Theme: Two Old Roads

[Kerry Perkins]

Don't hurt your eyes trying to read the sign, I have included the text below. This view is looking toward the old settlement of Schellbourne, along the road that was an overland stage route and was used by the Pony Express. That's one old road. The second old road is the one I was traveling on, Nevada Hwy 93, which runs through one of the most isolated areas in the Southwest. This section of it is part of the Lincoln Highway, which was the first paved road to cross the entire nation, from New York to California. It was dedicated in 1913 and the marker you see there is an original one. I found this spot while driving from Twin Falls, Idaho to Tonopah, Nevada - 421 miles of absolutely nothing. Fortunately, there are a few gas stations along the way so it is drivable. I love this kind of country!

I processed the original image in Nik Analog Efex Pro and added the B&W layer at reduced opacity to allow some of the color to show through.

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Schellbourne, in the foothills of the Schell Creek Range was a Shoshone village site long before it began its recent historic career in 1859. Captain James Simpson passed through the site and this point, looking for a short route across the Great Basin. That same year an overland stage and mail station was built at Schellbourne. In 1860, the Pony Express Company used the same facilities, and when the telegraph arrived in 1863, it passed over this same route

During the rush to Virginia City mines in 1859 and 1860, it became necessary for the army to send troops to this point to protect the personnel of that western pilgrimage.

Silver ore was discovered in the mountains immediately to the east of Schellbourne in the early 1870’s, and it became part of the Aurum Mining District in 1871. An active mining camp developed with a population of over 500 persons. By 1885, the ore had been mostly depleted and the camp abandoned. The district and adjacent valley were then acquired by “Uncle Billy” Burke as a ranch. Schellbourne has operated as the headquarters for various ranches since that time.

|THREE MILES EAST|

[Hazel Grant]

Very interesting! Nice touch using the black overlay to allow some color to come through and add interest to the barren land. Been iin some of this territory. It is beautiful in its own way. On my monitor there are some light spots in the sky.

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks Hazel! Those spots are part of the texture applied by Analog Efex, simulating an old camera.

[Hazel Grant]

oh, ok. like the total effect.

[Kerry Perkins]

It's funny how we use modern technology to re-create old, funky looks! There are some out there buying Leicas and shooting film.

[Hazel Grant]

"everything old is new again"---the big thing is to live long enough to see it:)

[Diane Miller]

Very cool! Love the "lomo" effect of a faded Ektachrome shot in mid-day desert light. Interesting that my global spelling checker never heard of it!! (Ektachrome, that is. It probably knows all about lomo as it's all the rage these days.)

I'll take the flexibility of a digital-to-analog conversion any day. (After, of course, the analog-to-digital conversion that goes on in the sensor. Wait -- could we dispense with that and have a digital lomo camera? Maybe we do, for all I know.)

There is some fascinating stuff out there. Would love to see more!

[Anita Bower]

For me, a bit of a bland image, but, one that for you is significant--and that is what counts.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Kerry, I like the "old" look and it carries an interesting story.