Kennecot Mill and Powerplant Photo

Photographer’s Note

Click here to see more of the Images from my Alaska Trip 2008 (External link to Flickr!).

This image has been tone mapped from a single Canon RAW file to bring out the full range of tones and compensate for the dull light.

Kennecott, also known as Kennecott Mines or AHRS Site No. XMC-001, is an abandoned mining camp in Alaska that was the center of activity for several copper mines between 1911 and 1938. Discovered in 1905 the main mines soon turned out to be the richest known concentrations of copper in the world. On April 8, 1911, the first ore train hauled $250,000 of ore with a concentration of 70% copper!!!

The 14 story copper mill building you can see in the photo is surprising well preserved, despite being abandoned since 1938! You might get an idea of the size of it from the photograph. It is still the tallest wooden structure in the US and you can visit it as part of a guided tour of the camp.

The roof and chimneys on the right are part of the mining camp powerplant that was needed to run this energy hungry industry.

The camp and mines were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

rey316, pauloog, cebe has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

rey316 (1900) 2009-02-03 11:15

Hi Hauke
Good job. Good information to photos. Exact details and good sharpness. Beautiful colors
Good luck
Andrey

pauloog (6354) 2009-02-03 12:03

Hello Hauke,
An interesting view well composed with the diagonal of the buildings. Beautiful clear colours despite the lack of sunlight. Interesting too with a good note.
Regards,
Paul

cebe (160) 2009-02-03 13:21

Hello Hauke. Although I've never been to this mine, I know the place and have seen many pictures of it (that's because I lived up there for a while). Yours is very good. Good composition and the low clouds bring an atmosphere. Also well exposed and nice presentation. Claude.

Greg1949 (8507) 2009-02-04 4:18

Hauke, this is a WOW shot, the color is superb and the composition plus the atmospherics is just fantastic. Great capture and a nice album on the end of your link.

Greg