My bit of heaven

This location is very special to me. It's not over dramatic, though the

view from the top is fantastic. But its special because I used to spend

hours up here, walking, fishing, exploring, and always felt at peace. It

takes about 1 hour up a steep incline ot get to it, and in all the years I've

visited this place I have never once seen another human. The strange

thing is, although I've seen the place before, its been 4 years since I last

visited, and hence i've only just looked at with it a "photographers eye" I

don't generally take a lot of photo's in the middle of the day, but I made

an exception for this one. Your thoughts and comments are always

appreciated. Thank You.

Hi Alf,

I can easily see why this is a "bit of  Heaven".

It is absolutely gorgeous and it is well shot using your Nikkor zoom lens.

I am pleased that you were using one of the finest 2:1 zoom lens ever produced. The color saturation and accuracy, along with the well corrected field of view is quite apparent.

Great job with the composition and presentation.

Best Regards,  Mike

Too beautiful maybe! The colors don't look real! Technical quality great!

Best regards Alf!

PDE

A gorgeous spot photographed superbly. I think you've done a marvelous job of this one Alf. I get a feeling of rest, and relaxation just watching those clouds float past. it feels like you're right there. Well done my friend!

All the best,
Neil

Alf,

  You have picked the right name for this image.  Needs to be hanging in a gallery.  Thanks for sharing.  Take care, Patsy

A great location for great shots. I'm sure you tried exceptional shots of these scenery at sunset and sunrise times, which greatly enhance and unravel its beauty. Still impressive shot. Bravo.

Hamid.

ALf, I like this midday shot, it looks very crisp with the bright white of the cloud tips and their reflections in the cool water. The shadows from the clouds falling on the hills are a nice touch. THe color looks very natural to me and the sharp details are great. 

I too would like to be in this place to linger, to reminisce, to be alone - an enticing place well captured and presented. Regards, Alf.  -  Lester

Lovely image Alf.  Not one of the most spectacular images you have posted over the months, but this one does convey a sense of serenity and peace. Probably a reflection of your own feelings, to paraphrase the Canadian photographer Freeman Patterson, "a camera is an apparatus that takes a picture on both sides.  It takes an image of the subject matter in front of it, and it takes a picture of how the photographer feels about the subject matter".  On the technical side, although you took this in the "middle of the day" you did capture an interesting light.  The sky is nicely embellished by puffy clouds. It seems you took this with a grad filter, because the top of the sky is of a darker blue than the lower part.  I like the various blues in the sky and it's reflection in the darker water of the lake.  Nice shot. Regards - michel

MIKE

Many thanks for your thoughts and observations, much appreciated. The lens is fast becoming one of my favorites, super corner to corner sharpness and colour resolution. Its a great location for quiet reflection and contemplation, and the best part  is very few people know it exists.

Cheers Mike.

Alf

PIERRE

Many Thanks for your thougtful critique, much appreciated. The colours haven't been touched other than a graduated filter application in Lightroom whilst processing the RAW file.

Best Regards

Alf

NEIL

Sincere thanks for your encouraging words. It really is a superb location, I will return there for a dawn shot I think, or maybe a sunset. In fact an overnight stay might be worthy of consideration, there might even be the chance of some nice star trails.........hmmm now you've got me thinking.

Cheers Neil

Alf

PATSY

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts much appreciated. I'm not sure its gallery material, but its very flattering of you to say so.  Its a great spot though. As you mount the last of the rocks from the hillside, your eyes become level with the water, a very pleasant surpise for me the first time I seen it.

Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

Many thanks for your thoughts and comments much appreciated! To be honest, I have visited this place for years, not on a regular basis though, and sometimes with years in between my visits. But it was only on this last visit I truly appreciated the view through a photographers eyes. So I haven't yet tried and dawn or dusk shots, but its something I'd like to try, and maybe some star trails too.

Best Regards

Alf

TONY

Sincere thanks for your kind words and astute observations. The colours are natural and for the most part unchanged, except for a Grad filter that was added whilst processing the RAW file in lightroom.

Cheers Tony!

Alf

LESTER

Many thanks for your interest and thoughtful views, its a great place to waste some time and just chill out, everyone should have a place like this, its very therapeutic just being there.

Best Regards

Alf

MICHEL

Sincere thanks for your interest and positive feedback. You are quite correct, it isn't a dramatic image, and its unusual for me to post an image I've shot during mid day hours. But I thought this one would reflect my mood and feelings and I'm very gratified to learn from you that it has done just that. I did use a grad filter Michel, but it was added during the processing in "Lightroom" not whilst I was taking the shot. I'm really pleased you liked it Michel.

Best Regards

Alf

 

 

The tree is an island of life in that  rocky landscape, and it makes the composition's atmospher of blooming despite....Touching.

Your observations are very perceptive, there isn't another tree for miles yet somehow this one clings to life on a tiny rock of an island in lake that sits on top of a mountain.  It's a special place for many reasons. Sincere thanks for visit and thoughtful comments Pnina.

Best Regards

Alf

I've always wondered and have even asked you if you do indeed live in heaven and now you just (in your own words) confirmed it! Lovely image; thank you for sharing. :)

It feels dizzying because the clouds are so close and teasing on the water with ripples laughing because they throw off the symmetry in a way that makes me wish it were calm.  The wildness and slight movement and defiance of that tree Pnina loves brings this alive and for me makes me associate it with a long walk I took in the Pyrenees.  It is heaven, but I feel more firmly tied to the ground by the ocean shore.  

TRISHA

You have indeed enquired in the past if I live in heaven, and on reflection.......yes I do. I guess we all have the potential to find our own little bit of heaven on earth. I count myself as being very fortunate to be able to see it, touch it feel it, and breath in its beauty in all its many guises. Of course we all have different idea's of what heaven is and what it looks like. For some it could be a footbal stadium, or a shopping mall. For me its the countryside and wild places I find on my travels, and I'm very pleased you share the same views. Thanks for your interest and posiitve feedback Trisha, much appreciated.

Best Regards

Alf

DONNA

I know exactly what you mean about the ripples, I waited all day for the bit of reflection you can see, but when this place is really calm, it is stunning. You just aroused my curiosity when you wrote "I feel more firmly tied to the ground by the ocean shore" ........I thought to myself..."how would this have looked with no shore line" ...so I tried a crop......and I think it has great posiibilities. Its given me an idea, one that I will try on my next visit to "my bit of heaven" Thank you for your inspiring words and positive feedback Donna, much appreciated.

Best Regards

Alf

 

Indeed a piece of paradise for lovers of solitude. You certainly got a dramatic sky and beautiful reflection. The bush on the island makes the place ideal for meditation.

Regards, Tibi

Beautiful shot Alf, you are lucky to be in such surroundings. PS I think its time to remove the (I am new to photography), you are up there with the best.

 A shot with the peaceful mood and the strong contract of the color in the sky and in the reflection.  Great light.  Best Regards,

TIBI

I love this location, its not the most dramatic looking place on the planet, but I always feel at one with the world when I'm here. I was hoping for the wind to drop completely but it wasn't to be. I agree with you about the bush on the island, it makes a good focal point both photographically and for quiet contemplation.

Sincere thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments Tibi.

Best Regards

Alf

BIRTE

I count myself as being very fortunate Birte, I might be guilty of taking some things for granted, running water from a tap, central heating etc etc, but I never take natures beauty for granted it always fills me with joy and wonder. You are quite right about my profile introduction.......I feel a bit of a fraud : - ) .....I will fix it honest......when I get time : - )

Many Thanks for your interest and inspiring words Birte.

Best Regards

Alf

WANGHAN

Many thanks for your visit and kind comments, very much appreciated

Kind Regards

Alf

Hi Alf, I am curious about the difference of shades of blue in the water and the sky. If the water reflects the sky wouldn't it be nearer the same color? Don't take this as a negative critique, just wonder. Everyone needs a place like this to be at peace and this looks like a perfect one. Take care, Deanna

Many thanks for your interest and kind comments, much appreciated. You have raised an interesting point and one that I have always wondered about myself, that is reflections and thier colours and the difference between actual and reflection. I have always found that reflections are generally darker, even the clouds are darker in this reflection, however there may be also some different shade brought about by use of a polarisor, but in all honesty I can't remember if I used one or not. As for it being a place of peace.......well the only sounds to be heard is the ocassional sheep, and the sound of the water as it rushes past the sluice gate. 

Cheers Deanna

Alf

Hi Alf_Can understand why after an hours hard trek up a steep incline it would be a perfect spot with the rocks to sit on & take in the view in front of you.The two softly curved hills & the ever interesting cumulus clouds slowly passing by create a pleasing image to sit,relax & enjoy the view.As you have never seen other visitors you could assume this is your special view.I have one, created a short trail in the woods behind our cabin & a short steep climb at the end with a large rock to sit on , take in the view, relax & enjoy the solitude Kind of a nice feeling to have your own view of nature.Here is to more visits to our own spot. Very Best Regards-Ross

I get the feeling you know the exact sense of solitude and peace one gets from being such a location. I do have other favourite locations, but this will always remain special as it was on of the first places I discovered where I could go and be totally alone. The thing that always surprised me was the swift passage of time when I was there, it wouldn't seem like 5 minutes has passed, when in reality I had spent a full day there. 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and empathetic views, very much appreciated! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf