Sticks by Stones

[Michael_Stones]

A foggy day by the river. A working river still, but not what it was. Most of the grain silos abandoned and the docks broken by decades of winter ice. These piles once supported an industrial dock. I take the dogs here for morning outings.

Michael Stones: Sticks by Stones​

People still visit this spot. They leave things. Someone heaved the remains of a moose out of a truck a couple of years back. Wolves came for a feast. Some well-meaning person dropped off a sack of apples for the deer this summer. I hope the deer got some for a black bear certainly did. I saw undigested bits of apple skin in bear scat. Later, when running nearby, I nearly ran into the bear. Not sure who was more startled. The bear came to an unfortunate end. It wandered close to some nearby houses where children were playing. Someone shot it.

I found this here last summer.

Michael Stones: Pamphlet​

I hope you can read the printing on this reduced size of image: a pamphlet about obesity. Makes you wonder who dropped it there. She or he made ticks next to phrases about 'health problems' and 'certain types of cancer.' Not what you expect to find in a spot mainly visited by dog walkers, lovers, druggies, and the occasional person fishing.

One of the great things about photography is that it can make insignificant things significant. Hope you like these photos that are pretty much straight from the camera. A D3s with a f1.4 50mm lens.

Mike

 

[Asher Kelman]

A foggy day by the river. A working river still, but not what it was. Most of the grain silos abandoned and the docks broken by decades of winter ice. These piles once supported an industrial dock. I take the dogs here for morning outings.

Michael Stones: Sticks by Stones​

Michael,

Tell me this was cropped! I really want to see more foreground.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Michael,

Tell me this was cropped! I really want to see more foreground.

Asher

Michael Stones: Sticks by Stones

Original​

Well, I had a quick try to express my idea:

Michael Stones: Sticks by Stones

Edited to increase the foreground ADK​

I hope this still fits in with your intent! Just for fun!

Asher

 

[Michael_Stones]

No foreground, Asher. The photo was taken kneeling on a broken concrete platform about three feet above the water. The background shown later in the year is below.

The river is the Kaministiquia, which in Ojibwe means 'river with islands'. It was first depicted but not named in the 1671 "Carte des Jésuites" as "R. [rivière] par où l'on va aux Assinipoualacs à 120 lieues vers le Nord-Ouest." (River by which one travels to the Assinipoualacs 120 leagues to the north-west). After 1883, this part of the Kaministiquia was heavily industrialized by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) with railway yards, coal yards and docks, grain elevators, shipping docks, and sawmills. The double-deck Jackknife Bascule Bridge (left of the centre) was built by the CPR in 1913 to allow trains and vehicles to cross from the mainland to Mission Island (right of the centre). This bridge cost in excess of a million dollars to build then and still carries railcars today. The building on the left used to be a factory that made tractors and for a brief time (I think) aeroplanes. About a mile behind me is a factory that produced Hawker Hurricane fighters of World War II fame, and which is now part of the Bombardier empire.

The image below is an 1887 painting of another part of the river by famous Canadian artist Frances Anne Hopkins.

Mike

 

[Michael_Stones]

Well, I had a quick try to express my idea. I hope this still fits in with your intent! Just for fun!

Asher:

Michael Stones: Sticks by Stones

Edited to increase the foreground ADK​

Nice modification, Asher, which I hadn't seen before the preceding reply. Thanks, Mike

 

[Tom Robbins]

Hi Mike, I envy your ready access to this big expanse of pilings and old industry. There are probably endless compositions possible with the pilings themselves - different focal lengths, weather conditions, times of day, etc. I hope you continue to work this veritable mine and share more of the gems that you find.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Mike,

Hi Mike, I envy your ready access to this big expanse of pilings and old industry. There are probably endless compositions possible with the pilings themselves - different focal lengths, weather conditions, times of day, etc. I hope you continue to work this veritable mine and share more of the gems that you find.

I fully agree with Tom. Thanks for sharing the pictures and keep them coming.

Cheers,

 

[Michael_Stones]

Thanks for your kind comments Tom and Cem. This area is a treasure trove for photographers. Although most photograph scenic views, I'm fascinated by old industry falling into disrepair and new life evolving around that site. It's a process of recycling rather than replacing.

The photo below is to thank you Asher, Tom & Cem for your encouragement in a tangible way. Across the river from the spot where I shot the preceding photos is a lonely pylon. Its reflection, distorted by the ripples of the river, reaches out to me. The near part reminded me of an oil slick from a passing boat, but it belongs only to the pylon. The reflection is ephemeral, a momentary image. From a longer term perspective, the pylon is ephemeral, too.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your kind comments Tom and Cem. This area is a treasure trove for photographers. Although most photograph scenic views, I'm fascinated by old industry falling into disrepair and new life evolving around that site. It's a process of recycling rather than replacing.

The photo below is to thank you Asher, Tom & Cem for your encouragement in a tangible way. Across the river from the spot where I shot the preceding photos is a lonely pylon. Its reflection, distorted by the ripples of the river, reaches out to me. The near part reminded me of an oil slick from a passing boat, but it belongs only to the pylon. The reflection is ephemeral, a momentary image. From a longer term perspective, the pylon is ephemeral, too.

Our passions are quite similar as I too like to record the passing of time with places and industrial elements.

Re. the picture, I can see why it touches you from your story. However, for the casual looker the emotional bond is not there so some may find it to be an uninteresting photo. Perhaps if you'd play with a couple of things such as correcting the global and local contrast, opening up the shadows a bit and straightening the pylon to stand vertical, it can become a bit more interesting. I'd also consider doing it in B&W as color in this picture is not adding much value (IMO) and the point of attention is the reflection, which can become more pronounced in B&W. Just my 0.02 Euro.

Cheers,