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Gallery: POP PhotosPosted January 15, 2015333 views9 comments

I've been exploring the ghost towns along the C&NW railroad tracks (now RCPE) in the middle of South Dakota, between Pierre and Philip. A 100 years ago there were a number of small railroad towns on this stretch, but in the 1930s a paved highway was built 10 miles to the north and C&NW discontinued passenger service in the 1960s. Several little towns in the Bad River valley simply faded away. There are a couple of structures left in each, abandoned for over forty years. In below shot from Wendt, SD, I had to take one exposure with flash to light the house interior and close focus on the TV. In a second shot I exposed and focused on the train. It took some time to combine the shots but I like the result. At one time the b&w Zenith TV would have been the family's prize possesion. It's still there in the living room although the family is long gone.

Kent in SD

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on January 15, 2015 at 11:42 PM

Hey Kent,
The effort you put into this image was well worth your time. The lighting is outstanding through out the entire composition with very intriguing subject matter. This is a well seen and executed work of art with so many interesting elements.
Those would have been 'Plastered Walls' back in the day, a truly remarkable piece of history along with the entertaining commentary you provided.
Well done . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on January 16, 2015 at 10:10 AM

A very interesting perspective, wonderful comp. A lot of neat stuff for the eye to take in. My only nit is that I find the telephone pole and wires a tad distracting.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 16, 2015 at 10:11 AM

Well done, Kent. I might back off the lighting in the living room just a bit. To my eye, it is just a bit bright for an interior looking out.

With your love of trains, I thought you might put in an offer on this fine looking house and call it home.

You have probably seen this, but it is a really interesting video of a rail grinder at work at night. It is a heck of a light show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12CAFX2O95c

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on January 16, 2015 at 12:07 PM

You put together a very unusual perspective. It takes a while (and the large photo) to fully appreciate it, but I think that you truly succeeded!

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on January 16, 2015 at 12:18 PM

There are a lot of small abandoned or dying towns in the Dakotas. This tells a story of the changing of time and the movement of people. Well done.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on January 19, 2015 at 3:28 PM

I like this, Kent. The tones and color look great. You might consider cloning those bits at the top and left edge of the left-most window. The old TV and the train show how times have changed. Nice work!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 22, 2015 at 5:31 AM

Umm, yeah. Way cool. Outstanding balance to the lighting and great composite work. While I love old weathered, rustic buildings that are free of debris, the inclusion of the "artifacts" here makes this a much more poignant and story-telling image IMO. Thanks for the shout-out to Canada, too.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 26, 2015 at 4:56 PM

Very well crafted image, Kent! I like your historical narrative as well. This idea for a photo and the accomplishent of your vision is certainly impressive! Very

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on January 29, 2015 at 8:23 PM

I agree with Harley that the lighting in the room is a bit bright, but what a neat image. This could be so many places in the West! Well done.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments