Pontcysyllte Cottages

Last year I visited this location and took dozens of photo's of a

wonderful house that is just out of sight, to the right of the cottages,

(you can just see bits of it through the trees) Suffice to say I wasn't

happy with any of them because the contrasty light just didnt look right

and I couldn't get the composition I wanted without the sky. This time I

settled on a different composition with the cottages as the distant focal

point, not as dramatic in terms of property, but I think the light was

kinder from this perspective. Your thoughts and comments are always

appreciated Thank you.

A very lovely, peaceful image Alf.  I enjoy the reflections cast upon the water.  The light is varied through out the image giving great contrast.  I like the building in the thirds position.  A wonderful shot.  Thank you for sharing.  Best regards...

-Dave

P.S. I have answered yesterday's question on that image of mine.  You might be able to use that technique on some of your work as well.

Nice shot with absolutely beautiful colour tones & play of light & shadow.

Regards.

Really beautiful work with very nice lighting and reflections, Alf!

With best regards,

Ruud.

Alf,

   Wow....beautiful scene with wonderful colors, lighting & reflection.  This could pass for a painting.  Thanks for sharing.  Take care, Patsy

Alf - Patsy is way right.  I did not want to be the one to say it but since she has...  I was reminded of the looks of a Thomas Kinkade painting.

-Dave

Alf, the color, light, and textures are very rich. I particularly like the way the trees and their reflections are leaning into the scene, almost as if they are a pair of hands opening to the beautiful view of the light playing across the water. The absence of sky and the vast amount of foliage has a comforting cocoon-like feel, protecting the structures that lie beyond.  The cabins look quite large and the visible glimpses of the main house leaves us to imagine how stately it is. 

You are quite the photographer! This is very Good work. It is the kind of image that I would rate a 6 and to get it to a 7 I would probably want light that would be more dramatic in terms of very very early morning or late evening. I realize that the image is not up for rating but I was just using numbers to elucidate a point.

bucolic and pleasing.  the cottages tuck in in an unobtrusive way.  best, j

Hi Alf,

A rewarding image from your efforts to make this capture. Your use of a tripod allows for precise framing and steadiness.

The Nikkor 28-70mm is one of the best short range zooms available.

Great results, my friend.

Best Regards,  Mike

Hi Alf, Beautiful composition in this reflective scene. A real stunner.

Holger

The reflection is key to my viewing pleasure. very nice work.

" I particularly like the way the trees and their reflections are leaning into the scene, almost as if they are a pair of hands opening to the beautiful view of the light playing across the water." Completely agree with Tony about this exceptional extremely clever choice of composition and framing, creating such powerful shot, despite lack of sky and seemingly unfavourable light conditions. ITs agreat shot, as always. Bravo.

Hamid.

DAVE

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words, much appreciated! The light was very contrasty, and some of the shots I took were just too difficult to process. But I think I go tthe best I could from this one and I'm very pelased you liked it. As for the comparison to Thomas Kinkades art, ......well suffice to say I'm very flattered!

I have read with interest your response to the question I raised regardig the "Quasi HDR" technique you employed, some thing for me to experiment with in the future and thank you for the explanation.

Best Regards

Alf

SAGNIK

Thank you so much for your thoughts and observations, very much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

RUUD

I'm very pleased you liked it Ruud, thanks for stopping by.

Best Regards

Alf

PATSY

Thank you for your observations and positive feedback, much appreciated. I quite like the idea of it looking like a painting!

Best Regards

Alf

TONY

Many Thanks for sharing your thoughts and invauable feedback. The trees leaning inwards and the consequential reflections are what really attracted me to the composition, but I must admit the ananolgy of a pair of hands didn't strike me until you mentioned it, what a delightful idea! |I purposely found a composition that descluded any sky, for the reason that there was far too much contrast between the shaded woodland and the sky, I suppose the only way it could be achieved is with a blend or HDR and I don't think either would suit this particular setting. The main house is my idea of heaven, right on the waters edge, albeit in an elevated position, but a very nice property. I will try and find a suitable shot to process of it.

Best Regards

Alf

JOHN

Sincere Thanks for your visit and thoughtful analysis, very much appreciated! I agree completely about the light, although there was only about 1 hour before sunset, but the sun was still quite strong and direct, I do have some shots taken during cloudy moments too, but they don't seem as colourful and lack the vibrance of the shots taken with the sun lighting up the foliage.

Best Regards

Alf

JAMIE

Sincere thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback. "Bucolic" I quite like that word, I think I'm going to file that one in my vocabulary for future use : - ) ( I think that Vivitar lens of yours would have been put to good use here Jamie)

Best Regards

Alf

MIKE

Sincere Thanks  for your interest and kind words. I take my tripod everywhere, I find that the low light condiitons I prefer for landscapes, are not normally ideal for hand held shots. The Nikkor 24 - 70 f2.8 is perhaps my favourite lens, a brilliant all rounder.

Kind Regards

Alf

HOLGER

Many thanks for your interest and positive feedback, I'm really pleased you like it!

Best Regards

Alf

TONY

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. The river here is deep and slow moving and I do have quite a few shots without the wind ripple, I normally curse the wind but I quite liked the effect it had on the reflections.

Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

Many thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, very much appreciated! Yes I like Tony's analogy and description too. I intentionally sought out a composition that would disclude the sky, simply because the contrast was too great and didn't look good. The lighting was a difficult choice, either the bright sunshine that did a great job of illuminating the colours, or a shot taken when it was cloudy that kind of left the colours looking a bit flat, I finally chose the sunny aspect.

Best Regards

Alf

I'd be more than happy to let you try it.  best, j

You have really managed to take a wonderful photo of this beautiful setting. Light and colours tones are just so good here as is the detail. Lovely reflections. Very well done, Alf! Kind regards.

Alf... Soft, peaceful, comfortable and wonderfully natural; a place of meditation...  Superb... Mike

Hi Alf,  These cottages have quite a name.  You could have a contest for the pronunciation.  Is the name Welch?  This looks like it was taken in late afternoon or evening just before sunset.  It's the glow and light that captures me.  I agree with all of the other comments as well.  How nice this is to contemplate as winter will soon be upon us and the warmth in your image will be a daily longing.    Best to you.  Larry

In my opinion, the absence of sky doesn't hurt this photograph at all.  It strikes me on an organic, holistic basis.  The cottages simply are another component of a strikingly beautiful scene, playing an equal role with the trees and the water.  The colors are magnificent.

My best,

michael

I hope you don't take my comment the wrong way.  You are absolutely one of my favorite photographers here on PN, and I realize that I've grown to review your work and hold you to a higher standard because your work is so consistently outstanding.  So based on that, I love many things about this image.  It is technically well conceived, and there is no doubt that I'd love sitting along the back at this beautiful spot for a picnic.  I love the reflections of both the tree and building.  Still, when I view your work I usually think how stunning your images would look enlarged, framed and hanging on the wall.  This image doesn't inspire me the way your other images do, and I find it an ordinary and less compelling shot than much of your work.  Still, by most standards a great shot......just not one of your best.  :-)  

JAMIE

Thats a very generous offer!  I think you might have to give me instructions in order that I obtain optimum performance from it though!

Best Regards

Alf

ANABELA

Many thanks for your interest and kind words, very much appreciated.

Best Regards

Alf

MIKE

Its a lovely slow deep pool in the river where salmon lie to rest before making thier way up river.....meditation....well yeah!  

Many Thanks Mike

Alf

LARRY

I won't pretend I can actually pronounce the name, it took me 4 attempts to spell it correctly : - ) But Yes it is indeed Welsh. It was about 1 hour before sunset and the light was still relatively harsh when direct, this shot was taken in part cloud. The image without any sunlight was decidedly flat so I think I got  fairly decent compromise. Sincere thanks for your kind words and thoughtful comments.

Best Regards

Alf

MICHAEL

I agree about the sky, I think in this particular setting, the contrast is too great to include the sky, and also there wouldn't be significant amounts of sky that would ad any drama to the scene, just patches of available sky that would I think would perhaps detract and distract. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Michael, very much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

CHRISTAL

I would agree with your final analogy, it quite simply isn't one of my best. But then I never thought it would be or indeed could be : -) There isn't the usual drama or perhaps "wow" factor (I quote others descriptions) of some of the images in my portfolio. I think this is mostly due to the setting. It is after all just a quiet backwater, a sleepy village where not much of anything ever happens. I think the only way I could have improved on this, was if there was another element of interest present, maybe a cow crossing the river( though its far too deep) or maybe a fisherman casting his line, or a boat drifting downstream. But alas you have to shoot what nature puts in front of you.  My sincere thanks for your honest and thoughtful comments I really do appreciate them.

Best Regards

Alf

P.S.    Your talent as a photographer is matched by your marvelous wit and sense of humor.  That's why you continue to be one of the most loved members on PN.  :-)

You say all the nicest things, I'm not entirely sure I deserve them, but rest assured the $100.00 has been mailed : - )

Seriously though, Thank You!

Alf

Amazing!!

Best regards

Many thanks for your interest and kind words.

Best Regards

Alf