Equipment
Hasselblad X1D Digital Camera
Hasselblad XCD 30mm Lens
Hasselblad XCD 90mm Lens
Accessories (the usual suspects; more details here)
Where and When
Located in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia in Babcock State Park, the Glade Creek Grist Mill is a popular subject for fall photography. It’s not a restored mill or a brand new mill. It’s a composite, completed in 1976, built from parts from defunct mills around the state, and is a replica of the original Cooper’s Mill that was located nearby. It’s like a ’57 Chevy built from parts from a dozen other junkyard cars. And this “Chevy” still runs! You can purchase cornmeal and buckwheat flour, ground on the premises.
Our timing (early October 2017) wasn’t perfect. The remnants of Hurricane Nate were passing through. Fall colors weren’t quite at their peak. And there wasn’t much water running through the creek. Fortunately, there weren’t many other photographers or tourists braving the weather conditions, and the rain and mist resulted in more saturated colors in the foliage that surrounded the mill.
Photo opportunities abound, with good shooting locations downstream, from the side, and up close and personal to the mill itself. I’ve also seen some outstanding photos of the mill in winter with snow covering the mill, creek bed and trees.
On September 29, 2014, the Glade Creek Grist Mill was featured on a USPS Priority Mail postage stamp:
The scenes depicted on the first day cover and stamp are coincidentally similar to my photos. I had not seen the stamp until recently, well after my trip.
Getting there is half the fun, going through West Virginia’s mountainous countryside any time of year.
For trip planning, Robert Hitchman’s Photograph America Newsletter – West Virginia Back Roads has a good description of the mill and local accommodations.
Click on a photo to enlarge:
Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop
Topaz Sharpen AI
Nik Color Efex Pro
FrameShop script
