Mabry Mill, Blue Ridge Parkway, VA - in the rain

Dixie · June 20, 2009

I recently did the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park. Here is a shot of Mabry Mill (BRP mile post 176) on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. I am also including a b/w version. This is my first work with the Canon 5D MkII.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Click on the color image for the EXIF data.

Thank you for taking the time to look.

Allan FG · June 20, 2009

I love the color version, it looks like a painting

W.W. Webster · June 20, 2009

Nice - as usual!

thapamd · June 20, 2009

Great shots, Dixie! The processing and comp are beautiful. I'd be proud of either one of 'em, but the color version edges out the b&w by just a hair, I think.

GoofBckt · June 20, 2009

WOWWW! .... is all I can say.

Dixie · June 20, 2009

Loud Al wrote:

I love the color version, it looks like a painting

Thanks, Al.

Dixie · June 20, 2009

W.W. Webster wrote:

Nice - as usual!

Thank you for taking the time to look and comment.

Dixie · June 20, 2009

thapamd wrote:

Great shots, Dixie! The processing and comp are beautiful. I'd be proud of either one of 'em, but the color version edges out the b&w by just a hair, I think.

Thanks, Mahesh.

Dixie · June 20, 2009

GoofBckt wrote:

WOWWW! .... is all I can say.

Thank you, Carrie.

Eia · June 20, 2009

Beautiful. At first I thought color!!! But, after looking at the b&w I really like it too! I think they both look like a painting!!!

stuffjunkie · June 20, 2009

Nice!
Beautiful light!

Dixie · June 25, 2009

Eia wrote:

Beautiful. At first I thought color!!! But, after looking at the b&w I really like it too! I think they both look like a painting!!!

Thank you, Eia. Here is another one of the same mill taken in fall of 2004, but reprocessed in 2006.

Dixie · June 25, 2009

stuffjunkie wrote:

Nice!
Beautiful light!

Thank you.

thapamd · June 25, 2009

Dixie wrote:

Thank you, Eia. Here is another one of the same mill taken in fall of 2004, but reprocessed in 2006.

This one is just out of this world! What great fall colors!

Photog4Christ · June 25, 2009

Okay, all three of these shots are spectacular! I really want to get down there. It's only 4 - 5 hours from me. Maybe we can take a mid-week trip down there.

How busy is it during the week/weekend?

schmoo · June 25, 2009

Dixie wrote:

Thank you, Eia. Here is another one of the same mill taken in fall of 2004, but reprocessed in 2006.

WOW Dixie!

Perfect and pristine.

Dixie · June 26, 2009

thapamd wrote:

This one is just out of this world! What great fall colors!

Thanks again, Mahesh. Your comments are appreciated.

Dixie · June 26, 2009

Photog4Christ wrote:

Okay, all three of these shots are spectacular! I really want to get down there. It's only 4 - 5 hours from me. Maybe we can take a mid-week trip down there.

How busy is it during the week/weekend?

I have been there during the week and during the weekend. Of course, mid-week is better, but I've never had a problem except for getting behind a RV/camper. However, I've never been in a hurry on either the Skyland Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway so that probably keeps me from really paying attention to whether the traffic is bad or not.

They do have a great restaurant with decent prices at Mabry Mill which I recommend. I usually get there very early (before sunrise) and get setup for my shots. The restaurant doesn't open until about 7:30 am, but they drive you nuts with the breakfast smells by opening some kitchen windows. There's just something about a great breakfast smell.

Enjoy your time there. It is well worth the trip.

Also, 164 miles north of Mabry Mill is Glade Creek Grist Mill in Babcock State Park near Beckley, West Virginia just north of I-64. It is well worth the trip.

Dixie · June 26, 2009

schmoo wrote:

WOW Dixie! Perfect and pristine.

...as always - thanks, schmoo.

Photog4Christ · June 28, 2009

Thank you Dixie.

It looks like Glade Creek Grist Mill is about 4 hours from me. Maybe I need to do a mill photo tour.

This one is closer to me. But not as picturesque.

NorthernFocus · June 28, 2009

Beatiful. The color version for sure. Maybe the B/W would work better with a tighter crop

Dixie · June 29, 2009

Photog4Christ wrote:

Thank you Dixie.

It looks like Glade Creek Grist Mill is about 4 hours from me. Maybe I need to do a mill photo tour.

This one is closer to me. But not as picturesque.

Look up covered bridges for West Virginia because a number of them in the same general area.

Dixie · June 29, 2009

articblooms wrote:

Beatiful. The color version for sure. Maybe the B/W would work better with a tighter crop

Dan,

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

Picture North Carolina · June 30, 2009

Very nice shot of the mill. You caught the Rhododendrons in bloom - adds a nice touch.

Dixie · June 30, 2009

Canned Grins wrote:

Very nice shot of the mill. You caught the Rhododendrons in bloom - adds a nice touch.

Thank you. I was in luck because most of the Rhododendrons and other flowers had been pretty much beat to death by a late season hail storm just 6 days prior to my being there to do the shoot. That particular Rhododendron was protected by a large tree. All the others in the open were gone. You could see where the flowers were, but nothing except nubs were left.

Normally there are flowers both sides of the road right up to the mill area. Not a bloom in sight this trip. I was somewhat disappointed having seen the area in its glory during earlier trips.

scootac · August 9, 2011

Found this with a search,,, and have a few questions.
Which light is better for shooting the mill,,, morning or evening? I've been there,, but can't remember how the mill is oriented with the sun. I might be going down the BRP mid-Sept and staying near the mill,,, and would like to get some nice shots.
Thanks!

fibredrive · August 9, 2011

beautiful images.

E L Davis · August 20, 2011

Dixie wrote: »

I have been there during the week and during the weekend. Of course, mid-week is better, but I've never had a problem except for getting behind a RV/camper. However, I've never been in a hurry on either the Skyland Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway so that probably keeps me from really paying attention to whether the traffic is bad or not.

They do have a great restaurant with decent prices at Mabry Mill which I recommend. I usually get there very early (before sunrise) and get setup for my shots. The restaurant doesn't open until about 7:30 am, but they drive you nuts with the breakfast smells by opening some kitchen windows. There's just something about a great breakfast smell.

Enjoy your time there. It is well worth the trip.

Also, 164 miles north of Mabry Mill is Glade Creek Grist Mill in Babcock State Park near Beckley, West Virginia just north of I-64. It is well worth the trip.

I really like this shot of Glade Creek Mill. I visited there in August 2007 and was disappointed by circumstances not in my control. That was the year of the extended drought, so the creek was almost dry, unlike your shot. I also hit there in late afternoon - not the best light. Left there with a few shots for keepsakes but nothing I could really use. I'll have to plan a visit there some Spring when the creek actually flows.

Nicely done.