MingusMill-7975
Mingus Mill, built in 1896, operated by the Forestry Service in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Mingus Mill, built in 1896, operated by the Forestry Service in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
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Jan, 2015Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Composition And Leading Lines Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Old Structures Photo Contest
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Contest Finalist in Clever Angles Photo Contest
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Olin
August 13, 2016
Outstanding image. Great composition. Love the silky water (or Ice) since it was January). I have photographed MingusMill many times. Nothing closes close to this images. Again, Great Job.
jmhillphoto
August 13, 2016
Thanks Olin. Iwas a very nice warm day for January in the Smoky Mountains. The water was so flowing so nicely, I could not resit the shot.
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was made at the Mingus Mill in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park almost at the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. It was built in 1896 and is still a working mill run by the Forestry Service.Time
We stopped at the Mill just before sunset and I was rushing around to get the image I wanted before I lost all the light of the day. The bears had been very active in the area for the previous few weeks, so we were pretty reticent to get get caught off guard in the dark. I managed to capture this shot at 6:00 pm. My last shot of the day.Lighting
The day had been slightly overcast, as we were expecting snow that night. Not surprisingly, the light quality was very soft and even, actually too soft for my tastes normally. I tend to like a bit more contrast. The shadows hold more interest than the light a lot of the time.Equipment
I was using a Canon 60D with an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-f 5/6 set at 27mm on a tripod. The exposure was 1/3 @f/14 because I wanted most everything in focus.Inspiration
I have been to the Smoky Mountains many times over the last 30 years and I always make a point of stopping by Mingus Mill. It seems the scene is different each time and when you are fortunate enough to catch it without the crowds of tourist, it is magical.Editing
Processing was all done n Lightroom and a final bit of polishing and sharpening in Photoshop. Really not a lot for this image.other than making sure the overcast sky was not too blown out.In my camera bag
My Canon 60D is my workhorse, but I also carry a Canon 550D for it's marvelous video capabilities. My primary go to lens is an EF-S 18-55 kit lens for landscapes, a 55-250mm for creatures, and a Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 for portrait and macro work. Of course, the good old nifty fifty is always there! Canon EF 50mm f/1.8. I almost always have several Yongnuo flash units and Yongnuo radio triggers. Never know when that extra bit of fill is going to be needed. Assorted filters , reflectors, extra batteries and a Rode Video Pro Microphone help round out the pack. Of course, there is always at least one tripod. Two if I plan to shoot video as well as stills. All in a large backpack that weighs way more than I should be carrying for any long hikes!Feedback
Any time moving water is in the image, a good sturdy tripod, a remote, and a lot of patience is key to success.A slow shutter of at least 1-2 seconds will give that silky smooth water that we all want. Time of day is critical to a successful image. Dawn or dusk, golden hours are always the best for water, but if you're only going to be at that spot mid-day, wait for a little cloud cover to help soften the light and use ND filters. They can be your best friends!
