River-Cottage_ (Click for larger view)

The light was just starting to get brighter with a few patches of blue

sky on my last day in Scotland. Your thoughts and comments are

always appreciated. Thank You.

Really a very good work, my dear friend.

Another excellent one -- you have gotten the light and water movement just perfectly yet again.

Alf,

Once again you have produced a keeper shot.  You selected a great POV and your shutter speed was right for this water effect.  Very well done.

Your  photographs are incredible in the way that you bring textures into them with such skill!  I feel that I can lean into your photo and touch this riverbank and feel every blade of grass, every stone, even the cold, dampness of the air.  Pure magic!

The house and its placement make this excellent composition masterful.  "Holy Cow!" he says after viewing the larger image. (Your setting are fascinating too - f/18, ISO 31)

Breathtaking picture we got here, Alf! Bravo!

Cheers

PDE

A nature moment caught as it is with a nice composition.First I like contrast of water flow a bit light with autumn color in bg,the house balance so well composition.

Wow Elf..amazing nature shot full of motion..its peaceful. Regards, Lawrence

Very beautiful and special image

Alf,

Wow...amazing scene with beautiful POV, colors & water flow.  Take care, Patsy

Wonderful. The low camera position and long exposure is perfect.

Fine detail and superb motion in the river, although it looks like you're up to your ankles in water.  A wild place, but beautiful in a rugged way... Mike

Love the perspective, and the graceful curve of the far bank.  I wonder if there are trout in this stream - what a beautiful place to fish!

Best, David

Many Thanks for your positive feedback my friend!

Alf

SANDY

Just a matter of trial and error, thankfully the error gets a bit less with practice :)

Sincere Thanks

Alf

BILL

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback! River shots can be a bit tricky but this one worked out ok.

Alf

SANS

Thank you so much for your most encouraging words!  It is most gratifying to know when an image moves someone like this!

Best Regards

Alf

WAYNE

Many Thanks for your positive feedback, much appreciated!

The settings are designed to slow the shutter speed slightly without using a filter.  I just managed to slow it down enough without having to resort to F/ 22

Best Regards

Alf

PIERRE

Thank you very much for your interest and positive feedback!

Best Regards

Alf

RADU

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words!  The colours in Scotland always seem that much more vibrant, even in mid winter. Or maybe its the quality of the air.

Alf

LAWRENCE

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words!  Scotland is such a beautiful location.

Alf 

GIANNI

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback!

Best Regards

Alf

PATSY

Glad you like it Patsy and thank you for your feedback!

Best Regards

Alf

EYSTEIN

Thank you so much! It was quite difficult to get a good position this time as the water was flowing quite swiftly!

Best Regards

Alf

MIKE

Just below my knees in fact :)  But I was wearing my trusty neoprene Wellington Boots ...never leave home without them!

It really is wild and can be very inhospitable when the weather gets extreme, but always beautiful! 

Thanks Mike, much appreciated!

Alf

DAVID

I think there would be trout and maybe even salmon as the river links various lochs in the area.   It's one of those places where you wouldn't care if you caught anything or not :)  

Many Thanks

Alf

Hi Alf, a really impressive capture especially when viewed large, wonderful light and details. The river, cottage and what looks like a path or maybe waterfall leading the eye up to the distant hill really makes a great composition and balances the scene so well. Best wishes. Sarah.

Lovely composition, congrats!

A belated, yet sincere, Happy New Year wish to you and all those about whom you care.

If I have stated this observation before, that's fine.  If that never happened, then please excuse my exercise in senility.  To me, this image resembles the nature of Asian drawing and painting (at least to the extent I'm familiar with it) by giving the human presence, the cottage, much less priority than the natural elements. Interestingly, though, I - for one - find the image enhanced by it.

As is the case with your other work involving long exposures, the image quasi-fools viewers by virtue of the water's smooth appearance.  But, despite this, it also is clear that the water is moving rapidly, carrying pebbles, rocks, and sediment with it.  The extraordinarily visible detail is an important supporting event in that regard.

The small patch of blue in the upper right poses a refreshing contrast to the domination of warm tones.  Yet those colors, together with the imposing mountain in the background, add impact to the entire image.

Another visual poem . . .

My best always,

michael

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words!

I think it could be both a path and a waterfall when it rains :) 

If you ever want to visit a place to take landscape photo's Scotland is the place, there is a different landscape photo in every direction you look.

Cheers Sarah!

Alf

ZSOLT

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback!

Alf

MICHAEL

A Very Happy New Year to you too my friend!

You have a knack of looking at my photo's and somehow instinctively knowing and describing exactly what I wanted to portray in the image.

I always think that a touch of human evidence can be attractive in a photograph. But for me it must be dominated by the larger landscape. Or sometimes with the structure crumbling back to nature.  I guess I try to show that nature will always be the stronger force.

The movement of the water is another aspect of the image where you have nailed just what I like to try and achieve. That is the appearance of water movement from the long exposure along with contrasting clarity of the other elements.

As always it is most gratifying to read your comments!

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

what a fabulous POV Alf.  The image speaks to me of the RAW quality to much of the landscape in Scotland.  The River Cottage speaks of those who probably love this place and have found life by the river pleasing. Such an amazing view they have. This image 'tugs at me' - I am not sure why - is it the part of me that longs to explore??  or perhaps it is the fact that such a beautiful image takes my mind off what is going on in North America right now. There has never been a time in my lifetime when I have been so uncertain of the future.....full of a sense of angst.........I can't believe it really. This image speaks to me of rugged beauty so far from the 'maddening crowds'...............Thank you.

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=18329802&size=lg

Thank you so much for your interest and thoughtful feedback!

I know the feeling you describe, I think it is a kind of escapism. The sense of  solitude and peace away from the madness of the world.

I think this is why I find photography so therapeutic : )

Take Care Gail

Alf

SRETEN

Thank you so much for the link.

Alf

What an awesome looking scene Alf! Nice framing and use of motion, and the unexpected house really creates an intriguing perceptive, as does the dramatic sky!

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback!

This is the house I escape to, in my mind at least, when the rest of the world appears to have gone quite mad! 

Just to let you know, I still can't comment on any of your images, the tab saying "Contribute A Critique" just isn't there.

Best Regards

Alf

Hi Alf,

I like the atmosphere of the shot, ominous dark clouds, yet with an optimistic hint - sky is becoming clear. The cottage looks so insignificant compared to the mountain.

Best wishes.

Peter