Picture of the day - August 9, 2007

"Miller Steam Plant"

Photo courtesy of Eric McFerrin. A few days ago photographer Eric McFerrin submitted one of the most beautiful images I have ever featured on TodaysPhoto.org: A Picturesque Alabama Farm. Well, last night I was sitting at my computer trying to select a photo to use for today's picture when this one turned up in my inbox. It was also submitted by Mr. McFerrin, and just as soon as I took a look at it I knew I had found the "Picture of the Day". Here is Eric's story behind the image: "I took this photograph at Alabama Power's Miller Steam Plant which is located northwest of Birmingham, Alabama. Being a railroad buff, I was taking night shots of coal trains near Miller and decided to ride over and get a shot of the plant. This was taken with my 17-40L zoom lens, but with the Canon 400D's 1.6 crop factor I couldn't fit everything in from the public road where I had to set up. Still, it made for an interesting shot, IMHO. Who knows, maybe I do need that EF-S 10-22... As a side note, Miller is supplied with coal over the BNSF Railroad. Trains originate at the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. I always find that outrageous, as the plant sits on what used to be the old Palos coal mine! The Warrior Coal Fields are still loaded with black gold but, unfortunately, EPA regulations don't allow its use. In the past, coal from near Miller fueled the Birmingham District's industrial might and the production of iron and steel."  -- Eric McFerrin Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!            Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"