South Abbey Mill Photo

Photographer’s Note

The South Abbey Mill sits high on a dune close to Belgium's coastline.
The mill, together with another mill, was part of a flourishing abbey complex constructed in the 13th century. The iconoclastic fury of 1566 and the Eighty Year's War (1568-1648) signalled the end for the abbey mills. The monks finally moved away and resettled in Bruges in 1627. The mill mounds remained behind as witnesses.
In 1951 the municipality of Koksijde purchased the Lootvoet Mill in Houtem (dated 1773) to bring the site back to life. It is an open post corn mill with three floors. The mill is one of only eight mills of this type still in existence.
A permanent miller ensures the functioning of the mill whenever the windspeed reaches 4 Beaufort at least. About 150 kg of grain can be processed hourly. The height of the mill is 14 meters and each sail arm has a span of 12 meters and weighs one ton. On average the mill has 180 000 axle revolutions per year.

JudyR, ciakgiak, PixelTerror, Budapestman, UlfE, BelCan75, lrw1966, bukitgolfb301, stego has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jonathan_hart (22570) 2009-05-27 9:09

the environment and the architecture of the mill is very similar to another place in my region
red attract the eye in this photo
jc

darek1978 (11165) 2009-05-27 9:26

Hi Paul,
I like how your shot is composed. I also like the vivid colours and the brilliant light as the great contrast of the colours. Nice work and thanks for sharing!
Regards,
DArek

jurek1951 (25896) 2009-05-27 9:36

Hi Paul,
wonderful natural colors.
interesting old windmill,excellent perspective,
Georg

lousat (15302) 2009-05-27 9:46

Hi Paul,the contrast between the red mill and the blue of sky is decisive! Great choice of point of view and excellent sharpness too,my best compliments,beautiful work! Have a nice day,LUCIANO

john1 (1940) 2009-05-27 11:36

Dag paul,
Un jolis cadre de verdure et un imposant molin a vent.
Jolis travail, tu as bénéficié d'un ciel bleu et du temps clément.
A++
john1

JudyR (815) 2009-05-27 12:07

Sumptuous color of the windmill and surrounding wild roses, maybe? I like the rooster wind vane and the expanse of sky which propels this fine old mill. The history of this structure is amazing. I had no idea they were so old, or that corn is grown in Holland. Live and learn! Thanks, Judy

Clementi (43659) 2009-05-27 14:25

Ciao Paul,
beautiful sight well saturated colors a lot thanks to the polarizer , a good composition.
good job

ciakgiak (10496) 2009-05-28 1:59

Hi Paul,
surely I like it! This image is very well composed, with the mill perfectly placed that, with its color, is a really eye-catcher.
Congratulation for the quality of the photo.
Best regards.
Giorgio

PixelTerror (86038) 2009-05-28 2:33

Hi Paul,
Quite a hilly part of Vlaanderen here, but indeed convenient to place a mill and a good place for a photographer to build a compo with a visual progression up to it, well seen.
Have a nice day JY

Budapestman (41576) 2009-05-28 5:41

Hi Paul,
The photo composed wonderfully, You placed the windmill on the peak of the diagonal composition. The colours and the lights are beautiful. Nostalgia and harmony stream from the sight. Tfs! Have a nice day!
George

UlfE (8937) 2009-05-28 8:27

Hi Paul,

Wonderful scene. I love the diagnol composition and the matching colours of the wings of the windmill and the blooming bushes. TFS and have a nice evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

BelCan75 (2416) 2009-05-28 20:54

Hallo Paul,

Wat een mooie foto van die windmolen. De groene struiken in de voorgrond met die roze bloemetjes zijn zo mooi en volgen bijna de kleuren van de windmolen. Prachtig zicht met knappe kleuren en details! Knap gedaan!

Groetjes,
Ann

lrw1966 (1630) 2009-05-29 8:40

Paul, Hi:

Splendid PoV, amazing colors and clarity with an excellent sky. Very nicely done.

Larry

bukitgolfb301 (4566) 2009-05-29 18:15

Hello my dear Paul

Very strong and impressive landscape photo !
Well considered composition and sharpness.
I think the big portion for sky succeed.
Congratulation on your supper job as usual !
Best regards and thanks for sharing!
Takero

stego (22350) 2009-05-30 12:49

Hi Paul,
So... You also have windmills on top of hills and not only in wide absolutely flat plains. :D
I like very much the view and the POV, as simple as beautiful. The red wings match the little flowers and make a pretty contrast with the blue of the sky and the green of the plants.
Regards,
José

racheltafoya (505) 2009-05-30 14:09

Greetings Paul :)

I really enjoy this image of yours. The red sails of the windmill are suggested but not quite echoed in the dark pink flowers in the foreground bushes. The lighting is perfect to show off the vivid mill against the deep blue sky.

I like that you opted to place the windmill far over to the left in your composition, as this gives a sense of space and draws our gaze to 'look' where it seems like the windmill is looking off to the left.

Very well done!

Warm Regards from California,

Rachel

jbemmels (327) 2009-05-31 13:00

Hi Paul,

I love the perspective on this shot! It is not so common to see a windmill rising out of bushes. It looks like the windmill has just climbe up the hill and is now looking out and enjoying the view.

Cheers!
Jordan

SNOOP_Chan (822) 2009-06-03 1:23

A very simple and yet interesting composition, with the main attraction the mill in the right and a nice contrast between the red on the pales and the sky, wd!

jimkil (528) 2009-06-04 3:49

Hi Paul
A well executed capture, excellent composition with the blades of the windmill standing out well. Clean and crisp capture, and natural colours.
Regards
Jim