Murky-Morning-at-Mill-Wood (Click for larger view)

Just the right atmosphere with the morning fog still clinging to the ground. The perfect setting for one of those wonderful English murder mysteries.

Landscape or Architecture category.......I don't suppose it matters too much but I went

for landscape. I thought B & W suited the old Mill. Your thoughts and comments are

always appreciated. Thank You.

Alf,

you have captured a great image and I love the atmosphere.  And, like Jack's comment, I too can envision this setting for a good English murder mystery.  Well done. 

Well composed elements and intriguing tonal value placement, but the tree takes this to brilliant.  Excellent work, Alf. 

I'm sure this would have also worked well in color, but my guess is the B&W is a moodier image.  This is fantastic!  And I immediately had the same thought as Jack.....this should be on the front of a book cover....hmmm....how to make it a vertical though.  :-)

Your choice and conversion to black and white is excellent, it makes the picture moody artistic and dramatic!. The composition gives an air of solidity and the human presence gives us a sense of scale. The mist is done very, very well, convincingly so!.

 

An excellent picture my friend. Bravo.

Beautifully done, the bw and composition.. perfection!

Exquisite b/w treatment, flawless detail and the lighting is balanced to create a mood that is slightly menacing.  Although it doesn't seem to bother the figure departing the scene.  As always, you challenge the rest of us to try harder and at the same time entertain with your lively captures.  Thanks for sharing... Mike

Full of mood and atmosphere Alf, works really well in black and white.

Jed

Hi Alf,

  Wow.....beautiful b/w scene with the perfect atmosphere.  It doesn't get any better that this.  Excellent work!! Take care, Patsy

It's as if you placed this magnificent old structure in the midst of this stand of trees.  They frame it perfectly.  What I truly love about the image, though, is a mixture of moods to conveys.  If circumstances were different, the prevailing mood which tree, the building, and the dark branches overhanging it express is somewhat foreboding.  However, the foggy area of vegetation and trees is much gentler and more peaceful.

 

How you tell a story simply through light, shadow, detail, contrast, and tonality amazes me.

 

michael

Alf,  Terrific image.  This is one of a few of your images I've seen that don't have water.   This is most effective in B&W.  You  also underline the importance of capturing images at the optimum time of day.   Each of your images is a lesson to the viewer.   Larry

This is a very beautiful b&w work! The lighting, composition and contrast are fantastic!

Great moody landscape image! The foreground tree greates interesting natural frame for the background. Works well in B&W.

Many thanks for your insightful comments, much appreciated! 

There is a TV series in the UK called "Midsomer Murders" ......Midsomer being an fictional English village with about 200 residents, a beautiful place, but I wouldn't want to live there, the chances of survival with 2  murders a week are minimal : - )  but it fits in well with the image and your observations! 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

BILL

 

Sincere Thanks! 

 

There are in fact a variety of spooky buildings in this vicinity that would all fit into the category you describe......I think it's the English fog that adds the final touch: - ) 

Best Regards 

Alf 

 

WAYNE 

 

Ahhh yes the tree, I''ll be honest when I first encountered it I didn't know how to tackle it, try and avoid it, or include it. In the end I found dropping to my knee to take the shot ensured the horizontal branch didn't interefere too much with the building and framed it rather well. 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! 

 

Alf 

 

CHRISTAL 

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and observations, very much appreciated.

You are right, the colour version looked ok, but far too friendly and "nice" : - ) 

As for the book cover.....hmmm maybe they could reverse the image and have the tree at the back of the book and the building on the front.........or maybe just produce a bigger book : - ) 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

DIMITRIS 

 

I am thinking you have guessed my secret : - ) 

Thank you so much for your most encouraging words, much appreciated! 

 

All the very best to you my friend! 

 

Alf 

 

STEVE 

 

Thank you so much! The composition was arrived at more out of necessity than any great ability on my part. That bloody great tree was in the way and I had to do what I could to make it fit in with the scene : - ) 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

MIKE 

I sometimes use "Silver Efex Pro 2" to process B & W images, but this time just played with the sliders in CS6

The figure departing the scene was the murderer!  lol

But I know what you mean, the "slightly menacing" mood was exactly what I was aiming for and it is most rewarding to read your words, they mean a lot to me.

Thank You

 

Alf 

 

JED 

 

Thank you for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! 

 

Alf 

 

PATSY 

 

I have another one planned for the autumn, so hopefully it will get better than this : - ) 

 

Thank you so much Patsy! 

 

Alf 

 

MICHAEL 

 

Thank you so much for your most eloquent portrayal of this image.  I understand what you mean about the mixture of moods, I think the quiet and peace of the mist just adds to the underlying menace, a sinister foreboding just lurking beneath the gentle outer appearance.

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

LARRY 

 

Just because you can't see the water doesn't mean it isn't there : - ) 

But truthfully there isn't very much water to see, the little overgrown ditch that runs to the door of the building is the "mill race" a kind of stream that would have once turned the mill wheel, now but a trickle of water. 

The time of day and the prevailing light is of optimum importance to me, that's why I love the winter, there is so much more time when the light is gentle.

Thank you for your most encouraging words Larry! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

BOBBY 

 

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

JUHA 

 

Many Thanks for your thoughtful comments! 

 

I just thought the tree was in the way at first, then decided to try and use it to my advantage.....fortunately it seemed to work!

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unbelievably good picture you have here, Alf! Pure perfection! Wonderful composition with inner framing and by the rules, with dramatic mood!

Went to my favorites!

 

Best regards

 

PDE

Beautiful composition and great tones. Congrats.

Glad you like this one Pierre and I am very honoured you chose it as a favourite! 

 

Sincere Thanks! 

 

Alf 

 

RAY  

 

Thank you for your interest and kind words, much appreciated! 

 

Alf 

Dramatic and beautiful

A very nicely composed result with beautiful lighting, Alf!

 

Excellent choice for b/w as it really conveys a mysterious and somewhat foreboding atmosphere. I love the natural framing the tree in the foreground provides and also the supporting role it plays - daring one to come forward...  Very intriguing, moody and well done! Thank you for sharing. :)

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words! 

 

Alf 

 

RUUD 

 

I find that morning light is nearly always best.

 

Many Thanks! 

 

Alf

 

TRISHA

 

This is one of my favourite haunts for the spooky kind of images that seem to manifest themselves usually near Halloween It's really gratifying to read the way this image has captured your imagination.  Thank you for providing such encouraging feedback! 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

Alf, Love the composition and play of lights. Wonderful work for this wonderful place. Congrats!

A very appealing image that works so well in b/w.  I am particularly drawn to its mood, light and contrasting textures.  Nicely done.

This one must be seen larger to truly appreciate all the exquisite detail captured Alf. I feel like I am standing just off to the side and behind you. The desire to explore further is very present. What a wonderful mood the morning mist has added. What a lovely spot you discovered. I really like your POV and that you chose to frame the image with the large tree. Dimitris said it very well in regards to the 'human element' and perspective.

thanks so much Alf, I think this is one of your best!