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UER Mobile > UE Photo Critiques > Sugar Mill (Viewed 4494 times)

post by 11023517141

Sugar Mill
< on 4/6/2014 3:49 AM >

Hoping for some pointers or advice when shooting in abandoned locations. These were taken on a Nikon Coolpix L280. I don't know anything about cameras or photography, but love photographing these locations. I'd love some criticism to see how I can improve the shots next time (what should I focus on, do these lack clear subjects, are these even interesting, etc.)

1.

Thanks!

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post by PierreB

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 1 on 4/7/2014 2:41 AM >

Your camera is going to limit you until you can take more manual (or semi manual) control of your settings.

That being said, do some reading on the basics of photo composition such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, triangles, etc... and start applying those.

The first image is actually a nice leading line (the angle of the shelves guides my eye). Watch for distracting elements such as really bright colours or bright white spots such as you have in this image in the top middle from the window. Getting a bit lower down to use the shelves to block that out might of worked

The second image is pretty cool, although looks like you processed in the blur, and I'm not a fan (personal taste). When you are going to center an element, make sure space is even on both sides... symmetry

The fourth image is leaning to the left, watch that. Either intentionally tilt to guide and eye (although dont just tilt thinking it makes it more interesting) or have it nicely leveled.

Shoot shoot shoot! The more you do, the better you get!

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post by 11023517141

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 2 on 4/7/2014 3:49 PM >

Thanks for the advice! Yeah, I did add in the blur on the "Bar the door" image per a friends suggestion to focus in on it. Thanks for the tips and suggestions!

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post by mhester

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 3 on 4/10/2014 12:02 AM >

A couple could have been framed a bit better but decent pics overall. The Pac Man pic was awesome.

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post by 11023517141

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 4 on 4/10/2014 1:32 AM >

Posted by mhester
A couple could have been framed a bit better but decent pics overall. The Pac Man pic was awesome.

I don't know what you mean by framed, but I'd love to learn! I'm super new to photography. Yeah, the Pac-Man pic was pretty as pretty cool scene.

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post by UnchartedSights

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 5 on 4/10/2014 2:41 AM >

Posted by 11023517141

I don't know what you mean by framed, but I'd love to learn! I'm super new to photography. Yeah, the Pac-Man pic was pretty as pretty cool scene.

Framed in photography means how you set up your subjects in your photo. Basically think of your viewfinder/lcd screen as a picture frame, and what you are looking at is the photo, and move around, change settings, etc, until you get a view that is pleasing to you.

Overall a good set.
Photo 1 as mentioned before has great leading lines, simple composition that shows all of what you were trying to show us. The light up top is a distraction, but you will learn to see those and adjust your shot accordingly the more experienced you become. =)
Picture 2 I personally like the added blur, it does bring out the door as the subject of the photo.
Picture 3 is a nice overall shot of the records/tool room, though I feel there is no real subject for the viewer to focus on.
Picture 4 as said before is a little tilted. Not much but enough that the serious photogs will notice it. Just try to make sure your lines are straight. Great viewpoint though and nicely shows the floor and gives a good taste of what you were exploring in.
Picture 5 is a great shot! Composed perfectly, leading lines lead your eye from the first boiler all the way to the last, and no distractions in the photo at all. Wish I had gotten to this room, haha. Had to beat a hasty escape before we could explore too much of the building.

Like Pierre said, "Shoot shoot shoot!" The more you shoot the better you will know your camera and the better trained your eye will become. Once you learn to shoot in semi-manual and full manual, you will be able to do a whole lot more with your photos.

Keep up the great work though and look forward to seeing more from you in future posts! And maybe we could hit up a location soon and I'll be more than happy to help teach you more about photography. =)

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post by 11023517141

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 6 on 4/16/2014 3:45 PM >

Posted by UnchartedSights

Keep up the great work though and look forward to seeing more from you in future posts! And maybe we could hit up a location soon and I'll be more than happy to help teach you more about photography. =)

Thanks for all the tips and advice! Yeah, we should definitely hit up a location over the summer!

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post by imprezawrxsti

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 7 on 4/17/2014 5:24 AM >

Longmont? Or elsewhere?

I miss these places, so few of them left now.

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post by UnchartedSights

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 8 on 4/18/2014 1:20 AM >

Posted by imprezawrxsti
Longmont? Or elsewhere?

I miss these places, so few of them left now.

Yes it is.
They are amazing locations with amazing stories and history. Sad so many are getting demo'd. Hopefully this one will stay around for years to come.

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post by 11023517141

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 9 on 4/19/2014 11:47 PM >

Posted by imprezawrxsti
Longmont? Or elsewhere?

I miss these places, so few of them left now.

Yep, Longmont. It is really sad to see so many of them go. They are truly beautiful.

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post by imprezawrxsti

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 10 on 4/20/2014 5:39 PM >

There's one left wayyy up near the NE border I need to check out this summer. There used to be a sugar beet mill in almost every small town on the plains, so many that Great Western Sugar built its own railway to move all the sugar around.

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post by PierreB

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 11 on 4/21/2014 5:48 PM >

One other small tip... your eye needs to be trained (all of ours do). So take the time to look at other people's images and think about what you like and what you don't about them.

After a while of doing this, you'll end up seeing the world like you are through a camera lens and spotting interesting images to be made when you are waiting for the bus or what not

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post by mikeandike

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 12 on 4/21/2014 6:28 PM >

Love this place. Just take tons of photos. You'll improve.

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post by 11023517141

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 13 on 4/22/2014 2:32 AM >

Posted by imprezawrxsti
There's one left wayyy up near the NE border I need to check out this summer. There used to be a sugar beet mill in almost every small town on the plains, so many that Great Western Sugar built its own railway to move all the sugar around.

Do you know what the one near the NE border is called? I thought only the Longmont and Loveland ones were left.

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post by UnchartedSights

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 14 on 4/22/2014 5:08 AM >

Posted by 11023517141

Do you know what the one near the NE border is called? I thought only the Longmont and Loveland ones were left.

Longmont, Loveland, Greeley, Ovid, Ft. Morgan(only one still in use), Brighton, Brush, Ft. Morgan, Sterling, Windsor, Eaton(torn down). I believe that lists most of them.
This is an EXCELLENT blog that has in depth histories and stories from all the sites I listed above.
http://longmontian...-factory-1906.html

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post by techy

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 15 on 5/8/2014 8:07 PM >

Posted by 11023517141

Do you know what the one near the NE border is called? I thought only the Longmont and Loveland ones were left.

Here's a great place to find more sugar mill locations and stuff

http://goo.gl/tU23Vy

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post by Dare2Hide

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 16 on 5/19/2014 8:53 AM >

Wow! I love these pictures. Wish there was a sugar mill in the area.

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post by MoreThanJake

Re: Sugar Mill
<Reply # 17 on 11/7/2014 1:44 AM >

I've seen the pacman picture before. I absolutely love it.

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