Watch Factory

[rutt]

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/11073258-L.jpg

The Waltham Watch Company pioneered assembly line watch manufacturing. It founded in 1850 and the factory was built starting in 1853 and grew over the years. In the late 19th century the Waltham watches were the most accurate in the world. The company went out of business in 1957, but the factory is still there. There are no vacancies; my company investigated renting space there this year.

I've tried to get a good shot of it for a few years, but this is my best effort to date.

[GREAPER]

I like it a lot Rutt.

It looks old and mysterious.

[Nir]

Nice shot!

[ian408]

That factory begs to be shot at night.

Ian

[ginger_55]

I like it.

ginger

[rutt]

That factory begs to be shot at night.

Ian
I did this last spring:

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/3659604-L.jpg

This was shot from the other side and heavily post processed to try to capture the feeling of Rene Magritte's Empire of Light II:

http://www.dry-wet.com/Posters/m-04-15s.jpg

But shooting at night, perhaps with a full moon, is a good idea. I think I will try it.

As a subject, the factory is a little frustrating. It is so huge and there really is no no angle to vantage to shoot from where even 20mm (35 equivalent) can get it all. Shooting across the river has, well the river, which is nice. But the other side of the factory is more architecturally interesting. But the street is ugly and there are these phone and power wires.

I might try a panorama. I do love the subject.

Maybe what I really need is a helicopter...

[DVDR]

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/11073258-L.jpg

The Waltham Watch Company pioneered assembly line watch manufacturing. It founded in 1850 and the factory was built starting in 1853 and grew over the years. In the late 19th century the Waltham watches were the most accurate in the world. The company went out of business in 1957, but the factory is still there. There are no vacancies; my company investigated renting space there this year.

I've tried to get a good shot of it for a few years, but this is my best effort to date.I'm a sucker for reflections...and this is a good one. I might have cropped a bit of the left...but the tree is hard to deal with. Great shot!:D

[snapapple]

Beautiful reflection. And it would look good shot just like this at night. With lights on in the windows and a moon, the reflection would be terrific. Good project for you, but this is very nice. I love the reflection. :thumb

[GREAPER]

Just because I know you love monochrome conversions....


and because I think it increases the creapy feel.....

[pathfinder]

Just because I know you love monochrome conversions....


and because I think it increases the creapy feel.....


This really is creepy. :1drink

But like John, I am not really sure I like this better in B&W, I think the color in the water is part of the image.
I can't tell what time of day it was shot by looking at it - maybe late afternoon from the light on the building to the left? I might try shooting even later in the day and use a bit of a warming filter and see if that might inject just a little more warmth in the colors of the building. I like the composition and the reflection - I might tighten the crop just slightly and increase the warmth of the bricks in some manner.

[rutt]

This really is creepy. :1drink

But like John, I am not really sure I like this better in B&W, I think the color in the water is part of the image.
I can't tell what time of day it was shot by looking at it - maybe late afternoon from the light on the building to the left? I might try shooting even later in the day and use a bit of a warming filter and see if that might inject just a little more warmth in the colors of the building. I like the composition and the reflection - I might tighten the crop just slightly and increase the warmth of the bricks in some manner.
It was shot at the last possible moment without a tripod. 10 or 20 minutes earlier might have gotten some more pink in the sky.

[Andy]

rutt - :clap :clap :clap

nice work

[ian408]

Just because I know you love monochrome conversions....

and because I think it increases the creapy feel.....
Makes the building look abandoned or like the set of a Batman movie...

[PerezDesignGroup]

I've tried to get a good shot of it for a few years, but this is my best effort to date.
This shot is brilliant. Your use of framing is superb and I love everything about the image. Excellent-o! :thumb

[rutt]

Thanks, everyone. It was very satisfying to get this shot. I've been trying to find a good angle, time of day, &etc for the watch factory for quite some time. This was shot from the Mt. Feake cemetary across the river. I've tried this before and the shots just didn't have it. On Monday evening, I tried every possible angle and either there was folliage in the way or the angle was boring or something. Finally, as the light was failing, I climbed down to the river bank, got my shoes muddy, and got this shot. Here (http://rutt.smugmug.com/gallery/278943) is my proof sheet from Monday evening. You can also see the original and the edit of this shot.

Now I'd like to figure out how to shoot the other (street facing) side of the factory. That's a challenge, but just this morning I noticed a watch tower that might have a good view. I wonder if I can get up there...