The Old Mill Set

[vmlopes]

Yesterdays explore of an old textile mill

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7

[n8]

Either you've treated them to be a bit more grungy, or it's just the location. Either way, nice set. I particularly like you're tighter shots. One nit pick would be that I wish you had a bit more dof on #4 and that the bokeh was a bit smoother.

[ScapeGrace]

Personal faves are 2 and 6, but they are all very good. Places of dereliction are always so fascinating, you captured that very well. It makes me want to know the story to this place, what it used to be, why it was neglected...very interesting series you have vmlopes!

[NKP68]

I love old machinery and you've got some beauties here. Nice rendering of HDR, I'm assuming? Number 4, the abandoned spool does it for me. Tells a story and lets my imagination roam. What was happening when the operator got the word to shut it down? Many emotions can be fostered here. Could stand a tighter crop on the left side of the image. Also, I would have liked to have the front spool end sharp. Having the tail end soft would be OK. You have some very nice images here, may I make a suggestion? I find it better to post only one image at a time, that way I can focus on it and not possibly short change the other efforts. Nice work.
Ed

[NKP68]

Is that the new wood grain model iPad 3 on the right side of image #3?
lol
Ed

[Bretm1]

Perhaps like others, I find myself looking at the photo critique section, more than I'd like to admit, for viewing enjoyment rather than looking to hone my amateur skills and practice my "critiquing" skills. I associate in this manner with "others" because I see a lot of "great shot" comments which periodically come under fire from photo john, for not being evaluative enough.

The features (stickies) that come out of this particular section of this website are incredible, and the critique forum is where I do most of my lurking. Many times to just escape for a moment, relax, and enjoy. From what I've seen you have had your fair share of features. I know that's not what its all about, but it says a lot.

As I said, I'm an amateur, "recreational" type photographer, sometimes more into it than others. I don't know exactly what your background is, but the majority of pictures you post (my favorites being the various derelict facilities) are incredible. Gallery worthy. Coffee-table book worthy, if this isn't already the case. As others have mentioned, they stir up a lot of various emotions, time periods, etcetera. Your pictures have a style which I am drawn to. It's hard for me to explain at my level of photographic knowledge but there is amazing texture, depth and a beautiful haunting quality to them. Maybe its the HDR thing, but even without it, I think I would still be drawn by your overall compositon and "eye" for taking pictures. They motivate me to want to try and do the same.

This textile mill series in particular, with my involvement in US manufacturing (primarily metals) really strikes me on several emotional levels. Though desolate at first glance, these pictures are very much alive in history and our memories.

I've blathered on enough. Thanks for the window into the past, and the escape.

ps: for photo Johns sake, (and moderators) sorry to take up valuable critique space with not a lot of "critique" , but maybe in some way it will help the cause somehow.

[armando_m]

These were alll done with a heavier hand on the HDR than your usual images , perhaps because thay are all lighter ?

All look 3D but #2 is awesome !!!

[vmlopes]

Thanks all, will try to oly post one or two shots in here from now on........so to keep John happy...............lol

Thanks for all the comments........to answer a few of Bretm1 questions............I am not a professional photographer in fact I only picked up a DSLR about 3 years ago, never really done anything photo related before...........so what you see here is me experimenting and learning as i go

[Anbesol]

VMLopes, the first time I saw this photoshop technique you used I thought it was pretty cool, given the scene. But in all honesty - I think this technique kills most of your images. When I see the light cast and color in an image, I want it to make me believe that it really looked like that. When I see these images, I don't think that, I think "wow, thats a lot of HDR and photoshop", it doesn't convince me for the briefest moment that it actually looked like that. My personal critique is to ease up on the photoshop.

[Iguanamom]

I'm with Anbesol on this one. My first thought wasn't one reflecting on your images, but rather the technique. For me it's hard to see past it through to the image itself. I wish you'd eased up on it so I could concentrate on the subject matter, which is excellent.

In terms of framing you've got a great eye for the larger field of view shots, but your tighter images seem hesitant to me. As if you're not sure how the subject should be framed. They're more tentative than the rest to me. I'd try tightening up the crop and really focusing on the detail you want to highlight. You might try a bit more exposure as well, although it's tough to tell through the processing if you got it right. Overall they seem a bit dark to me, not enough light and shadow play.

[vmlopes]

Thanks for all the C&C guys really appreciate it and will take it all on board

[n8]

Not to make this a discussion on the role of pp or to defend the style, but I think that's one of the challenges of hdr, to make it real or to make it "artsy." When I look at Trey Radcliff's stuff, it's clear that that's not how the scenes really looked, but they're still good looking images. When I steal...err borrow my dad's Rangefinder's and notice that the tonemapped look is becoming more and more popular, the same applies in that it's being applied for an artistic effect rather then an accurate reproduction. Sorry to rant.

[Iguanamom]

I don't mind extreme processing techniques if I still look at the image before the processing. Sometimes it works that way, but not always. And I didn't mean to turn this to an 'us and them' sort of thread, either. I'm not afraid of a little PP myself, but hope that it only reinforces the subject and mood rather than hijacking it.

[draymorton]

Horrible work. You should quit photography and take up the tuba.







Seriously, your style is such that people seem to love it or hate it, just as some are over the moon about HDR while other dismiss it as gimmickry. I love the style and don't mind that I'm not seeing the scene as it would appear to the naked eye.

That said, I think image #2 is, by far, the most successful in this series. The perspective, composition, and 3-D quality really pull me in.

[arne saknussen]

These shots are beautiful. This was a real, living, breathing place at one time. Your shots give just a glimmer of what it was or could have been without dismissing the reality of what it is now. I don't want wax philosophical here, but you have something going on here for sure.

[vmlopes]

Hey guys this is the C&C thread so a little discussion is always good.......I am well aware that tonemapped images can in some peoples eyes, seem so far from the scene that they wont even comment and just pass it off as such.

I do enjoy a good debate and believe me I belong to enough Urban Exploration forums that I have seen and shot many wonderful derelict and abandoned building, that only a handfull will ever see again before they are gone forever.

With this in mind, I do try to process my shots slightly artier, slighty edgier and with a definate dark and moody twist.....which for the subject and loaction IMO works. Some may think otherwise.....but we are all entitled to our opinions.

Once I get a minute I will select some suitable shots and put them up side by side, SOOC and tonemapped.......to see your thoughts.

Oh and for the person that asked, this particular trip it was the 1Dmk3 with 17-40L and 50mm f/1.8 (Nifty Fifty).......see my signature