Grandchester Sawmill

[the foto fanatic]

This sawmill was erected during WWII, and was powered by a steam engine. The "old boiler" - No922 - has been removed from a train built at Walkers in Maryborough.

[Matt. K]

Trevor
I love that image!.....your PP makes it look a litle like an illustration but that works for me. Great subject and location...if only you had an old guy in a blue boiler suit sitting down patting his faithful old labrador dog in the foreground...that would have made it... brilliant! Maybe we photographers should link up with some old people homes...we could take em out for an airing and in return they could play dress up and pose for the photo guy.

[sirhc55]

I’m old and willing - fab pic Trevor

[stubbsy]

Trevor

While I ike the image it has that HDR pushed a little too far look to me. I expect that interior to be a little darker than it is and I'm bothered by the strange half man in the back who I'd be tempted to clone out. Notwithstanding all that it's still a fine image

Hopefully you also got some detail shots of all that lovely machinery.

[Geoff M]

Lots to see in this image. I like the PP work you have done here, I think a nice contrasty B&W conversion also has potential. It looks like a place where one could easily get carried away with seeking out a few more frames.

[the foto fanatic]

Thanks for the feedback fellas.

I think I will clone out the dude working on the saw in the background as Peter has suggested.

There was a huge dynamic range here and I am fairly happy with the outcome - I wanted to lift the colours as much as I could.

There is a B&W image from the same venue here:

viewtopic.php?f=68&t=42094&p=439316#p439316

[Remorhaz]

Yes it's got the touch of the HDR look but I think I'm totally fine with that - it's not pshycadelic - I like seeing all the detail within

[the foto fanatic]

Waddayaknow! Turns out stubbsy was right

No-one should be surprised, least of all me. Especially about HDR processing.

I cloned out the ghostly mill worker, and thought that I should at least look at Peter's other suggestion - darkening the interior tones. I do think it makes the image more realistic.

Thanks Peter!

(I didn't mention that this steam-driven mill, still in operation, uses its own off-cuts and sawdust as fuel, so it is as green as it is possible for a sawmill to be.)

[Steffen]

I like both versions, but if pressed I'd go with the more realistic look. There is a lot to be discovered in this image, it holds the interest well. I'd also be tempted to try a few different crops, I can't suggest anything in particular but I have a feeling that something interesting might turn up.

Cheers
Steffen.

[biggerry]

I'd also be tempted to try a few different crops, .

further to this, in hindsight I would like to see the smaller of the two pully wheel, I find my eyes lead from the large to the small and hence outta the image. I would however not crop any of the boiler away either

How a crop to bring the Grandchester Sawmill sign on the blade into the 3rd intersection and hence making it more prominent (al whilst keeping the boiler in) ?

[stubbsy]

I cloned out the ghostly mill worker, and thought that I should at least look at Peter's other suggestion - darkening the interior tones. I do think it makes the image more realistic.

Thanks Peter!

No worries Trevor - that what critique is for. And if it looked totally aweful then it would be all my fault

And yes, for me, the rework is a lot better. As Steffen touches on it's a bit like one of those hidden object puzzles and the darker tones make me want to explore those shadows.

[the foto fanatic]

I'd also be tempted to try a few different crops, .

further to this, in hindsight I would like to see the smaller of the two pully wheel, I find my eyes lead from the large to the small and hence outta the image. I would however not crop any of the boiler away either

I actually succeeded in getting both in - but the smaller cog is behind that very dense yellow protective grill. Not much I could do about that!