Mabry Mill, Blue Ridge Parkway Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Feb, 2020Views
108
Likes
Awards
Spring 21 Award
Elite
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 30 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on the Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 176.2. It’s near the Floyd County / Patrick County line, in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. I am lucky enough to live not very far from there, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where we treasure the Parkway and all that it protects.Time
It was a April afternoon when I took this. Once the weather starts warming up, my husband and I go for drives on the Parkway with the top down, and a camera at the ready. This was one of those days, with the blooms just beginning to appear.Lighting
The way the clearing is around the Mill, natural lighting is perfect, if the weather cooperates. The trees provide the perfect amount of shadow for great contrast. It is possible, at certain times of the day, to get a reflection in the pond!Equipment
I used a Nikon D7000, at 55mm, 1/80 at 4.5, for the original photo. No tripodInspiration
While Mabry Mill is supposedly the most photographed spot on the Parkway, I see it as a part of the Mountain heritage of our area. There’s more behind this “pretty spot”. Most people stop, take a picture, and go. There’s a whole exhibit behind there, plus heritage days where you can learn about Appalachian life. I wanted to show the vintage side of Mabry Mill, so that maybe people would stop and think a bit more about this gorgeous area we call Southwest Virginia.Editing
I didn’t need to do much of anything to the original photo. I did want to emphasize the “vintage” feel, so I edited a copy of the picture with a bit of color boosting, and contrast, finishing up with one of my favorite daguerreotype filters. I’m a big fan of mixing the grungy vintage feel with the modern sharp images!In my camera bag
Depends on where I’m going! On a normal day I carry my Nanuk case with my Nikon D7000 and D7100, my f2.8 70-200mm sports lens, and f2.8 17-55mm. I just recently got a back up practically brand new D7000 at a great price for a back up as well!Feedback
You don’t always have to go far away to find something beautiful and unique. It could be sitting in your own backyard.
