January 25, 2009

rural adventures

Rules for a good road trip should include eating lunch before you travel and making sure you print out the actual directions before you go. It's also guaranteed that the cell phone will not ring the entire morning you are getting ready, but the minute that reception might be kind of fluky that the phone will start to ring off the hook. I don't know, maybe someone put a sensor on my front door in case I ventured away from packing? *looks around for sister dear* (I tease)

I've been thinking about finding an old mill for a while since I saw a flickr friend's shot. So, after summing up his directions - hey, I'm great with directions - I got in the jeep and drove northeast to Albertville. I don't know that I've ever been to Albertville, but I've been as far as Boaz (shopping outlets!).

For the record, it was ONE stop sign not two. So the first time I drove by the place I thought, hey - that's a great building - I'll stop by there on the way home. Then, I got by the old guy driving 25 mph and was praying I didn't miss the light. So I followed the signs to a dead end road. But the good news is that I found a great tire swing in the winter dusky light. And I saw lots of cows and barns.

So I backtracked and realized coming at the building from another angle, it was indeed where I was supposed to be all along. Score! Old, falling down, decayed...all the things that I normally do not shoot. A challenge. I had the place to myself as the light was falling fast. An orange sun peeked between tall hardwoods and cars crept by the one lane bridge behind me. My hands were chapped and red as the temperatures fell into the 40's (I didn't wear a coat - what?)

A guy stopped and we talked about the beauty of the place...and how it must have looked in it's glory. The farmland near the mill is gently and rolling. As I packed up my gear, including the trusty tripod, the sky turned a beautiful combination of pale blue, lavender, peach and pink. Like a soft swirl of chiffon drapped over the cloudless sky.

I drove off the mountain watching the round red balloon sinking behind the hills. A thin layer of haze making stripes across the brillance and seeping a feeling wonder deep into my bones. Sunsets like that remind me there is beauty in all the stripped colors of winter's foliage. There is color there for those that search it. And, when I think my life is stripped of some it's plumage - there is color there too. A good lesson for a Saturday afternoon. And, I'm also glad that I went as the whim struck me and didn't wait for today to "plan better." (Seize the day, right?) Today, the light is flat and overcast. It's a day to watch the dvds I rented and to make homemade chili.

In the meanttime, here are some of the shots I processed. I've made some notes on some of them.

We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it.
I added texture to this shot because (if you look closely) there is a huge power line support in the background. I'm not talented enough in photoshop to wipe out the lines...so this was my best solution.

abandoned mill
As you can see, the light was falling when I took this shot. None of the building shots were as good as my friend's. I'm not sure what to do different but it will be a good challenge for me to keep trying.

waterfall
From the power of the water and the speed, I can see how this was a great site for a mill. It makes me wonder what the landscape looked like back in the day. I hope to go back in the spring with the undergrowth is not so dead and gray/brown.

river sunset
I love the colors of the sky reflected on the river.

winter skeletons
I loved this treeline I saw as I was driving home.

rural sunset
The eye can see 20 stops of light they say, the camera sees 5. I wish you could see all the gradiation in color on this shot. It's my favorite of the day.

32 comments:

  1. Wow, wow, wow! I love these! I wish I could learn how you make those cool textural effects on your photos. It really adds a neat touch to them. And I had to laugh about your trip comments. I'm the same way. I start going to the boonies and that's when I get like 10 calls from my mom, each one more patchy than the last.

    And yeah, that last shot is pure poetry!

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  2. Beautiful photos - so glad to have found you - thank you for the poetic images!

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  3. incredible photos. sounds like a perfect day for you.

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  4. chris - I will be happy to walk you through it if you want. it's easy peasy once you know the trick. well, as long as you have photoshop.

    thanks y'all.

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  5. beautiful photos. i love that you added texture instead of using photoshop for the power lines...i am no good at that kind of thing.

    you made me want to plan a road trip. =]

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  6. I absolutely love the first one and all of your architectural shots blow me away.

    Awesome!

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  7. Yes, Char, that'd be awesome! And I do have Photoshop and I'm pretty familiar with it. Thanks so much :)

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  8. The tree with the tire swing is superb--power lines or not! Use your freehand paint tools to wipe out those kinds of distractions. It can be tricky and it takes patience and time but it's worth it. You don't need it for this one, however, it's still great. :0)

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  9. Fantastic processing effect on these!! The first on especially is magical.

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  10. Looks like a fun road trip for sure! Great pics, Char!

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  11. Another set of STUNNING images =) Love all of them so much. Gorgeous colors.

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  12. so worth the trip my dear...these are gorgeous! oh and I got my movie...I have already watched it once...thanks again! xo t

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  13. I have been home all day but now after seeing your great trip full of beautiful images I feel as if I went too!

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  14. Traci - I'm so glad you got the movie! enjoy. xo

    Elk - so glad you came along with me. It's always an interesting trip.

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  15. I'm thankful for the power line, I love that shot texturized. Beautiful images & love your adventurous spirit

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  16. I am enjoying those picture so much! Thanks for sharing :-) definetely makes my winter warmer!

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  17. OMG, these are all GORGEOUS!!! I don't think I could pick a favorite if you paid me -- they are all wonderful!

    I MUST learn to apply textures... :)

    xoxo,
    Mary

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  18. textures are easy peasy if you have Photoshop! give it a try.

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  19. Love the tire swing. I never remember to print up the directions, I just try to memorize them because I love fail so much.

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  20. all of these shots are fabulous...i especially love what you did with the first one. would you like to trade links? x

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  21. Absolutely gorgeous pics, you blow me away! And you have a knack for story telling! I love reading your blog!!!

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  22. So gorgeous my dear.. I go away from blog land and you've posted a ton! Can't wait to catch up! Hope your packing is going well and thanks for taking us along with you on your journey.

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  23. Char, those photos are gorgeous and all other superlatives that the others have mentioned! The first two are my favorites. I love old mills and tree swings. Adding texture was definitely the right thing to do. You have good instincts.

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  24. wow. i love these photos... especially the tree with the tire swing, but MOST especially the old building. so cool!!!

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  25. Such beauty here. That first photo is really gorgeous.

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  26. Hi, found your site through the Country Girl's site. Really gorgeous photography- I'll be back!!!!

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  27. Lovely, lovely photos. Reminds me there are some old mills about an hour or so out of town. I think I'll go shoot them this spring.

    You did a great job with the textures too. They are so much fun to experiment with.

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  28. How fantastic! These photos make me think of quiet times. And cool breezes. Isn't that awesome that you can invoke those feelings with a photograph. Truly inspiring.
    Elle

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  29. Char these pictures in here are all soo soo gorgeous LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!!

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  30. Loving your photos! Just dreamy.

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i feel as if each comment was between us as we sat and sipped something warm....i love to hear what you're thinking.