:56:56 PM
I know this is weird but I look at this and I see a spaceship - R2D2 style kind of jazzed up... but with the happy face on front and all.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-1D Mark II
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
 07/14/2011 12:08:06 PM
nice use of the fisheye, and I love the processing, ought to ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 ED-IF
 07/13/2011 05:43:15 PM
awesome
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSC-H7
 07/11/2011 10:11:53 AM
Loved it
+1
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 07/09/2011 07:55:57 PM
I like the fisheye on this. Nice colors too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Pentax K10D
Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF
 07/09/2011 04:45:43 PM
All in one diners, lunch, and a breakfast? and the owner...sponge bob square pants 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus E-5
Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom
 07/08/2011 11:58:59 AM
Did you want the distortion to be part of the composition?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-80D
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 07/08/2011 09:18:08 AM
Nice use of fish eye. Love the colors and descriptions.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2011 09:07:40 AM
Great colors and I like the fisheye perspective.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM
 07/08/2011 08:12:07 AM
I have lived in Palmdale (early 80s), didn't know about this place so I googled and discovered the real story :) Great image, highly scored.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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