Even though I don’t know if this image works as a whole, I find it a bit mesmerizing so I decided to work on it and then it turned into a monochrome shot. It’s the former mill on Dudley brook, now turned into a bridge and the former mill pond which has been freed, but still makes these glorious whirlpools. This is 15 seconds.
Even though there’s a lot going on, I like it. The reflections and the motion of the water are surprising. I like the two big branches that point at the bridge and the mysterious forest to the left. It was one of my last outings in NH and no doubt a bit of conservation land I would have returned to again and again if I hadn’t moved. It’s in the Little River Conservation area where the Little River and Dudley Brook meet. Great walking trails and roaring water.
Specific Feedback Requested
Processing input welcome.
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
Tripod & CPL - probably a neutral density filter as well.
Processed in Lightroom for a crop and the B&W conversion. Lens correction, white & black points, clarity, texture, sharpening etc. Then a LOT of brush work to manage tonalities - some intersecting with luminance ranges for better control.
Different and wonderful! I love how well-defined the tree reflections are with that much swirl going on. The wide angle pulls me right up the stream. The forest on the left looks like it came from a storybook.
The forest on the left is really sweet and I found a couple of mildewed plastic chairs still sitting there even though I don’t think any has sat in them for ages. Also found a dilapidated deer stand in another part of the woods.
The reflections were the biggest surprise on this shot. Although I could see them IRL, they didn’t register until I started working on the photo. Mill ponds are known for their stillness and it looks as if that lasts beyond they’re use as storage/holding areas.
