Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) One way to hide the edge would be to place a big tree at the edge of the board that wraps around the end of the board. If the board is painted at the edge as if it were foliage of trees and trunks and then a big dense tree was at that edge, the overall effect might be pretty good. Mainly use foliage, tree density and undergrowth to hide the edge from ground level to tree tops.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I was thinking that the foam board would look good if it were shaped somewhat like a dogbone - 3-4 inches round on each end , so as not to have a sharp end. I probably have not been very clear with this?
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Thanks you three! I will take all advice and try it tonight. I have plenty of foam board just in case.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Here's a backdrop test run. I rounded the top corners to remove some visual harshness and then used cheap craft paint to throw down a rough generalization of the future backdrop appearance. Keep in mind this will all be painted over with the sky color and redone with much more added. This is only a test. It sure makes the little 4x8 look a lot cooler even in its rough form doesn't it? Please offer up any suggestions. I'm all ears and my feelings won't be hurt.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Jim, I love it. It's soft, blending an rich. The only addition I would do is paint the edge the appropriate colors. Blend for the change of seasons, sky and your golden. That's the best backdrop I've ever seen. Manny
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) First and foremost, Jim, I know quite a few guys that would love to have you visit just for your art talent. Your ability to quickly capture the essence of a scene and re-create it is impressive. From a "high" angle, the backdrop looks great. The view looks fantastic from the viewpoint of a hawk. The thing to keep in mind is that your point of view has to be as if you were standing on the ground, in the scene. I think you understand after having watched me trying to take photos. From a ground viewpoint, not much more than trees would be visible. Think about what the hills at Arbor would look like from as far away as Painton; very little of the hills would be seen due to trees closer to your vantage point. If you were standing on the ground at Greenbrier, the hills to the north would not be seen due to the local trees.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Thank you guys. Keith you are correct. Tomorrow I will lower the horizon line. This is why mock-ups pay off.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I dunno. I haven't been where that picture snapshot may be in Missouri, but from where I sit, that's dang perfect! The only thing that would make it poetic is if the Rocky Mountains were faintly, and I mean faintly in the distance (if they can even be seen.) Or if you could mimic rolling hills if they exist. I like the depth you've captured.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Jim, it sure does look like a Bollinger County vista to me. With most of my Abernathy side of the family from those parts, it's a view that I'm quite accustomed to seeing. Well done. I'd not previously noticed the cattle gathering under the shade. That, too, is a nice touch! Best Regards,
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Duh. There are rolling hills. My bad. I had to look further. Keep it just like it is. If you would like to do trial and error, I would suggest leaving this one alone and working on another since you have more board. I love this thread!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Thanks, Manny. If you saw this in person you would agree that it needs redone. I used cheap watered down paint and close up it looks more like a first grader art project. Not only that but the whole board needs painted a sky color with blending from light to darker before the actual scenery is added. The horizon needs to come down a bit. I only spent about 10 minutes on the test run paint job so the next attempt should be better. It's hard for me not to rush things. I have so many more projects waiting in line.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Dang. If that is watercolor, I'm a monkey's uncle. No banana jokes please. If you can do that with watercolor, I can't wait to see what's next!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Here are examples to go with my post #226. This picture is from ground level at Painton, looking toward the hills at Arbor in the northeast about 4 miles distant. The tree in the foreground is about 12' tall. The second picture is at Greenbrier.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Hey Keith, Now I can better understand what your point was and is. By reducing the height of the background, you force the eye to focus on the the foreground, not so much the depth of the background. By lowering the height of the background you create the necessary viewpoint of being "right there." I gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Nice photos Keith. I'm not exactly sure where the Greenbrier pic is shot from but the section along the old roadbed is sort of nestled up against the ridge. Makes the background trees appear a little higher up as the ground rises up behind the main street store buildings. The cemetery is up on this ridge as well with the mass Civil War grave.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Completely OT, but this brings a smile to my face. The last few times I flew with my grandpa before he gave up his pilot's license was in a little Cessna 150 from the little EAA sod airstrip in Painton. Also helped my Dad repaint Ms. Painton's house nearby when I was in high school. At least there were trains quite often to give me an excuse to loaf. Best Regards,
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I have been looking at this thread. I am not sure if Zelma is a place, that is on the old Frisco. If so where is it?
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) 37 degrees 8' 40" N 90 degrees 4' 41" W Zalma, once known as Bollinger's Mill, is a small river town quietly nestled on the banks of the winding Castor River at a point where the river makes a horseshoe bend in southern Bollinger County in Southeast Missouri. When the railroad moved to town, the name Bollinger's Mill was changed to Zalma, named after a railroad worker named Zalma Block. Zalma used to be a busy town of 300 residents. The dead end branch began at the mainline at Brownwood along the Hoxie subdivision and was built in 1887 as the Brownwood and Northwestern. Frisco bought it sometime around 1915. It was abandoned in 1934.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I got sidetracked tonight making trees but I got some good flat latex paint mixed at Walmarto and painted the backdrop and lowered the horizon line. The original trees are still there for now but will be repainted and the look will be different. I post this photo to show how dramatic a difference that even a simple backdrop can make......just in case anyone is on the fence about making one.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Jim, nice photo, still not sure exactly where the branch took off the Frisco main, but I worked on the Hoxie sub several times. It's a nice area, especially the north end closer to Black Rock. Bill Jackson My grandfather worked for SLSF for 47 yrs I started in 1970 through the BNSF. I retired last yr with 42 yrs Most with BNSF, also KCS, CSX and finally FEC
