Abandoned Mill

[Jeff Blakemore]

I'm new here, but I figured I'd jump right in and put myself out there.

Down the road from my office. One of the many places I like to stare at on my many routes to/from work. This place happens to be about 40ft off the road right beside a stop light. Don't know what would happen if I tried to go inside. I just recently managed to stop and shoot around the front.

CC always welcome.

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[Shadowman]

Images not including the sky work best for me. Nice series.

[Wandjina]

Images not including the sky work best for me. Nice series.

I agree that the ones excluding the sky are the better ones. These photos are a great study in shapes and textures. Well done. I like them

[Jeff Blakemore]

Thanks guys. I'm glad that you like those. Perhaps I should post details and full scene shots separately. The detail shots are always my favorite too. I guess I just like to show an overall shot so that it gives the viewer an idea of where the other shots come from, but perhaps that's not needed.

[Mike Buckley]

Welcome to CiC, Jeff! I'm also a fan of black-and-white photography, so I especially appreciate the quality of yours. For me, every image in your series is high quality except the second one. That's because I can't determine the subject in that one. All of the others are wonderful compositions and all of them including the one that doesn't strike my fancy are terrific conversions.

[Jeff Blakemore]

Thank you Mike! I'm really drawn to texture and contrast, and sometimes I may lose sight of my subject because they (texture and contrast) become the subject. When I was framing this and seeing the final image in my head, there was so much that I didn't want to let go.

What I saw first, and what pulled me to this side if the building, was that window. It's also the part of the image that I watched most when processing and converting. I wanted to bring out the lighter hazy areas while keeping the dark areas too, letting them blend into a smoke like mix. To me, the shapes in the window took on a ghostly appearance. Like there was an ethereal observer.

I was hoping that the dark door on the right would help balance the shot, but I should have just focused on the window.

Great thing about this place... I can stop to shoot it almost anytime!

I could crop that area I guess, but I would rather grab a full resolution shot of it I think.

[Donald]

Like Mike, I am a B & W enthusiast. Good to see your images, Jeff. Powerful and well structured. I like them very much.

That second one has stimulated some discussion. In terms of composition, I wonder about cropping just on the edge of the upper part of the building on the left, thereby excluding the sky. I know that then cuts into the brickwork on the lower part, but I wonder if you'd feel that throws even more attention onto the window and actually helps 'join up' the window and the door? Just a thought.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Jeff,

Warm welcome to the forums from me too.

Great start with this series - I'm someone that definitely prefers to have the overview shot, even if that has the sky in. That said, I have to admit my favourites are the tubes and the lamp.

Mike's summary is pretty much what I was thinking.


With regard to going in, I suspect that wouldn't be legal, so I cannot recommend that action without gaining permission from the owner, plus, looking at the state of the buildings, it would be a significant H&S risk. Since you've already wandered around out front, if anyone saw that, they might call the police if they saw it happening again, if only because they be worried you might get hurt.

All the best, Dave

[Mike Buckley]

For me, cropping the second one on the right side at about the middle of the dark door makes it a really special image.

[Donald]

For me, cropping the second one on the right side at about the middle of the dark door makes it a really special image.

Mmm. Didn't see that one. Yes, that is another version that works.

[Sam W]

Hi Jefferry,

I enjoyed viewing your photos and learning from the discussion. I like the quality of the conversions. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work. Best regards - Sam

[Dave A]

Nice series Jeff. You certainly have an eye for detail and excellent PP.

Dave

[Wavelength]

Excellent set of images; they are a study in forms and shapes in B&W

[Jeff Blakemore]

Thank you so much everyone. Great advice here. Mike and Donald, I'm going to try both of those suggestions and I'll post them here for you all to review.

Dave, I'm sure you're correct about what would happen if I attempted to go inside. For a fairly large fella, I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to the thought of getting in trouble. LOL.

I can remember though, even as a kid and way before thinking about photography, riding around town and seeing these dilapidated and abandoned buildings and homes. I would sit and think about what amazing things I would find inside. Not material things really, just the experience. Almost like stepping back into the history of the place and reimagining in my mind the events that led to the current state. I've even had dreams about being in old places like that.

[IzzieK]

Great shots! I like the conversions very much...#1 is a good overview. I have always been interested in B/W but I wasn't sure how to do it ... hence my hesitation in converting my images but these are all good. The textures are actually outstanding...I like the bulb light too and #s 2 and 3. Good study of lines and lighting. I (we) could learn from you a lot...

[Jeff Blakemore]

Thanks IzzieK! Black and white can be challenging but once you jump in and practice, it will begin to fall together. Really, you start to learn to "see" in B&W before you click the shutter. Composition and contrast are the key for me, but I can't help throwing in that third element that I am drawn to... texture. If you start trying to shoot for B&W it can actually strengthen your overall ability.

The funny thing is, I truly love a saturated and colorful photo. I would almost say I prefer an excellent color image, but something also pulls me back to cold monochrome and just how much you can really see about an image once the color is no longer a distraction.

I still have so much to learn and I can tell that joining here is going to be a blessing, but I'll be happy to pass along what little knowledge I do have. So, if you want to know any specifics, feel free to ask. I don't mind sharing how I get these results.

[Jeff Blakemore]

Donald, I think I implemented your suggestion correctly. Please let me know, and thank you!

[Jeff Blakemore]

Mike, here is a crop reflecting your suggestion. Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks!

[Kaye Leggett]

Great shots and thanks for sharing. Your passion and dreams of these buildings shows through in the images. I like the first crop, but the 2nd doesn't work so well, maybe it would if the wall was vertical ?

And welcome to CiC

[IzzieK]

....... and just how much you can really see about an image once the color is no longer a distraction.

this is the one that got me in your message this time around...Good grief! I wish I can think as easily as that! I guess that is a very good advice you gave me so far...can you please look at this post I recently have and tell me where I missed a mark or two? (Just the last edited one, not the original post...)

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/fo...5-new-post.htm

I can't seem to get it as well as you did with your shot here in this post. I have two black and white edited ones the foggy little duckie and Clark Bridge going to Illinois. If I had read your reply here before we went to Illinois, it would have helped even just a little bit...I will play some more on the pp for kicks in the morning...until my head hurts...

Thanks a lot for your insight...