Benbow Inn and Eel River

[Michael Fraley]

Here's some pictures taken at a country inn with my Yashicamat 124-G and Fuji Reala 100 film. We visited the area at Christmas and it's a different feeling than in the summer. I enjoyed the morning walks with a camera

The back yard of the inn, and an old stone bridge over the Eel River




The Eel River bank




I liked the morning fog on the Eel




Relaxing by the fireplace...




A little too rainy & cold for meals on the patio, nice in the summer though..




Last one, the stairs going down to the river bank



Thanks for looking,
Michael

[herron]

Those are some beautiful pictures. I love the atmosphere of a rainy, foggy day, and some of these do an excellent job of capturing it. The light often seems to make the colors bolder and more saturated too.

The placement of the white teapot to set off the dark chess pieces from the background is nice, too. Is that your set and table? I've been an avid chess player since I was 12, and have been a member of the US Chess Federation for 35 years.

[John Parry]

Lovely pictures Michael. I too like the mist on the river and the chess set and teapot.

The Benbow Inn! There's a name to conjure with!

"Brave Benbow lost his legs,
And all on his stumps he begged,
Fight on, my English lads
'Tis our lot, 'tis our lot"

A particular hero of the common seamen; as the song relates, Admiral Benbow was abandoned by two of his Captains during an engagement with a superior French naval force. Despite losing his legs by chain shot, he went on to win the battle, and then proceeded to hunt down his missing Captains. One died of fever, but the other was court-marshalled and hanged. Benbow eventually died of his wounds. They don't make 'em like that any more!

Regards - John

[Michael Fraley]

Thanks guys! Ron, the teapot and chess set were sitting on an end table in front of the fire. There's a common room with a big fireplace and the guests tend to congregate there. It's a pleasant place to do puzzles, read a book, or just watch the fire. The board and teapot had been left there and it was dim light but I thought I'd try a picture. I play chess and enjoy it, but I'm afraid I'm no competition for an advanced player. You'd have me tied up in knots in no time!

John, thanks for the ballad and story! Gruesome but moving story. I think this inn has more of a Robin Hood association -- their logo is an archer with a pointed cap. It's a hodge-podge of assocations and styles, they mix a lot of antique periods and decor. I think a purist would find it disturbing but to me it's kind of charming and very early 1900's.

[mickeyobe]

There was an Admiral Benbow Inn where the old sea dog stayed in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Your photos are beautiful. I particularly like the first one, of the bridge and the last picture with the stairway.

Mickey

[Peter S.]

Hi Michael,

my favourites are 2, 3 and the last. But the chess board is very good, too. Featuring such a
beautiful background blurriness. It might have been even a bit better, if the foreground
corner were sharp - but I don't know whether You had Your tripod at hand. (My wife doesn't
like me to carry the tripod with me - so I use it less frequent than I otherwise would. And I
know the trouble with too shallow DoF all too well).

All these photographs make me with to use a MF/LF format, too.

Best regards
Peter

[doubs43]

Super pictures. The stone bridge reminds me a little of the Burnside Bridge over Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, MD, where the famous battle was fought. I like the mood of the patio shot too. Rain, mist and fog add atmosphere that is wonderful when captured just right. You did.

Walker

[chrisy]

Yes great pics,I must get my 635 off the shelf and try a few shots with the same film
regards Chris