Heart of Stone ( View Large )

Like most of my images on here (though not all) it was optimised to be viewed large.  I've done it myself on countless ocassions, looked at something that maybe appeared somewhat dull aand drab, only to find it "come to life"! when I clicked on it.  ManyThanks for taking the time to look Tony, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

MAURIZIO

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

JACQUELINE

If I can communicate a "feeling" to someone when I produce a photograph, then I consider it a measure of success and its most gratifying to read your thoughts regarding this image. I'm very pleased you liked it!

"Choppy but calm looking sea"  sounds like a contradiction in terms, but in fact its quite accurate.  The lighter area's where the surf struck the rocks are rendered smooth by the long exposure.

Sincere Thanks & Warm Regards

Alf

JORG

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments! I think they did get married...........I got called as a witness : - )

Best Regards

Alf

NEIL

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated!

I think B & W photography is quite addictive, and I have got the bug, I'm currently thinking of buying the Nik siver efex software.......heard some great things about it, and seen some spectacular results.

Cheers Neil

Alf

Wonderful lighting and perfect exposure. Tripod and long time, I guess.

Best regards
Eystein

Stunning image Alf, love the tones and the colours. You have definitely mastered your art. I am a big fan of your work.

This shot is also very stunning ( as BW version ) and i prefer this color version for its very warm and special atmosphere. Works on colorful clouds and milky water are awesome and masterful. Including more part of F/G rocks ( as in the bw version ) would be a better decision for this scene, or a vertical format for this inclusion ( and in this way more colorful clouds in the same time ). These are though just imaginations, and without these pure concepts, this masterpiece is already unique. Bravo.

Hamid.

I don't know which one I like more,both are so interesting and mood around them are so strong,the tide makes a little bit of difference in middle and foreground image.BW gives strong impact to viewer and dramatic mood more evident,so I think that what every one like depend of there moment feelings.

My best regards Alf.

You guessed right, 15 seconds as I remember and with a tripod. The tripod I use is a big heavy clunky old thing, but its worth the hassle of carrying around when it comes to getting a steady support amongst al the slippery rocks.

Many Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

BIRTE

I couldn't ask for a better commendation from a more accomplished photographer. Thank you so much!

Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback!

I took numerous shots on this particular evening, even including some vertical format shots that match your suggestion. I quite liked the foreground on this one though. I think someone decribed it as having "luminosity"  and thats what I also found appealing. Of course there is a colour version of the B & W and quite a few other shots to which I could apply your valid observations and suggestions.

Best Regards

Alf

RADU

I know just what you mean, the photo's are similar, but the moods seem very different.  I know what you mean about the tide and the lighter colour that results from the sae crashing against the rocks in these areas. They do add a bit of drama to the shot.  And yes, that is a very astute and valid point, peoples likes and dislikes will depend very much on thier personal circumstances.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

Haven't read any comments yet... 

Gorgeous scene.  I like the static vs the movement of the water.  The light is wonderful -- not only moody but a scene of splendor with the light and color.  There's enough various elements included in the composition to keep one's eyes busy.  I appreciate the rock to "step on" to enjoy this scene and the details of it. Nuanced, smartly composed, cohesive and tempts me to go enjoy the sea

Beautiful shot! Best regards, Ilkka

I know what you mean, its almost a contradiction, the smooth water with the evidence of the movement in the lighter surf.  I kind of  like how the camera has picked up the submerged elements too.  I was tempted to "enjoy" the sea too. I was walking along the wonderful deserted wide expanses of sand (must post a photo of it) and throwing sticks for Gracie the dog, she would dash into the shallows and straight back out again, most of the time without retrieving the stick. I decided in my infinite wisdom : - ) to take my shoes and socks off and lead by example by walking into the sea.  OMG! it was cold, I mean freeeeeeezing cold, I ran back out agan like a wimp, and vowed never to set foot in the North Sea again.  Gracie wasn't dumb eh!

Sincere Thans for your thoughts and positive feedback Donna, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

ILKKA

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words

Best Regards

Alf

Well balanced with the gold light and the milky water and the sharp foreground.  It shows more details and color than your B/W one.  However I love the one in B/W more since the one in B/W shows more power.  I try to explain my feeling but my limited English...  Best Regards,

Thank you so much for your colourful description : - ) Very much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

WANGHAN

Your English is excellent, I know some English people that haven't got such a good grasp of the vocabulary : - )

Yes, I think the colour version conveys a more mellow mood, whilst the B & W communicates more drama perhaps.

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words

Best Regards

Alf

I prefer the color version over the BW one. There is a softness to this heart of stone that you can see only here. The water kind of receded in the BW one and the stones turned into something that looks quite grainy there. So I don't mind you were a bit generous on the saturation throttle here but I don't really enjoy what some kind of sharpening throttle did to the BW.

Regards, Tibi

Alf, This is a very pleasing image and as i always ask of any image: "Is there anything I would do differently". You are aware  that I try to work a scene with several shots. I recently loaded some fall images" back lit maples and "You may kiss the bride" which were taken at the same location and contains the same two trees and yet they are very different.

In the same way but to a lessor degree, I see a second image knowing that the first and original version is just fine 'as is'.  I have very few square format images in my portfolio yet a find my myself identifying a square crop. It is for your perusal and for a discussion point. I could go into the reasons why I did a crop like that but I would prefer that the image speak for itself.

All the very best,

Mnay Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments, much appreciated!

It is interesting to note the B & W version appears more sharp, it was something I noticed in processing them both,  And despite using the same settings, equipment and technique for both shots the results speak for themselves. I suppose on reflection I should have eased back on the "shapening throttle" when it came to the B & W instead I used equal amounts for both.  The grainy look however I think could be the presence of the barnacles on the rocks.  The only realy difference in taking the two images was I moved to a nearer vantage point to take the colour version.

Cheers Tibi!

Alf

TONY

A most insightful rendition and very different version of the original.  I like what you have done here, but stress in a very different way than the original.  You have presented a more "pleasant" version of the shot, with improved lighting to the darker area's and of course the square format. It is very easy on the eye, the lead in of the rocks looks good and I quite like the off-set position of the castle within the frame. What I think it loses to some extent is the mysterious element, it looks perhaps a bit too "nice" if that makes any sense at all, but the square format is surprisingly well suited.  I remember your advice though from a few years ago when I had first joined PN, its one of those little gems of wisdom that has stayed with me. You told me "Always take a few portrait shots as well as landscape orientated shots, portrait shots not only allow a different perspective, but they are more likely to be attractive to a magazine simply because of thier shape"  I haven't forgotton and I did apply your advice once again on this ocassion. I will post one of the results in due course.

Sincere Thanks for your interest and alternative version Tony, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

WOW!! How beautiful, my friend. I love it!!

Cheers

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

Many Thanks & Kind Regards

Alf

Beautiful tones and great lighting. Congrats.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

I prefer this to 'Of Dragons & Dungeons'. I find the latter somewhat bottom-heavy and it has a somber mood (which is not really a minus). Had I seen Of D&D in isolation I think I would have quite liked its ruggedness. Heart of Stone (a great title!) is compositionally better balanced and its mystical appeal is very alluring. 

I think you have most eloquently described the different attributes and consequent moods of each image. It is great to get feeback like this, it gives the photographer a much clearer understanding of the individual preferences and what triggers them.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf