100 Day Project 2021

Monday, March 9, 2015

Renewing The Journey - Part 2

This week's exercise for Renewing The Journey involved returning to a familiar place or subject and taking at least fifty pictures.


There are places that I repeatedly visit with my camera. Some because I find quiet and solace there, some for their beauty, and some to capture it in different seasons. Different seasons was the reason I found myself at the Pugh's Old Mill. The mill is a historic re-creation of an 1880's water-powered grist mill. It was used in the opening scenes of the classic movie "Gone With The Wind" which was released in 1939. I've always wanted to take pictures of the mill in the snow, but icy, snowy streets have prevented me going. This latest snowfall was followed by warm days. While snow was still on the ground, the streets quickly cleared. This was my chance to capture the mill in winter. Although a lot of the snow was melted at the mill, there was enough left to show it's winter.

Returning to a familiar place is an opportunity to look at things differently; to find different perspectives. It's a chance to explore, to see something you haven't seen before. When you return to a familiar place, the time of day you're there is different creating different light and shadows. The sky is a different color in each season. This time the light, the sky, and the water were perfect for a good reflection. As I took this picture, I knew it would be my favorite. I am fascinated with reflections. I saw several reflections and took several pictures, but this one remained my favorite. 


The bare trees created beautiful shadows on the side of the mill. I found the mill to have a lonely feeling in winter without the leaves on the trees and the beautiful garden flowers of spring. The mill in spring makes me think of romance. The mill in winter makes me think of a cold, harsh living.


Going to a familiar place can never be as exciting as seeing it the first time. I remember the first time I took my camera to the Old Mill. I took hundreds of pictures. This time there were far less to cull through.


I have always enjoyed returning to a place with my camera. To me it's like visiting an old friend you haven't seen in a while. The person is familiar and the place is familiar, but there is growth, changes, and things not seen before. I feel the same way about parting, too. I'm never quite ready to leave an old friend and I'm never quite ready to leave a place I enjoy.

I added a couple of pictures of the mill so you could see the differences in spring and summer. Now, I only need to get there in the fall.



13 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous place for photos, Cathy--I enjoyed seeing it in the different seasons!

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  2. What a wonderful place to be able to visit and revisit, Cathy! I love the richness of color in the old stone mill building. I think the starkness of winter really emphasizes the character of the mill itself, unsoftened by flowers and foliage, its beautiful "bones," so to speak. It's beautiful in your spring and summer photos, too, though. I'll be looking forward to seeing it again in the fall.

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  3. That second photo with the perfect reflection is one for your walls! And oh, that dogwood tree. It makes me so impatient for spring.

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  4. Love the added pictures what a contrast between Spring and winter. I love the shadow of that tree on the side of the mill. It seems funny to see snow in Arkansas. Ours is starting to melt. I am SO excited!!

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  5. I like the way you've shown the mill from different angles and how you introduce the history of the place and your feelings when you go and visit. I like the first shot as we discover the mill for the first time and then of course the reflection is lovely. My favourite shot is the last winter one where I can see more detail of the bridge and the wheel and the lovely stonework bathed in a golden light. The spring and summer scenes show a different atmosphere altogether and have a another kind of charm.

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  6. Your love of this building comes shining through in these photos, Cathy! How nice to revisit it now and see it in different light and surroundings. What fun to see the contrast in the seasons with your images.

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  7. What a fantastic place to re-visit! Your reflection image is superb - especially the way you have captured both the mill itself and its full reflection. A great project - comparing this lovely place in all four seasons. I bet it will be stunning in autumn. You have done a great job at capturing different perspectives and viewpoints.

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  8. The place look great on both seasons. I especially like the one which you are fascinated with.

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  9. Such a beautiful spot, I could imagine myself living in a place like that.

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  10. I love the fact that you posted other seasons for us to compare. It is beautiful in all seasons. I didn't notice the shadows on the trees until you told us. That is what I like about reading your blog. You see things that I don't. Can't wait to go again.

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  11. Gorgeous! This one is on my list of places to visit this year, along with Crystal Museum. Have a great weekend!

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  12. I can see why you would want to return to this beautiful place season after season. The shot with the reflection is gorgeous and I agree with Dotti...it needs framing.

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  13. really gorgeous!!! and those reflections, wow!!!

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