Highway 97 in Oregon just north of the Williamson River is one of the toughest stretches of road to ensure that I drie regularly. I can't count the number of times I have been on that road since I can remember as a kid, but I would venture to guess its in the triple digits.
It is 50 miles of arrow straight highway with pine trees lining both sides along the entire length. If you aren't fighting staying awake you are trying to dodge deer, especially at dusk. In the summer it is hot and the sun beats in through your windows. I dread this stretch on every trip through.
On this day however, I kept myself awake by trying to come up with photo ideas. This idea was one I had before when I was trying to come up with something for the reflections assignment for my On Taking Assignments project. One of the first reflections I thought of was the reflection you get from a hot shimmering road surface.
I had been watching vehicles go by, waiting for a time where I could single out one big semi truck, alone on the road. You can see the cars a long time before you have to shoot them, so you have some time to be choosy, especially if you have 50 miles if straight nothingness to work with.
This cherry red semi was my second chance to get a red truck, and I didn't miss. It turned out great, but the downside is that I don't have any other ideas to keep me occupied on this stretch of road. Maybe I could make this a long term project...