Focusing on Life, Week 45: Industrial Photography

November 09, 2013
This week in our Focus on Life photography challenge we're to take a photo considered to be Industrial Photography.
 
Moss Landing Power Plant - Industrial Photography
- Fresco edit
It was serendipity that a pelican flew by just as I took this shot.  I didn't know until I downloaded it.  I love when that happens! 
 
Hmmm, something industrial didn't sound like too much fun.  However, I made it fun.
I returned to Moss Landing where I took all those sea lion and otter photos earlier this year.  I figured at least I'd get to see some of those cute warm creatures at the same time.
I discovered it's not easy to take a photo of a power plant these days, because of security.  All the roads surrounding the plant had signs that said no stopping at any time.   So my planned shot from close to the base and up was not to be.  Good thing I had a zoom!  I admit that I got a little creepy feeling around my shoulders thinking that someone was watching me (photographing me?) while I was driving around trying to find a vantage point to take the photo.
 
The Moss Landing power plant is powered by natural gas.  The plant was first constructed in 1949, but it has gone through several reconstructions over the years to meet new pollution standards and increased efficiencies.  The latest two came on line in 2002.
 
I love the blue and grey in this photo.
 
Our house is perfectly situated to take advantage of the southern sky so we use very little (and some years none!) of the power from this plant or any other plant.  Depending on the winter skies we sometimes break even which is the goal!
 
I'm kind of intrigued to see what everyone else did with this week's challenge.  I think it was a tough one.