Buttermere Pines

JEFF

Many thanks for your observations and encouraging words.  I'm very honoured that you mentioned Ferdinand Hodlers work in association with this shot. The tree's are also what struck me, the shapes are most unusual, and some of them have bark stripped off making them look even more vulnerable. I'm very pleased you liked it Jeff.

Cheers!

Alf

GRIGORIY

Sincere thanks for your interest and kind words, very much appreciated.

Best Regards

Alf

NEIL

It was one of those frantic moments when sitting at the PC thinking about the limited space on my hard drive and deleting anything that looked suspiciously like a dead file : - )

Sincere thanks for your positive feedback and continued support, much appreciated!

Cheers Neil

Alf

LARRY

Many thanks for your visit and positive comments. I'm really pleased you liked this one. I have to confess I don't know where these colours emerged from. The image looked a bit flat before processing so I added a small amount of contrast, it still looked a bit flat so I tweeked the saturation, and thats when the iridiscent green appeared, I too quite liked the colours and so didn't erase that part of the changes. I also like the fact that there is no sky, the beauty of using a long zoom lens is that quite often you will be presented with a "landscape within a landscape" opportunity that can be capitailised on with a longer lens. ok this was only taken at 70mm, but the effect wouldn't have been quite as good using my usual 16 - 35m.  Spring........ahh yeah I remember that ...just!

Cheers Larry!

Alf

PAUL

Thank you for your interest and positive feedback, much appreciated.

Regards

Alf

TIBI

My sincere thanks for your very eloquent description and encouraging feedback. I'm really pleased you liked this and appreciate your evaluation.

Best Regards

Alf

RASHED

Good Evening!

 Many thanks for your visit and positive feedback, much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Alf

GRANT

Many thanks for stopping by for your encouraging comments.  I know what you mean about Deja` Vu,  you see some images and think ..."I've seen this place before" ...but can never quite make the connection, but just remember......."great minds think alike" : - )

Cheers Grant!

Alf

AZURE

Thank you very much!

Alf

KEITH

Many Thanks for your encouragement and positive feedback, much appreciated.

Cheers mate!

Alf

PATSY

Thanks for looking in, I'm very pleased you liked it Patsy

Kind Regards

Alf

DONNA

I always look forward to hearing from you, your descriptions are so beautiful and unique. This one made me smile the reference to thick liquid and green leaves made me think immediatley of washing up liquid : - )

My sincere thanks for your kind words and feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

LINDA

Sincere thanks for your interest and positive feedback. I think I just got lucky with the watercolor effects, it wasn't intentional and as mentioned before I wasn't even aware of the photo untill I went on a "delete rampage" : - )

Cheers Linda

Alf

STEVE

As mentioned above....the colours more by good luck then good judgement, but I can take the credit for the composition at least : - )

Sincere thanks Steve!

Alf

TRISHA

I'm fairly sure I would never get through the pearly gates. : - )

But I am lucky in having so much beautiful countryside within 0 - 3 hours drive. Of course most places have the potential to be "photo heaven" with the right light, even the most mundane places can look positively exotic. But I always advise...early mornings and late nights for photo's, the light is so much kinder at these times. I'm really pleased you liked this one Trisha.

Sincere Thanks

Alf

MARJOLEIN

Many thanks for your visit and positive feedback, very much appreciated. I think you  have a good point ref: "Raising the bar" And I think it's something that most of us do, even if unconsciously so. We are all our own harshest critics, but I'm beginning to think we are often too hard on ourselves. I think your crop idea is perfectly accurate, I toyed with that and the present one before my final choice, but only because no matter how I tried to crop it, it included more or less tree branches than what I wanted, but I know exactly what you mean, it's a valid observation.

Cheers Marjolein!

Alf

RAMESH

Sincere thanks for your visit and positive feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

LAWRENCE

Good to hear from you I hope you are keeping well!  Many thanks for your encouragment and positive feedback.  "Serene" is a good adjective for this one.

Cheers Lawrence!

Alf

DROR

After seeing your incredible website, I can only say I'm truly flattered by your comments.

Many Thanks

Alf

VALENTINA

My sincere thanks for your invaluable and vivid description of my photo, you are most generous! I'm very pleased you liked it.

Best Regards

Alf

PNINA

Many thanks for your encouraging words and positive feedback. I think you have touched on the very essence of the image, the faint colours are a quiet announcement of the forthcoming spring.

Cheers Pnina!

Alf

JAMIE

Sincere Thanks for stopping by.

No filters used on this one, and you may be suprised to know the image was slightly underexposed. I think the "desaturated" look of the image is mostly due to the light frost and fairly flat light. I also desaturated the image in photoshop, but only as a compensatory measure after applying contrast. I'm really pleased you liked this one!

Cheers Jamie

Alf

EL

Your opinions and comments are very much valued and appreciated.

My Sincere Thanks!

Alf

HAMID

Oooops too late I hit the delete button! : - )

Sincere thanks for your visit, positive feed back and suggestions, very much appreciated! I'm wasn't sure about the colours either, but they seem to work. I haven't changed any of the colours, or the white balance, but they do seem unusual, and if I'm honest, I quite like them as they are. I do like your suggestion for a selective increase in warm tones on the slope I think that could work quite well. Thanks again Hamid for your thorough and honest appraisal.

Best Regards

Alf

Alf...  If you delete any that look like this, just send them to me for inspiration and example.  A wonderful shot with some ethereal lighting.... Mike

Superb shot Alf,this has everything going for it,excellent tones,good composition,amazing reflection,i love that slight ripple in the water,beautiful work ,my compliments

Hi Alf, Well you know I love reflective shots, especially good ones like this. Unfortunately I'm late in viewing this image and most everything else I wanted to say has been said. I very much like the lines and composition and the slope of the hill coming down to the waters edge is also very pleasing to the eye. Take care my friend.

Best Regards,

Holger

Alf, this image is so beautiful like a dream I don't want to wake from :) My mind finds it so pleasing to look at...Thanks for sharing this beauty! Kind regards.

alf, please, it's your images that set a new standard. seriously. this is truly a delight.

this image is the equivalent of a stoppage time winning goal, in front of the kop! what else can you ask for? :-)

came across an new (at least for me) focusing technique. focus of the nearest object, look at the distance markings on the lens, do the same for the furthest object and then turn the focusing ring to the mid point between the two. bang, everything is tack sharp. beats the hyper-focal by a mile.

take care, dror.

I love the colours in this shot, quite subdued but enhanced by the light. The impressionist like reflection adds to the scene but for me, the boldness of the trees against the lighter background works beautifully. Nice work.

Regards........John

What I see on your recent work are two (2) circles, one, formed by the trees slightly right of the center and the other, much bigger, actuallly too big so I can see it only partialy yet consuming almost entire wright half of immage..Entire left part of the immage looks like it is comming out of that circles or leeding us to the center of the circles.. Sure hope I am not the only one to see those for I'll have to meet my shrink..BR,vf

Beautiful work Alf.  I  can never delete an image once it has made it home.  I figure I will never know when I might want it.  Besides a 2T external hard drives are getting cheaper every day.  Glad you kept this one, much to study in this image.  Best regards...

-Dave

So soothing and calming, a visual retreat. This image is a perfect escape from life's stresses. I can see this on the cover of a meditation and relaxation CD.

I was surprised to see the date that you shot this. I thought the weather would be cold and gloomy in the UK at this time of year. Who knew it would be a pastel, spring paradise? My eyes were first drawn to the colours; the peaceful shades of blue, green, turquoise, with a hint of magenta are enchanting and refreshing. I can smell spring in the air when I close my eyes. The reflection is wonderful, so cool and watery, like a Monet. The pines are interesting. I have never seen pines like this before.

Your work is always inspirational. This one is going into My Favorites.

Best wishes,

Linda

MIKE

I'll fill your recycle bin with my waste landscapes, if you send me your unused portrait and nature shots : - )

I appreciate your encouragement Mike!

Best Regards

Alf

HARRY

Many thanks for your visit and positive feedback, much appreciated!  I think a ripple like this just adds a certain texture to an image. I was initially looking for a perfectly still shot with no movement at all on the water, but after soem consideration I'm glad the shots I took turned out the way they did,

Cheers Harry!

Alf

HOLGER

Good to hear from you I hope you are keeping well!

I think we share a couple of passions in photography, well the 2 I can think of is Lighthouses and Reflections. ( Come to think of it I've just finished processing a shot that has both)

I appreciate you positive feedback and encouragement, many thanks Holger.

Best Regards

Alf

ANABELA

Sincere thanks for your interest and positive feedback, I kind of feel like that when the alarm clock goes for work : -)

Seriously though, I'm very pleased you like it.

Best Regards

Alf

DROR

Wow! After those comments I feel like pulling my shirt over my head and doing a lap of honour! : - ) My Sincere Thanks!

That focusing technique seems to make a whole lot more sense that the "Hyper Focal Calculator" type things. Thanks for that info I'll give it a go!

Oh I have tried that "High Pass" filter system a few times now and yeah it works very well, I'm pleased with the results.

Cheers Dror!

Alf

JOHN

Many Thanks for your kind words and positive feedback. It was the strange shape of the tree's that made me pause at the delete button, the image itself looked a bit flat in it's RAW state, but seemed to come alive when it was processed.

Cheers John!

Alf

VLADIMIR

If you book an appointment with your shrink......book one for me too as I thnk I'm seeing them too! : - )

Many thanks for stopping by and for your in depth analysis, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

DAVE

I get in one of those "delete mode" moods and everything gets trashed, well not everything of course, but I do try and be a bit ruthless with RAW files. I'd love to keep everything, and maybe when I get more time on my hands I will, but processing RAW files is so time consuming, but ultimately more rewarding than shooting in Jpeg. I'm really pleased you liked this one Dave, and appreciate your positive feedback!

Best Regards

Alf

LINDA

Sincere thanks for your encouragement and positive feedback, very much appreciated.

It's still quite cold here, and a chance of more snow, some frosty mornings etc. But there is also a promise of spring, the days are getting noticeably longer. It still does have it's "gloomy" rainy day moments, particularly noticeable when your in the City. But nothing like the temperatures you have Linda, I think our winter is a lot shorter and less harsh than yours. The "spring paradise" was just a promise, an afternoon of warmth and sunlight, next day was back to reality and the rain! The Pines fascinated me also, particularly the shapes, I'm not quite sure of the species but think it might be a variety of Scots Pine

I'm so pleased you liked this one Linda you describe it so well, and I'm very honoured that you considered it a favourite.

Best Regards

Alf

I think this colors in this composition make it quite unique. It is subtle yet the tones are very complimentary.  Quite a scenic spot, as per usual, you did some lovely editing, (one day I wish!!) and sometimes you have to use colors that may not be the ones you use the most in your 'crayon box'.  Well done Alf, sincere regards, GAil

Coming to this discussion so late I doubt I can add anything constructive which hasn't already been addressed.  Though this one is to be enjoyed as a stand-alone my curiosity wonders what the inclusion of more of the hills behind (without showing any sky area) would reveal.  Not in any way is that to be construed as a criticism as this one, as is, should be printed, appropriately framed, and displayed prominently.  Many of my most satisfying images happen when I stop the car & walk around a bit to investigate more closely that which caused me to stop in the first place. The pastel colours are indeed beautiful and they reflect wonderfully.  Good decision!  For someone relatively new to photography you sure are a quick study.  Best, LM.

Hola Alf.

Una panorámica muy bella, los reflejos en el lago son fantásticos. Gran trabajo.

Un cordial saludo, Joaquín.

Very artistic idea and result, my dear friend!

Beautiful image Alf.  I love the colors and the mood of serenity you captured.  The patterns in the background hill add much interest to this shot, i like how the lines swerve and the colors change throughout the background.  The fact that you even consider deleting this shot proves that you set the bar very high for yourself, i think most of us would be delighted with such a photo and it would have made it an instant keeper.  Regards always - michel 

Heavens forbid! delete? Absolutely not! Soft attractive light and the result is beautiful. Color Balance? H-m-m-m? It is not as warm as the other shot in this area but still very attractive. Congrats!

Alf, the way the light is playing across the surfaces reminds me of fine crystal with subtle swirls of colors on the hillside also being reflected in the water, the tall elegant trees serving as the cut work in the glass.  

Alf, another splendid piece of landscape, love the exquisite composition, subtle colors, fine-lines ... as great as classic painting, love it!    Best regards

Very nice photo.

I really like the tilted line if tree and the reflection and the colored backround.  The reflection helps to fill the frame and bance the composition.

GAIL

I can't even begin to explain the colours in this shot, they look so different from nearly every other shot I took that day. The only reason I can think of is that I was standing in the shadow of the hills, and the light was quite flat. I think my "crayon box" is a very small insignificant affair compared to your creative compedium of colours : - )

Sincere thanks for your visit and positve feedback Gail.

Best Regards

Alf

LEN

Your imput and invaluable experience is a most welcome addition to the discussion. I didn't crop much from the shot as I was shooting with a 70 - 300, and not my usual 16 - 35mm. But I did take some later, albeit from a slightly different perspective, that reveals a bit more of the surrounding hills. I can empathise with your sentiments about  stopping the car and walking about......usually if it's worth stopping for, it's worth photographing. I have ordered a few prints of the former sdubmission "Dreams of Tranquility" taken in the same location, but oddly hadn't considered this one in print untill you mentioned it.......hmmm I think  I might just do that. I've still got a lot to learn Len, but I suppose my passion for the subject makes me a keen student. Many thanks for your interest and positive feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

Hola JOAQUIN

Un agradecimiento sincero por su interes y los comentarios positivos , muy  apreciado

Saludos

Alf

MAURIZIO

Many thanks for your visit and kind comments.

Best Regards

Alf

MICHEL

Good to hear from you I hope you are keeping well!

I think you are right about "setting the bar high" but suspect I'm not alone, I think we are all quite critical of our own work, sometimes maybe not giving ourselves enough credit. But then thats where this site helps address the balance, you get a good insight from peoples reactions as to just how acceptable an image really is. Sincere thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Michel.

Best Regards

Alf

TONY H

Many thanks for your interest and encouragement, much appreciated!

I do get into these moods ocassionly when I don't like anything I've done, nothing looks good enough and images are getting deleted left right and centre, thankfully it doesn't last too long: - )    I'm never very confident with tinkering with colour balance, so I try to leave it be, and concentrate instead on WB, I also suspect the light was a bit more flat when I took this shot, as I was standing directly in the shadow of the near hills. Thanks again Tony!

Regards

Alf

TONY F

Thats an interesting and attractive analogy, I like it. Many thanks for your positive feedback and encouragement.

Best Regards

Alf

RICHARD

Sincere thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate you feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

VINCENZO

I think it was the reflections that first caught my attention also, the very slight ripple adding some painterly textures that seemed entirley suited to the colours. My sincere thanks for sharing your thoughts and for your positive feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

Amazing landscape shot Alf!!!!!! Excellent tones and details!!!!!!

Many people have already commented on the colours, the blue, green and rust are very appealing in this combination and also quite unusual.  The reflection is excellent and your composition and framing really draw the viewer in.  Lots of interesting elements!

Jim

Hi Alf

Outstanding landscape. Amazing colors and composition. I love how the light is coming down the hill. Very beautifull. Congratulations.

My best regards. Cosmin

Very impressive work with excellent colours and lighting, Alf!