Architecture The Old Ramsey Mill (B&W conversion)

**MossyRocks** · 10-10-2019, 10:30 AM

Looking for thoughts and a critique of this shot. It is of the ruins of the old Ramsey mill in Hastings, MN

Vasyl · 10-10-2019, 11:01 AM

dramatic!

**Madaboutpix** · 10-10-2019, 11:25 AM

Hmm. I'm in two minds about this shot. On the one hand, I dig what you tried to achieve with that conversion, and it does yield a dramatic result. On the other, I find myself wondering why the sky has to be pitch-black, and if leaving a little shadow and mid-tone detail would have really hurt. It would have likely helped to retain a little more foreground interest in the bare branches?

**MossyRocks** · 10-10-2019, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by Madaboutpix

On the other, I find myself wondering why the sky has to be pitch-black,

the sky was just clear blue no clouds. It was a cold January day so there was nothing in the sky. so I figured why not have some fun and go with something that wasn't some middle gray, I tried white but that didn't do much for me. The extremely low humidity, low dust of winter skies here means often there is nothing there of interest. On days when it isn't ultra cold (I think this day was around -10F which wasn't too bad) it will often just be a featureless overcast.

Originally posted by Madaboutpix

It would have likely helped to retain a little more foreground interest in the bare branches?

I've thought about that too and would probably do a shot like that next winter if I go down to that spot again.

HoutHans · 10-10-2019, 12:11 PM

I like it a lot because of the drama and contrast. The only thing that gets me some (second) thoughts is the branch. I'm not sure how it works in the picture. Maybe integrating it a bit more, and not just having it enter the frame, works better.

dan.a.nesheim · 10-11-2019, 04:45 PM

I think this looks good in BW. The shadow of the trees on the wall is what i find interesting.

Leumas · 10-15-2019, 01:56 PM

Sweet photo! I find the small stack at the edge of frame a little distracting, it's also the brightest part of the image; but I'm not sure a crop would be ideal way to fix it.

stepen · 10-28-2019, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by MossyRocks

Looking for thoughts and a critique of this shot. It is of the ruins of the old Ramsey mill in Hastings, MN

Interesting angle!

Kaladran · 10-28-2019, 04:26 PM

I like how this feels abstract, the branch reaching for the walls is really nice. Quite like this one.

**Archimedes the Dog** · 10-28-2019, 04:28 PM

I don't mind the black sky, and the branch and its shadow do a lot to make the photo even more interesting.

**kiwi_jono** · 10-28-2019, 06:38 PM

I like it a lot. Presumably you were using built in filter to darken sky - and I actually think it looks great. Like the stone detail and tree shadows.

**Bruce Clark** · 10-28-2019, 06:46 PM

I like this one. I am ok with the branch in the sky. Perhaps it could be lighter. What bothers me a little are the twigs poking in on the lower left. I would take them out and the diagonal one in the bottom left corner and see how that looks. Just my thoughts.

**MossyRocks** · 10-29-2019, 05:59 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by kiwi_jono

I like it a lot. Presumably you were using built in filter to darken sky - and I actually think it looks great. Like the stone detail and tree shadows.

Nope, it was a typical super cold clear Minnesota winter day so the sky was a nice uniform rich blue, when I did the B&W conversion I just pulled the luminance of blue down all the way in lightroom. Since there wasn't any other color even close to blue anywhere else in the image it worked like a charm.

taktoon · 10-30-2019, 02:09 PM

B&W and dramatic perspective works really good on your photo.

krre23 · 10-30-2019, 05:55 PM

Wonderful contrasted BW!!! I would do a similar shot, yeah, maybe a little more space on the top of the frame, or, maybe not haha thanks for sharing!

10-10-2019, 10:30 AM	#1
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982	The Old Ramsey Mill (B&W conversion) Lens: S-M-C 17mm Fisheye Takumar Camera: K-3 Photo Location: Hasting, MN ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 1/640s Aperture: F11 Looking for thoughts and a critique of this shot. It is of the ruins of the old Ramsey mill in Hastings, MN

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10-10-2019, 11:01 AM	#2
Vasyl Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 648	dramatic!

10-10-2019, 11:25 AM	#3
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,440	Hmm. I'm in two minds about this shot. On the one hand, I dig what you tried to achieve with that conversion, and it does yield a dramatic result. On the other, I find myself wondering why the sky has to be pitch-black, and if leaving a little shadow and mid-tone detail would have really hurt. It would have likely helped to retain a little more foreground interest in the bare branches?

10-10-2019, 11:52 AM	#4
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Originally posted by Madaboutpix On the other, I find myself wondering why the sky has to be pitch-black, the sky was just clear blue no clouds. It was a cold January day so there was nothing in the sky. so I figured why not have some fun and go with something that wasn't some middle gray, I tried white but that didn't do much for me. The extremely low humidity, low dust of winter skies here means often there is nothing there of interest. On days when it isn't ultra cold (I think this day was around -10F which wasn't too bad) it will often just be a featureless overcast. Originally posted by Madaboutpix It would have likely helped to retain a little more foreground interest in the bare branches? I've thought about that too and would probably do a shot like that next winter if I go down to that spot again.

10-10-2019, 12:11 PM	#5
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,119	I like it a lot because of the drama and contrast. The only thing that gets me some (second) thoughts is the branch. I'm not sure how it works in the picture. Maybe integrating it a bit more, and not just having it enter the frame, works better.

10-11-2019, 04:45 PM	#6
dan.a.nesheim Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Photos: Gallery Posts: 167	I think this looks good in BW. The shadow of the trees on the wall is what i find interesting.

10-15-2019, 01:56 PM	#7
Leumas Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 454	Sweet photo! I find the small stack at the edge of frame a little distracting, it's also the brightest part of the image; but I'm not sure a crop would be ideal way to fix it.

10-28-2019, 09:45 AM	#8
stepen New Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 23	Originally posted by MossyRocks Looking for thoughts and a critique of this shot. It is of the ruins of the old Ramsey mill in Hastings, MN Interesting angle!

10-28-2019, 04:26 PM	#9
Kaladran Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 196	I like how this feels abstract, the branch reaching for the walls is really nice. Quite like this one.

10-28-2019, 04:28 PM	#10
Archimedes the Dog Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,146	I don't mind the black sky, and the branch and its shadow do a lot to make the photo even more interesting.

10-28-2019, 06:38 PM	#11
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	I like it a lot. Presumably you were using built in filter to darken sky - and I actually think it looks great. Like the stone detail and tree shadows.

10-28-2019, 06:46 PM	#12
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	I like this one. I am ok with the branch in the sky. Perhaps it could be lighter. What bothers me a little are the twigs poking in on the lower left. I would take them out and the diagonal one in the bottom left corner and see how that looks. Just my thoughts.

10-29-2019, 05:59 AM - 1 Like	#13
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Originally posted by kiwi_jono I like it a lot. Presumably you were using built in filter to darken sky - and I actually think it looks great. Like the stone detail and tree shadows. Nope, it was a typical super cold clear Minnesota winter day so the sky was a nice uniform rich blue, when I did the B&W conversion I just pulled the luminance of blue down all the way in lightroom. Since there wasn't any other color even close to blue anywhere else in the image it worked like a charm.

10-30-2019, 02:09 PM	#14
taktoon Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 605	B&W and dramatic perspective works really good on your photo.

10-30-2019, 05:55 PM	#15
krre23 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Caracas Photos: Gallery Posts: 540	Wonderful contrasted BW!!! I would do a similar shot, yeah, maybe a little more space on the top of the frame, or, maybe not haha thanks for sharing!