Wuthering Heights

Alf... I came back to say Happy New Year and all the best for 2014.

Museeb

Very best Wishes to you also! 

Alf 

Alf.....To me this image creates a feeling of solitude, but the warmth of the light also gives a feeling of hope. " and in my mind I still need a place to go, all my changes were there. " (Neil Young.) Thanks for sharing. Best regards, Bob.

Hi Alf

 Firstly I must congratulate you on getting "Image of the Day" and what a superb image it is too, particularly when viewed large!

 The single most thing I love about your images is your ability to capture the scene so remarkably well, that the viewer is drawn in.  

 I love the title too, It conjures up visions of Heathcliff and Cathy sat under the solitary tree on "Wuthering Heights" the wind howling across the open expanse of land.

 I absolutely love everything about this image, it is extremely well composed and aesthetically pleasing. 

 As a learning photographer I should maybe care for the technical side, however, the technical side is irrelevant when I cast my eyes over such a visually stunning image!

Well done Alf and thanks for sharing :)

 Warmest regards

 Jacqueline

Hi Alf,

Nice one.  Very well composed; I like the rocks leading to the tree in two ways.  You have contained the sun flare very well (I do see a double circle near the sun when viewed very large).  I have read that the 14-24 can be a challenge sometimes re flare; is that your experience?  Also, just wondering the approximate distance to the foremost tuft of grass in the left corner and the right-central rock?  We all know Mike P's position on shooting wide open; but I'm wondering if you had shot at f/2.8 would the entire image have been in focus?  Regards, Jeff

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback! 

The North Yorkshire Moorland can be a bleak place, particularly in the winter, but it brings with it a mood of solitude as you observed and I think the tree itself kind of refuses to succumb to the harshest of elements and clings to precious life.

Best Regards 

Alf 

JACQUELINE 

Sincere Thanks for your most encouraging and thoughtful comments! 

I agree with you it is easy to imagine Heathcliffe and Cathy within this scene, and the drama that unfolds! 

The aesthetics of a image is what myself and like minded landscape photographers strive to achieve. Something that you want to hang on your wall, something that captures the imagination in a pleasing way, so for me aesthetics will always come first whilst the technical details are merely a means to an end.  

That doesn't undermine the importance of learning about the technicalities of producing an image, but merely puts it into some perspective from a personal point of view. 

Thanks again Jacqueline

Warmest Regards 

Alf 

JEFF 

Many Thanks for your thoughts, kind words and points of interest you have raised. 

I can't say that I have experienced an undue amount of flare with this lens, in fact it is a great improvement in this respect over the Sigma 10 - 24 mm that I used to use. 

The distance of the tuft of grass to the left would be about 2ft 6" and the right-central rock about 3ft - 4ft. I would seriously doubt if the whole image would have been in focus using a wide open aperture with elements in such close proximity.

I have used this lens at F/ 5.6 in similar circumstances with a great deal of success, and I have used the Nikon 24 - 70 mm for a landscape shot @ f/ 2.8 with great sharpness throughout, but in that case the focal length was 60 mm and there was no close foreground elements. 

Best Regards 

Alf 

Thanks for your reply, Alf.  Certainly reaffirms that photography has many elements of trade-off.  Once again, great photo!  Jeff 

As always! Great lighting and scene chosen! Brilliantly composed! Pure perfection! Speechless!

Best regards, Alf!

PDE

I completely agree, photography is but a series of compromises.

Thanks Jeff.

Alf 

PIERRE 

I can't believe my photograph could render the Great Pierre Dumas speechless! ....................well certainly not for long : - ) 

My Sincere Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

Really quite a beautiful sight Alf. I love old 'knarly trees' - big bonus when you have such interesting landscape within the scene as well!! You always inspire me Alf! I want to view the next one to see if there is one I prefer :) I just looked at the other composition and the entire mood is so different. This one is 'Wuthering Heights'. The other is more of a Witches Tree, anxious to read the story about that one,

kind regards, Gail

I hope you are managing to keep warm and safe in the extreme cold weather you are experiencing!

These old tree's are fascinating, existing and surviving against all odds. Being gnawed by sheep, frozen by the weather, bent by the winds and barely nourished from the rocky crevices where they manage to put roots. 

Perhaps there is a lesson for us all there! 

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback Gail

Best Regards 

Alf 

Beautiful scene.

Thank you so much! I appreciate your interest and kind words! 

BR

Alf