Oil Pump Jack at Dawn

I was on the way to photograph in the forest NW of Calgary, Alberta early one morning when we passed several oil pump jacks working away as the sun began to rise. We pulled off the road and set up my tripod and took several exposures, varying the shutter speed until we found one that showed the motion without wiping everything out completely. I would have liked more depth of field to get the grass in the foreground sharp too, but the necessary aperture resulted in too slow a shutter speed.

Living in Alberta is interesting. So many of the roads we drive on to find wildlife and beautiful views are there because of the oil and gas industry or forestry. This was even true the day I took this picture...on my way to the forest I passed oil pump jacks and natural gas wellheads, then drove on "oil roads" looking for owls and moose!

I always appreciate your comments and suggestions...thank you!

Nikon D70s
Tamron SP 70-210 f/2.8 LD @ 86mm
ISO 250
1.3s @ f/16
Tripod