Revisit Old Mills. Stuff I missed the first time.
Oct 2, 2020 12:25:13 #
Needed a day trip. Revisited a couple old mills in the Missouri Ozarks.
Oct 2, 2020 12:33:17 #
Oct 2, 2020 13:49:27 #
Cany143
Loc: SE Utah
If its okay with you, I only want to talk about/critique/suggest stuff about #2, 'gears & flywheel.' That's because the bones of a really fine image are (mainly) all in their right places, but as presented here, those bones don't quite articulate.
Highlights. Texture-less, featureless, and trending toward a warm gray uselessness. Or as some often say, they're blown. While whatever's in the highlights are obviously not the highlight --are not the 'subject'-- of the image, where those back- and middle-ground lesser elements are lost, they contribute to an overall loss of
meat that could be on these bones. Again, as some might say, those dead highlights contribute to a loss of potential image 'impact.' Whether these might be recoverable as is in processing, or whether they'd have benefitted from exposing/shooting such that either software or multiple image HDR would've been possible only you would know, but I'd sure have suggested you did/do so.
The lower values. While the darks may be true to what was actually there, they'd surely benefit by being deeper. Down to, and including in select places, a deep, true, black. Color-wise as well; at present, the low values and the mid-values are all the same hue, but differ only in their intensity and depth, almost as if the image had been given a sepia overlay. Rust could be redder, wood could be yellower, whatever is in the background, whatever is outside in the open space could be --what?-- maybe greener or bluer or whatever it was that's been lost to offer a muted hint of color compliment? I don't know. But you would.
Composition. My first impulse was to 'suggest' that the smaller gear be dead absolute center. But then I looked again and said, 'no; the intersection --the liminal place-- of the gears, where they meet each other could be --and would be, to me-- seen as having the more meaningful, thematically organic, point of the photograph. Others may see something like that differently, or may not see something like that at all, and that's as it may be.
Sounds like I've panned your image, doesn't it. Sounds like I've broken the rules by offering unasked for critique here in the Gallery section, too. Perhaps, perhaps not. But when I see an image that has such potential....
Highlights. Texture-less, featureless, and trending toward a warm gray uselessness. Or as some often say, they're blown. While whatever's in the highlights are obviously not the highlight --are not the 'subject'-- of the image, where those back- and middle-ground lesser elements are lost, they contribute to an overall loss of
meat that could be on these bones. Again, as some might say, those dead highlights contribute to a loss of potential image 'impact.' Whether these might be recoverable as is in processing, or whether they'd have benefitted from exposing/shooting such that either software or multiple image HDR would've been possible only you would know, but I'd sure have suggested you did/do so.
The lower values. While the darks may be true to what was actually there, they'd surely benefit by being deeper. Down to, and including in select places, a deep, true, black. Color-wise as well; at present, the low values and the mid-values are all the same hue, but differ only in their intensity and depth, almost as if the image had been given a sepia overlay. Rust could be redder, wood could be yellower, whatever is in the background, whatever is outside in the open space could be --what?-- maybe greener or bluer or whatever it was that's been lost to offer a muted hint of color compliment? I don't know. But you would.
Composition. My first impulse was to 'suggest' that the smaller gear be dead absolute center. But then I looked again and said, 'no; the intersection --the liminal place-- of the gears, where they meet each other could be --and would be, to me-- seen as having the more meaningful, thematically organic, point of the photograph. Others may see something like that differently, or may not see something like that at all, and that's as it may be.
Sounds like I've panned your image, doesn't it. Sounds like I've broken the rules by offering unasked for critique here in the Gallery section, too. Perhaps, perhaps not. But when I see an image that has such potential....
Oct 2, 2020 17:51:31 #
Cany143 wrote:
If its okay with you, I only want to talk about/cr... (show quote)
LOL. You Sir, may talk about/critique/suggest stuff as much as you wish to. I'm all ears. Your views are always welcome. Several points along the critique I found myself lost and had to stop to reread. I spent too much time on other photos not posted with very little time on this subject. Time, light, were not on my side at that moment. A mill tucked up close to a 200' hillside. Facing East with a setting sun. Photo looking East into a very vivid outdoors just 100 yards away.
Oct 3, 2020 08:49:31 #
MHolland wrote:
LOL. You Sir, may talk about/critique/suggest stuff as much as you wish to. I'm all ears. Your views are always welcome. Several points along the critique I found myself lost and had to stop to reread. I spent too much time on other photos not posted with very little time on this subject. Time, light, were not on my side at that moment. A mill tucked up close to a 200' hillside. Facing East with a setting sun. Photo looking East into a very vivid outdoors just 100 yards away.
Personally, I liked the pastel colours and the overall hue of the first "gears" shot. There is potential to increase the "grunge" if you want to in pp, but I like the treatment -it is unusual to see mechanisms presented in this way and the aesthetics appeal to me. The second shot is more conventional, but you could go all-out and make it really punchy without too much effort, if that suits your taste. We all see things differently and lots of thought was put into the critique. All food for thought and good for learning. Stay well and keep on posting.
Oct 3, 2020 09:53:43 #
Oct 3, 2020 10:01:45 #
Oct 3, 2020 11:15:13 #
Oct 3, 2020 12:59:01 #
I appreciate the views and kind words. Since coming to UHH I have heard more terms, and am starting to explore increasing possibilities. I never really dreamed of stitching photos together. Now I'm starting to shoot with a little different eye on possibilities. Trying to attempt focus stacking, HDR. The bottom 2 pictures of moving water, I took 2 photos with different focus points and merged them with Light Room HDR merge. Jim is correct about the gear room. I was running short on time and didn't consider taking multiple photos and merging them to knock down the very overpowering sun outside the window. This picture is the view from the doorway of the old mill, looking across the pond. A couple pictures stitched together showing the contrasts of light and dark. The water was so flat and still, but as I readied for the shot, the large mouth bass started to feed and ripple the water. LOL. All you can do it try. Please critique any of my photos if you feel inclined. It's alright, I've got big shoulders, and wish to improve my skills. Everybody have a great day. I got to see these sites so you know I had a very good day. 
Oct 3, 2020 16:46:45 #
Oct 3, 2020 22:07:47 #
All very nice. I liked the original gears photo. The panorama is good.
Oct 3, 2020 22:59:17 #
Reuss Griffiths
Loc: Ravenna, Ohio
I've seen a lot of pictures of outside of mills but none of the insides. I've read the previous comments and can see the merits that are presented. The initial impressions I take from this image are, it's old. It's technical. It's complex. It has leading lines all over the place but the eye goes right to the gears and wheels. The different lines, whether they're part of the gears, wooden structures or boards are just texture to the overall image. I think it works well as presented. Certainly caught my attention. What would make it better has been explored nicely here and that's what makes us all different as photographers. Only thing I would liked to have seen is more images but haven't we all been in your shoes facing the fleetingness of the moment and marginal shooting conditions. Nice job. BTW, the outside images are nice too.
Oct 4, 2020 00:03:27 #
Thank you. Found myself trying to do too much in one day. Left this mill at 5:00pm to run to another about 60 miles away that faced West into the setting sun. I posted pictures earlier of the Falling Springs Mill caught at sunrise with fantastic saturated color taken on July 23. Light or Dark, it is quite an interesting Mill.
Oct 4, 2020 12:17:40 #
Some times, you catch the light just right. Other times, miss it. Could post process the light. Could even add a rainbow. I believe they all have merit as to season and change. Silky water in bottom photo seems like too much for the time of day. I believe I should have went with a quick exposure. The water without the mill, multiple focus points looks nice. Here I believe it's just too much.
Morning, July, great sun
(Download)
Late afternoon, October, hillside shade
(Download)
(Download)
Golden Hour? Hill blocking great light.
(Download)
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.