farlymac
PF McFarland
With only a few frames of Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100 left in the Zorki-3 with Jupiter-8 2/50 after the ICCD shoot, I headed up to Covington, VA the next day to get some shots of the West-Rock paper mill. You can smell the place many miles before you ever get there. If the wind is right, we can even get a whiff of it down in Roanoke.
Other than the previously documented problem with the rangefinder (vertical way out, and can’t be fixed), it handles quite nicely. My Zorki-6 is like a tin can compared to the Z-3, even though that is just in feel, not operation. And the Jupiter-8 is a fine lens. Check out the center crop from the last image.
I must say, as much as I don’t care for the smell of the place, a paper mill is still fascinating. Miles of piping, tanks of who knows what all over the place, and the huge blocks of buildings that house the machinery that makes the things we cannot do without. But I could do without the smell.
Coming into view as you roll down US-220

US-220 in Covington, VA by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Big industry needs big power. Note the electrical sub-station for just this section.

West-Rock View 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The JacksonRiver bisects the plant, supplying water for processing wood pulp, and cooling the machinery.

West-Rock View 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The cranes are needed to replace old machinery, or for new installations.

West-Rock View 3 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Last frame on the roll, and this antique fire truck came roaring by. I had to wait for it to clear the trees first, so this was the best I could get of it.

Antique Covington FD Truck by P F McFarland, on Flickr
However, a crop from the center shows just how good the Jupiter-8 is.

Antique Covington FD Truck Cropped by P F McFarland, on Flickr
PF
Other than the previously documented problem with the rangefinder (vertical way out, and can’t be fixed), it handles quite nicely. My Zorki-6 is like a tin can compared to the Z-3, even though that is just in feel, not operation. And the Jupiter-8 is a fine lens. Check out the center crop from the last image.
I must say, as much as I don’t care for the smell of the place, a paper mill is still fascinating. Miles of piping, tanks of who knows what all over the place, and the huge blocks of buildings that house the machinery that makes the things we cannot do without. But I could do without the smell.
Coming into view as you roll down US-220

US-220 in Covington, VA by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Big industry needs big power. Note the electrical sub-station for just this section.

West-Rock View 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The JacksonRiver bisects the plant, supplying water for processing wood pulp, and cooling the machinery.

West-Rock View 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The cranes are needed to replace old machinery, or for new installations.

West-Rock View 3 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Last frame on the roll, and this antique fire truck came roaring by. I had to wait for it to clear the trees first, so this was the best I could get of it.

Antique Covington FD Truck by P F McFarland, on Flickr
However, a crop from the center shows just how good the Jupiter-8 is.

Antique Covington FD Truck Cropped by P F McFarland, on Flickr
PF
oftheherd
Veteran
I envy you the opportunities to find and visit and photograph such places.
I envy your eye as well.
I envy your eye as well.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Don't envy my eye. I've got too many floaters in it.
PF
PF
Robert Lai
Well-known
Is this the same town where O. Winston Link made his famous "Old Maude bows before the Virginia Creeper"?
farlymac
PF McFarland
Is this the same town where O. Winston Link made his famous "Old Maude bows before the Virginia Creeper"?
No, that is Green Cove, about 105 miles to the southwest of Covington.
PF
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