Veils of Derwent (View Large)

SAM

Many thanks for your interest and positive feedback, I'm really pleased you connected with the image in this way.

Best Regards

Alf

RICHARD

Sincere thanks for your comments and great feedback, very much appreciated! We startedour journey at 4.30am to arrive at dawn and yes I concur, it was definately worth it. I can see the logic in your suggested crop in terms of balance, and it was something I also considered, but I was afraid to make it look too symmetrical, but I appreciate your invaluable imput, I might try a more symmetrical approach for the next posting.

Best Regards

Alf

WANGHAN

Many Thanks for your feedback, I'm really pleased you liked this one.

Best Regards

Alf

MICHEL

This whole area is a photograph waiting to happen, every corner you turn is a picture postcard, the only catch is that the weather can be appalling and the light conditions the same, but catch it right and its photography heaven. I can see what you mean with the stones being parallel to the frame and it is a fair observation, Idealy they would have formed a leading triangle, but you have to deal with what nature provides, and I did just that. The perspective didn't allow for much movement either side, as thier were undesirable objects in the way, although I could have easilly missed the boulders out altogether, and in fact I have on several shots that I will post later, and of course I'd appreciate your advice and comments when I do. Sincere thanks for all your feedback Michel.

Best Regards

Alf

NEIL

Sincere thanks for your comments and posiitve feedback, much appreciated! Its been one of those years Neil, wind, rain, and none of the elements doing whats expected, I had to get lucky at some point and this is the result, I got more pleasing shots in 2 hours than I think I have achieved for the rest of the year. Glad you liked this one Neil.

Best Regards

Alf

RUUD

Many Thanks for your kind words and posiitve feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

JOHN

Thank you sincerely for your interest and invaluable feedback. You have echoed my thoughts in thier entirety regarding the reasoning behind the inclusion of the boulders.

Best Regards

Alf

JOAQUIN

Hola! Muchas gracias por su interes y amables comentarios, estos eran mis pensamientos tambien.

Saludos cordialis

Alf

RAMESH

Many thanks for your interest and keen eye.  It does indeed look like the bouders are floating, I think this is a result of the very shallow water and the close up clarity.

Best Regards

Alf

GAIL

Sincere thanks for your comments and the really eloquent way you have expressed them. Some people measure the success of a photograph by the technical rights and wrongs, for others it is the amount of ratings, but for me and I suspect a lot of other people it is when people can connect with the image that I get the most satisfaction. Your description of just how this image touched you is most gratifying, and I'm really pleased you felt the same kind of magic that I did when I was standing there.

Warm Regards

Alf

HAMID

Many Thanks for your invaluable feedback and insightful comments. I could easilly clone out the small boulder to the right, but whilst I agree it doesn't necesarilly add anything to the scene, I don't think it detracts anything either.

You have raised a couple of very good points regarding the sizing of the image. The reason I upload the images so large is to allow the viewer a chance to explore the detail. I sometimes look at other images on PN and wish they were larger. My monitor is 24" and it the images I upload fills my screen, but you are right, it might be difficult for other viewers to see the image in its entirety in the larger view and I will take this on board in future. As for unscrupulous people mis - using these images, well the law is on my side and I'll use it if I have to, but hopefully I won't have to.  Thank you once again for your suggestions my friend. I will definitely bear them in mind, particularly in view of monitor sizes.

Best Regards

Alf

ALBERTO

I'm really pleased you liked this one, and thank you so much for stopping by!

Kind Regards

Alf

PATSY

Many thanks for your visit and for sharing your thoughts, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf 

LESTER

Thanki You! I really appreciate your thoughts and invaluable feedback, so far I think most people approve of the stones inclusion, I quite like them myself, they seem to provide a key for the rest of the image.

Cheers Lester

Alf

GARY

My sincere thanks for providing......well, so much more than a critique maybe more of a phsychological profile of the image, that contains therein information that I otherwise wouldn't have known or considered.

1. Yes I follow the logic of this analogy

2. Your explanation regarding the minds interpretation of a barrier is fascinating. I think Michel touched upon this very subject earlier. I wasn't consciously aware of the "barrier" effect of foreground items to this degree,  though on some unconscious plane I usually tend to look for leading lines, that would very much fall into your description of "angled" rocks or of "varying distance", on this occasion it simply wasn't possible.

Your in depth explanations have helped tremendously, not only applicable to the merits of this scene, but also providing information that I can use when making similar decisions when behind the camera.

I have also taken multiple images of this scene without the foreground rocks relying on the mirror image and mist effect as the general strong elements of aesthetics, and I'd really appreciate a comparative analogy if you have time. I will be posting one in the not too distant future.

I know what you mean about the "floating" effect, I can only assume this was a result of the very shallow water, and most of the rock was above the water line. The shore, which consisted of small muddy looking stones, was about 18" from the rocks, in the original shot they were included, but they were minimal in size and looked untidy hence the crop.

I'm really pleased you approve.

Thanks again and Best Regards

Alf

RASHED

Sincere thanks for your interest and kind words, much appreciated. I think it was all about the timing, the morning light was gentle and the flat calm conditions was all I could wish for.

Best Regards

Alf

WOLFGANG

Many thanks for your interest, thoughts and imput. I tend to agree with you, in as much as a too symmetrical looking shape to a landscape can look boring, maybe theres a possiblity of removing the RH stone without cropping using the clone tool, but in all honesty I don't think it detracts too much from the shot as it is either.

Best Regards

Alf

BEN

Thank you so much for your kind comments and valuable feedback. I think most people would concur with your views Ben and I am one of them, but I'd like you to take a look at one of the shots I took without the foreground rocks, I will post it within the next week.

I will take a closer look at the "noise" element Ben and thank you for your observations.

Kind Regards

Alf

MARJOLIEN

It is always interesting and a great pleasure to read your thoughts, you write them so eloquently with such sincerity. Your impression of the image is correct, not a leaf on a tree rustled not a hair on a horses tail moved, it was very still and calm (oh joy!)  I had waited so long for such calm conditions and at last got some results. I can see your "abstract" view and how you would arrive at those thoughts, but I have similar images where there are no foreground boulders and I think thats where the abstract impression will be even stronger. The impression of the "floating" rocks is due to the very shallow water and most of the rock being above the water line ( I think) It was a magical morning in terms of colours, light and conditions. Sincere thanks for your views and invaluable feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

EYSTEIN

Many thanks for your interest and positive feedback, it would seem like the stones get the vote.

Kind Regards

Alf 

JAMIE

I like that analogy of the "Japanese Stone Garden", they have a common theme of tranquility. Sincere thanks for your interest and invaluable feedback, and I'm truly honoured that you consider this a favourite.

Best Regards

Alf

RICHARD

You know this area far better than I fear I ever will, but I don't think this was taken in the area you referred to. I walked to the moored boats from the car park and then carried on to the left, I come to an elevated viewing area and then back- tracked a few yards and scrambled down the tree roots to the shore line and took the shots from this point.  Sincere thanks for your comments and feedback Richard and also the great insight to this area that your images provide.

Best Regards

Alf

VICTOR

Thank you sincerely for your most generous comments, much appreciated. I think the vote f

Hello Alf

Picture with high potential. Nice soft tones underlines the calmness, too. There is a balance here. But I wonder how it would work if you cropped it a bit tighter on the right. The small stone on the right might get to much attention. Still a very nice shot Alf.

Kind regards

Bela Dick

Again, 

Excellent use of light  and composition.

Never disappointed with you.

thanks for sharing,

warm regards, 

Isabelle 

alf,

don't have much to add to gary's outstanding analysis. still, i would like to add how much enjoy seeing your posts and would like to express my support of your outstanding efforts.

this is really hauntingly beautiful.

Hi Alf,   This is a wonderful image.  Sorry if I repeat others comments, I don't have the time right now to read everything posted.  You prove that light and contrast create art.  The color and softness of the sky and reflected water and bit of fog create a wonderful mood, but its the integration of the foreground rocks in bold sharp contrast that make the image special to me.  You DOF is also right and and gives a sense of distance.   Great shot, Alf - I hope this does as well printed as it shows up on the screen.  The best to you.  

Larry

Alf, I like the careful emphasis on the foreground and the way the reflected clouds highlight the three sets of rocks/boulders. The subtle layers of the veiled mountains in the background works really well. The stillness of the water is slightly eerie in the way is gives an almost exact mirror of the mountains of the background.  The  reflection also emphasizes the strong horizontal movement as does the way you framed and cropped the shot.  

BELA

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts and suggestions, very much appreciated. I think the suggested crop would work ok, I have experimented with it and it looks good. My only concern is that it looks a bit too symmetrical that way, and I think I prefer slightly offset composition as it is. I don't think there any right or wrong here though, both of them work well, the rest is just a matter of personal preference.

Best Regards

Alf

ISABELLE

Many Thanks for your observations and feedback, I'm really pleased you like it.

Best Regards

Alf

DROR

Good to hear from you and my sincere thanks for your continued interest and support. Garys analysis was something else eh? It's great to get any feedback, but that was an education. I'm really pleased you like this one, I have quite a few from this particular morning. I will send you some sneak previews, I always appreciate your honesty and imput.

I won't give you a prediction this time for the Sunderland Game, but suffice to say, there are three points for the taking!

Thanks for stopping by and my Best Regards

Alf

LARRY

Sincere Thanks for your imput and valuable feedback. I was very fortunate, the light mist on the water allowed a certain amount of visibility, just enough in fact to be able to capture some definition from the islands and mountains. The inclusion of the foreground boulders remained a question in my mind whilst I was there, and in the end I opted for the safe bet and took several shots, some with, some without. I suppose both have merit, albeit in different ways. I will post a sample of the "without boulders" shots in the not too distant future and hopefully will get some feedback regarding the comparisons. I have considered having this one printed, but maybe I'll wait a while........who knows there may be more : - )

Cheers Larry and thanks again!

Alf

TONY

Many Thanks for your invaluable feedback and observations. I have waited for such calm conditions for almost 9 months, and at last got my wish. The "eerie" stillness that you mention was almost tangible as I stood there at the crack of dawn, not a leaf rustled, not a sound of a bird, it all changed when a swimmer swam past .........I watched in somewhat disbelief particularly as there were 2 dogs accompanying the swimmer.....still each to thier own I suppose. The consequential ripples faded and all was quiet once more......except for the clicking of my camera.

Cheers Tony!

Alf

magnificent photo. very fine light, and nice pastel colors, perfect composition. subjectively i would prefer it with the rocks as it is here. without them it would be a completely different picture, that would be also very good but still i vote on this one. best regards.

Beautifully composed and exposed. 

I'm not  going to try to  channel Freud here and just say I like it!

Your story line adds a lot of interest to this image.  Thanks.

Hi Alf,

This image is a result of using a fine lens well.

Technically, a fine example of what a high quality Nikkor zoom can yield.

Best Regards,  Mike

excellent shot, very pleasent tones.... i also like the simmetry in foreground

Wonderful, Alf! So peaceful...just what I seemed to need to see at the moment...:) Thank you so much for sharing this beauty of nature!!!

Hello Alf,

It's great seeing you again after my prolonged absence. Thanks for your great comment in my latest posts. I appreciate your feedback very much.

This is a very soothing image with nice subtle colours and reflections. 

I like the balance very much in the composition.

Best regards,

Yan

This is magnificent Alf.  Apart from the excellent composition, light and  pastel colours, I like the receding contrast from foreground to background giving it three dimensionality.  Lovely reflections in the water too. I especially like the good use you made of the rocks in front, anchoring the composition with a heavy dark base.  Well done for this very pleasant  and relaxing scene and best regards.

Alf...  I'm late to this party, but I wanted to add that this scene has a wonderfully serene atmosphere, very calming and peaceful.  An excellent image for the doctor's office and/or the study... Mike

I'm even later:-))) Anyway mate this is one super shot..the tones are magnificent and the reflection of the red clouds in the lake are awesome...This is one big thumbs up for me...well done mate!

I will still add a line or two, even if most certainly in the long series of comments above it may have been said and even repeated. Well, the repetition of the reflection theme in the foreground boulders and in the background is what makes your picture outstanding. There is a gradation of tones from warm to cool that would also be lost in a cropped version. Fantastic landscape!

Regards, Tibi

ZSOLT

Many Thanks for your valuable imput and feedback. You are right of course, the image takes on a totally different set of values without the foreground rocks. I have taken quite a few without the rocks so I'm able to compare them side by side. I will post a couple soon as an excercise in comparisons.

Best Regards

Alf

STEVE

Thats more than good enough for me! I'm really pleased you like it. I always think its good to read a littl ebit of background about a particular location or circumstances surrounding the capture of the image.

Sincere Thanks

Alf

MIKE

This lens is so well made and with such amazing technical qualities, it even makes my shots look good. I think its got ot be my favourite lens.

Many Thanks Mike

Alf

NIKI

Many Thanks for your observations and kind words, much appreciated! I suppose there is a kind of odd symmetry regarding the stones, they are in pairs of similar size, couples you might say, hmmmm just gave me an idea for an alternative title "Stone Love"

Cheers Niki

Alf

ANABELA

Thank you so much for your interest and kind words. I know just what you mean though, sometimes a bit of "photo therapy" is what the mind craves for most.

Best Wishes

Alf

YANNIK

Its very good to see you back posting such wonderful images. Many thanks for your interest and support for my work, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

JOHN

Sincere thanks for your interest and invaluable feedback. I think you touched on a valid point regarding the "Receding Contrast" I have in the past totally ruined the atmosphere of an image by tweaking the contrast of the whole image to an extent where the misty element of the mid and distance is minimilised. I am now careful to use contrast and even sharpening selectively when processing these type of shots.

Best Regards

Alf

MIKE

Always good to hear from you and many thanks for your feedback, very much appreciated. "Doctors Office" .......maybe I missed my vocation in life, I could have offerred "photo therapy" : - )

Cheers!

Alf

KEITH

I don't care how late you are, what matters is you took the trouble to comment and share your thoughts with some great positive feedback. My sincere thanks for doing so!

Cheers mate!

Alf

TIBI

No two comments are exactly the same, well not in this case, and you have touched on a couple of points worthy of consideration. The repetition of the reflection theme is something I hadn't previously considered even though it is staring me in the face. I agree that cropping this image would be detrimental to the overall effect of the tones and the loss of the stones as a foreground focal point would also be a step backwards. However I do have some shots that are taken without the stones that take on a totally different mood and atmosphere, still visually pleasing I believe, but different. I also have a shot of a very nearby island that could be considered as a barrier to the rest of the scene, and whilst this is probably the most "wrong" image from a composition viewpoint, it is also the one that attracts me most from the whole series. I haven't posted these yet, but will do so in the next few days. Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback Tbi.

Best Regards

Alf

Alf, you have captured a beautiful scene. This is a stunner. The cloud formation, the clear water and the lovely blue and pink sky with its wispy clouds speak of peace and tranquility. There is also the feeling of mystery. The exposure is excellent, all of the elements balance perfectly. The rocks add a feeling of depth. Superb work!

Best wishes, Linda

Bella, muy bella. Perfecta en la distribucion de volumenes. Las piedras rompen la perfecta simetria y le dan mucha profundidad. ES una gran obra. Saludos.

Hi Alf,  

  Your work is one of the things I missed the most while away from this site these past few months. This photo is sheer peace and calm in MHO. I'm glad you included the boulders in the foreground, I think they balance the image as well as lending color and breaking the overall blue tone. As usual, outstanding work. Take care my friend.

Best Regards,

Holger

Stunning shot: crisp yet soft, depth, tranquility and the rock on the side to promote visual inoculation against too much discussion. (*_*).

As other said this rocks chosen in your composition make a lot here,this balance all image that otherwise would be flat,so I say compliments for this work and idea to do this so.

RC

Fascinating image, Alf...wonderful light and colors...my best

LINDA

Good to hear from you I hope you are keeping well! This is one of my favourite places at my favourite time of day, the conditions were perfect, all I had to do was click the shutter and remember to take the lens cap off : - ) The composition was a bit of a dilema, easilly overcome by taking a multitude of images at varing focal lengths and formats. The question of the composition has sparked some excellent feedback for which I'm truly thankful for, my next uploads will be comparisons that again question the composition and in particular the question of foreground elements as barriers. Sincere Thanks for your thoughts Linda I really appreciate your honest feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

GALLEGO

Many Thanks for your interest and for sharing your thoughts, very much appreciated.

Saludos

Alf

HOLGER

Good to see you back posting more work Holger! Thank you for your interest and thoughtful analysis of this image. I think you have noted an interesting aspect of the image, in the "breaking the overall blue tone" comment. It's not something I did consciously so I can't really take a lot of credit for it, the composition of the rocks being of more importance to me at the time, but I'm glad that it worked out that way, the contrasting warm colour of the rocks makes a difference I think.

Warm Regards

Alf

TONY

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, I think I'm going to steal that phrase "visual inoculation"  ; - ) I'm really grateful for all the feedback though, it helps me understand what pleases and why, and indeed sometimes why not.

Cheers Tony!

Alf

RADU

Many Thanks for your vote of confidence, it would seem that the popular consensus of opinion would embrace the idea of the foreground rocks, without them the values of the image change dramaticaly, hopefully I will be able to demonstrate these theories in my next couple of postings.

Best Regards

Alf

KALLOL

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

Best Regards

Alf