Exif data: NIKON D300, Focal Length: 42 mm, Aperture: f/5.6, Exposure: 1/1000 sec, ISO Speed: 200, Flash: Not Fired
20/01/2010 at 17:10
Categories: [HDR]  [structures]  
35 comments
 

• I pass a similar scene on my way to Houston. I haven't managed to make anything out of it as you have here.
  12bitphoto @ 2010-01-20 17:32:06
• Shotgun. Great subtle processing that captures the day. best...jerry
  ordinaryimages @ 2010-01-20 19:15:02
• Very southern look here. Beautiful processing.
  Turnbill @ 2010-01-20 19:27:26
• so barren and depressing that I would think abandoned as well. really nice image, Sherri.
  Otto K. @ 2010-01-20 19:41:55
• oh how i admire your talent..to take an photo like this seemingly mundane and make it look so great!
  elk @ 2010-01-20 21:03:17
• Nice processing, nice song (my granddaughter's name is Norah)
  Nick @ 2010-01-20 21:07:37
• farm labour - that's a tough life. i really like your selective use of color.
  michele @ 2010-01-20 22:12:55
• Do you get the feeling the people are not the richest around. That is wonderfully processed.
  Michael Rawluk @ 2010-01-20 22:28:05
• Simple beau et bien présenté !
  JMS* @ 2010-01-20 23:41:45
• i like the overall perpendicular line of the entire landscape you've shot here. so peaceful!
  Liang @ 2010-01-21 00:13:09
• A very nice perspective shot. You did a great processing job here!
  Standley @ 2010-01-21 01:32:29
• lovely shot
  but why are those houses so close to each other when there's a lot of space around them?
  yz @ 2010-01-21 01:32:46
• It's a great image with a real country feel to it. I imagine those shacks are pretty basic.
  Michael @ 2010-01-21 02:14:31
• Wonderful mood, composition and processing for these great tones!
  Pavan Kaul @ 2010-01-21 03:07:05
• I like the pov and the processing with the selective and not so strong colors. What have these houses been used for? Is there a large farm nearby so these houses are for those working at the farm?
  
  Frida @ 2010-01-21 03:46:59
• superb, good shooting.
  THEYS @ 2010-01-21 03:53:41
• Convincing composition: Lyrics, song (the voice of Norah Jones is wonderful) and image go together really excellent. And I do like those clear graphics in the image, the centering lines and the subdued colors. Great work!
  Markus Spring @ 2010-01-21 05:39:41
• I like the framing and the tones
  BoB @ 2010-01-21 08:29:34
• I love this, Sherri! great cool tones
  Charles Dastodd @ 2010-01-21 10:06:48
• I like the perspective of the road, the ditch, and the buildings pointing to infinity. I like the amount of turf between you and the housing which gives the labor houses an "over there" remoteness. A strong shot.
  don @ 2010-01-21 11:24:07
• I like the scenery and the on the road mood
  yiannis krikis @ 2010-01-21 11:42:42
• Great tones.
  Robin @ 2010-01-21 12:06:56
• great capture Sherri; ideal composition for this scene
  Diane @ 2010-01-21 14:09:46
• Awesome. I like the burnt look to the grass.
  Erinn @ 2010-01-21 15:07:05
• I was about 12 years old. Family vacation. We crossed the Mississippi at Vicksburg - turned north on US 65 - headed towards Little Rock. Man, I remember it was HOT. Only the rich had air conditioning back then. Somewhere along the way - I asked my dad to stop the car so I could take a photograph of the men picking cotton.
  
  I made my way into the field - occasionally half-stumbling on the high furrows. As I got closer to the men - a man on a horse came out from the shadow of a distant tree and slowly started towards me. I was surprised to see a horse and stopped while he made his way to where I was standing.
  
  He very quietly and purposefully produced a shotgun out of his side-saddle and arced the barrel across the cloudless sky until the muzzle stopped - pointing towards a distant sign.
  
  It read: "NO TRESPASSING - Arkansas State Prison - Violators will be SHOT !"
  
  Perhaps telling of my life to follow - I managed to click off two images - before tipping my forehead - and retreating to the car.
  Stephen Phillips @ 2010-01-21 16:35:23
• @ Stephen → It's not uncommon to still see a chain gang of prisoners working along a road in Arkansas. Typically, there will be a guard on horseback with a shotgun and another guard in the van that transported the prisoners to the site. However, these shacks were built for people who are legally free. Freedom is, well, not necessarily an applicable term in my opinion. There are strings attached to everything. In all fairness though, my father-in-law and his siblings picked cotton with their father every year on their own land. Not all the cotton grown in Arkansas is picked by prisoners. I'm glad you shared the memory this image evoked.
  sherri @ 2010-01-21 17:59:12
• i'd better remember what stephen said.. but this scene does give of a negative vibe.. it just feels kinda depressing.. nice capture though.. :)
  rian @ 2010-01-21 19:44:28
• Arresting scene. The leafless trees add to the bleakness.
  Anshul @ 2010-01-22 18:29:29
• Interesting view. Looks like stables.
  Joachim @ 2010-01-24 03:07:07
• Definitely an interesting point of view, and your post is so perfect for this shot. I like this one.
  Bob Towery @ 2010-01-24 12:38:45
• Love the framing, beautiful image.
  Ashish Sidapara @ 2010-01-25 08:47:18
• Wonderful capture. It has a great sense of classic Americana.
  Jim @ 2010-01-25 14:38:35
• Great depth of focus and color.
  Don @ 2010-01-26 20:42:14
• I like the subject and the processing. Nicely done.
  Roland @ 2010-01-31 10:15:53
• I love this picture; A composition and treatment insurmountable. Congratulations.
  Victor Curto @ 2010-02-02 07:32:59

Farm labor housing
Jackson County, Arkansas

There are six houses in a row between the road and prime delta farm land. I would have placed this image in the abandoned structures category, but they're not all abandoned.


the lyrics to the song are below the video





She, she came from the land of the cotton,
A land that was nearly forgotten by everyone,
She, she worked and she slaved so hard,
A big old field was her back yard in the delta sun,
Oh, but she sure could sing,
Oh, she sure could sing.

Then he looked down and he took a little pity,
The whole town swore he decided
He'd help her some,
He didn't mind if she wasn't very pretty,
For deep inside his heart he knew
She was the only one,
Oh, but she sure could sing,
Oh, she sure could sing.

She had faith, she had believin',
She led all the people together in singin',
And she prayed every night to the Lord up above,
Singin' Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

They use to walk singin' songs by the river,
Even when she knew,
She'd have to go away,
She never knew what her life was to give her,
Never had to worry about it,
For one single day,
Oh, but she sure could sing,
Oh, sure could sing.

She had faith, she had believin',
Led all the people together in singin',
And she prayed every night to the Lord up above,
Singin' Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Oh, she, she came from the land of the cotton,
Land that was nearly forgotten by everyone,
And she, she worked and she slaved so hard,
A big old field was her back yard in the delta sun,
Oh, but she sure could sing,
Oh, she sure could sing,
My, my, my, but she sure could sing,
Oh, but she sure could sing.