Cedar Creek Grist Mill

PNWPhotos.com a friendly and growing community of photographers with an interest in the Pacific Northwest region. We feature a Photography Discussion Forum and Pacific Northwest Photo Gallery. It's a fun and friendly place to talk with other photographers, ask questions, share you knowledge, view and post photos and more!


JaniceL

JaniceL

Super Moderator
Staff member
I had a need for a road trip today. Since it was cloudy and a natural softbox I pointed my car in the direction of Cedar Creek Grist Mill. A particularly good day because all the leaves aren't out obscuring the view and the water was running fast.

The tough thing about shooting there is that there are very few points of view that hasn't been done. I managed to get a few shots different than the norm since it was open inside.

People had them grind flour for them.
View attachment 6222

There was all kinds of stuff to see, some old and some new.

I had to stick my head out to see the covered bridge.
View attachment 6229

Here is the flume that follows the creek, that powers all the equipment in the mill.
View attachment 6225
 
Last edited:
Beautiful series. I especially liked the first shot (with the customers) and the flume shot.

On the second to the last one, I noticed that is the angle that is most common and yet there is a branch hanging down and dipping into a large chunk of the mill. GREAT thing that the branches are bare. Maybe they wouldn't mind someone brining a tall tree saw?? :D
 


Leia said:
Beautiful series. I especially liked the first shot (with the customers) and the flume shot.

On the second to the last one, I noticed that is the angle that is most common and yet there is a branch hanging down and dipping into a large chunk of the mill. GREAT thing that the branches are bare. Maybe they wouldn't mind someone brining a tall tree saw?? :D
Click to expand...

There were several places I would have liked to have brought some loppers, but I suppose they would frown on that.
 
I really like that place!

There are two things I don't like about it. First of all, as you mention, it's all been done before. So much that picking your shot is easy, just put your tripod in the holes that are worn in the ground. Ok, maybe not literally, but close to it!

The second problem is that it's very hard to get the mill and the bridge in the same shot. Your last shot is does the best job of it I've seen, and it's good, but it's still not the angle I'm really looking for. I don't think you can get the angle I want though, at least not without trespassing.

That said, it's a great location, and images of it are quite popular. Kind of like Seattle from Kerry Park. Yeah, everyone has it. but it's still a great shot!
 
You are right Bob you really can't get the angle. I came close last year. But I didn't like the light.

4483049061_d0bd2da6f0.jpg


The lighting was great but in the year that passed branches had grown down and up filling up the view.
 
Whether this place has been photographed one million times, or only once, if your intent is not to sell the images, then who cares? lol.

My faves from the set are 1 and 3. I love how the flume is the lead in, and I actually like how it's a touch distorted; very curvaceous :)

Great stuff, Janice!
 
HoedadKid said:
Whether this place has been photographed one million times, or only once, if your intent is not to sell the images, then who cares? lol.
Click to expand...

Well, that's the catch, my intent IS to sell the images.

However, here's the irony. All of my Cedar Creek Grist Mill images are the "standard" views, including the "shoot here from the bridge" shot that everyone has. You know the one, but if you don't google "Cedar Creek Grist Mill" and look at the images, you'll see hundreds of nearly identical images. Mine looks just like all the others.

So... Care to guess which one of my prints I've sold the most copies of? ;)
 
BobH said:
Well, that's the catch, my intent IS to sell the images.

However, here's the irony. All of my Cedar Creek Grist Mill images are the "standard" views, including the "shoot here from the bridge" shot that everyone has. You know the one, but if you don't google "Cedar Creek Grist Mill" and look at the images, you'll see hundreds of nearly identical images. Mine looks just like all the others.

So... Care to guess which one of my prints I've sold the most copies of? ;)
Click to expand...

Absolutely. For a professional who is trying to sell their work, originality is a must if you want to stand out.

I was just under the impression that Janice was not selling most of her images. I was just pointing out that the intention/expectation would be much different in this case :)

I'm thinking that renting a helicopter for the day might give you the angle you'd want, Bob. They're only a few bucks to charter, eh? :)
 
HoedadKid said:
Absolutely. For a professional who is trying to sell their work, originality is a must if you want to stand out.

I was just under the impression that Janice was not selling most of her images. I was just pointing out that the intention/expectation would be much different in this case :)

I'm thinking that renting a helicopter for the day might give you the angle you'd want, Bob. They're only a few bucks to charter, eh? :)
Click to expand...

Janice sells some of her stuff in various methods, such as micro-stock etc. Not sure what she had planned for these shots. Of course, as I mentioned, the "standard" tourist snapshot style photo seems to sell rather well, if you have a decent version of it.

The only "chopper" this location really need is one that involves a few tree limbs.

Meanwhile, the location I have in mind is easily accessible except for the rather large "No Trespassing" signs. If I ever get serious about getting the shot, maybe a nice donation to the non-profit running the mill would result in being escorted to the location I have in mind?
 
Last edited:


All my shots are for me first. Part of the challenge is to find a perspective nobody else has found. Sometimes those cliche shots that everybody takes are sometimes the ones that sell.

As for me selling photos, I sell on Getty which is not a micro-stock agency. There is something about selling my photos for 25 cents in a micro-stock agency doesn't appeal to me. I haven't made big money with Getty but every bit helps. I would like to have my own website and even have a few in a gallery one day, but my work has a long way to go. It's clearly serious amateur work right now. I do shoot for myself with an eye towards an image that one day will have value.

I may have that same location in mind. Hmmmm.


Those "No Tresspassing" signs are pretty obvious.
 
BobH said:
However, here's the irony. All of my Cedar Creek Grist Mill images are the "standard" views, including the "shoot here from the bridge" shot that everyone has. You know the one, but if you don't google "Cedar Creek Grist Mill" and look at the images, you'll see hundreds of nearly identical images. Mine looks just like all the others.

So... Care to guess which one of my prints I've sold the most copies of? ;)
Click to expand...

Is this the "shoot here from the bridge" one?

View attachment 6235
 


You must log in or register to reply here.


Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top