Large Format Landscapes

[Ulophot]

Gabe, what an interesting subject -- a millstone graveyard, though I see your title has them only as geolithic Rip van Winkles.

[Gabe]

Gabe, what an interesting subject -- a millstone graveyard, though I see your title has them only as geolithic Rip van Winkles.

Thanks. These old abandoned millstones are quite a common feature of this area of the Peak District. This particular location is right near an old quarry from which many of them would have originated.

[rfesk]

Linhof Technikardan S45 | Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Symmar 5.6/110 XL | Fuji Acros 100 (EI50) | Pyrocat-HD

Slumbering Stones by atomstitcher, on Flickr

Love the composition and the subject!

[Gabe]

Love the composition and the subject!

Thank you.

[dave_whatever]

Thanks. These old abandoned millstones are quite a common feature of this area of the Peak District. This particular location is right near an old quarry from which many of them would have originated.

In this particular spot there's 100s of millstones abandoned as the industry abruptly collapsed due to cheap stone imported from overseas. Although interestingly this specific quarry was subsequently resurrected after being bought in 1901 (for £20 - the cost of a sheet of sheet of 10x8" Tri-X today!) and supplied all the stone for the Derwent and Howden reservoir dams.

I've got a paper neg of this very set of stones, although in very flat light.



You will also find abandoned millstones in various stages of completion all over the natural gritstone edges in the Peak, dating from pre-industrial times when local father-and-son teams would scour the area for likely looking individual boulders that they would carve by hand into millstones. Typically they would knock straight edges off first to make an octagon shape, then work it into a circle. So if you are out and find an oddly-perfect 8-sided flat rock then it's probably a millstone in the early stages - typically abandoned either because they discovered a fault or badly placed pebble in the rock, or the accidentally cracked it.

[rfesk]

Fascinating!

[Gabe]

In this particular spot there's 100s of millstones abandoned as the industry abruptly collapsed due to cheap stone imported from overseas. Although interestingly this specific quarry was subsequently resurrected after being bought in 1901 (for £20 - the cost of a sheet of sheet of 10x8" Tri-X today!) and supplied all the stone for the Derwent and Howden reservoir dams.

I've got a paper neg of this very set of stones, although in very flat light.



You will also find abandoned millstones in various stages of completion all over the natural gritstone edges in the Peak, dating from pre-industrial times when local father-and-son teams would scour the area for likely looking individual boulders that they would carve by hand into millstones. Typically they would knock straight edges off first to make an octagon shape, then work it into a circle. So if you are out and find an oddly-perfect 8-sided flat rock then it's probably a millstone in the early stages - typically abandoned either because they discovered a fault or badly placed pebble in the rock, or the accidentally cracked it.

Thanks for the background. I knew some of it but not all. I'll have to keep an eye out for the partially carved rocks in future.

Remarkable how similar our compositions are! It did feel right though.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Sinar Norma Handy Test 65mm F8 No 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Sinar Norma Handy Test 65mm F8 No 4 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Sinar Norma Handy 4x5 Test Ilford HP5+ 65mm F8 Super Angulon at Fll. Kingwood Gardens Mansfield Ohio, waiting for the Solar Eclipse to occur. HANDHELD camera focused hyperfocally. The cosine effect causes corners to be darker, could be improved with my 65mm F8 Schneider Center Filter. Silver image 8x10 print Omega DII 180mm Rodagon laser aligned, Arista #2 RC paper processed in Dektol 1:2. Print copied with Sony Nex 7 30mm Nex Macro Lens.

[dave_whatever]

Thanks for the background. I knew some of it but not all. I'll have to keep an eye out for the partially carved rocks in future.

Remarkable how similar our compositions are! It did feel right though.

Yeah, I think it's one of those that grabs you as you walk past. Being right by the track also helps of course!

[Steven Ruttenberg]

Etowah River Gyre
Shen-Hao 4x5, Rodenstock 90mm f/6.8, Efke 25, Pyrocat

Nice whirlpool