Catching The Early Flight

You may remember "Tiny Islands" and the ensuing discussion. This is

the same island taken on the same morning but from a different

perspective a lot further away and with a very different lens. The

question this time is :- Should I have cloned out the small stones that

appear like a dusty sensor, no doubt a time consuming and laborious

task, which is why I haven't done it : - ) but your thoughts and

comments would as always be appreciated. PS I can't take any credit

for the bird,it just happened to be in the shot. Thank You.

Hat off Alf for this wonderful rich tonal range...!!

The precise exposure and the light treatment accentuates all the successive layers of your image, from the beautiful reflections of the f/g, up to the far imposing mountains.....!!!

Very interesting painterly scenery.  I love the layered tonalities, and the accent on the islet in the foreground. The bird is the icing on the cake here, perfectly positioned and just at the right tone to make it emerge from the dream like background.  Well done Alf.  Regards always - michel

This shot Enlarged has the WOW factor...your sustained quality of work is most impressive....I know it does not come easy as there are many factors related to taking shots like this and they are all not just reliant on photography...Regards

 Amazing scene.

I thought the bird copied to scene. because it seems a little bigger for scene. Yes you should do that work. And also the part of island that touches to the edge should be cleared off.

Thanks for sharing.

Alf...  Now, that wouldn't be too much work for the perfectionist! ;-)  However, I think the stones should stay.  In this case it's hard to tell if they're stones or leaves and interpreted as leaves they fit the scene and the barren limbs well.  Additionally, they add texture to the surface of the lake and differentiate between the water and sky.  The bird, now that's just dessert after a wonderful main course... Excellent... Mike  

Stones should stay as it adds to the texture and realism of the shot. Following on from your previous shots in this series, it proved a very good days work with so many excellent shots. Congrats William.

really well done.  I appreciate your reserve as well.  Wonderful atmospheric perspective, wonderful bird.  best, jamie

Very beautiful!!

Contemplative...  The bird without the islet would be the main player, exuding a loneliness.  Here, the bird enlivens the morning.  The islet without the bird would produce a similar loneliness.  They work together, sort of grounding the misty soft scene.  The reflections, like in so many of your works, are truly special.  Not totally sold on the monochromatic vibe  

Hi Alf

Firstly, I have to say I love the title....you really caught the early flight with perfection!  I love the blue tones,they create the perfect atmosphere.  I don't think the small stones should have  been cloned out, they add to the ambiance.......this image is beautifully composed and as Keith so rightly says, enlarged, this picture has the "wow" factor...as do so many of your images Alf......simply superb!

regards Jacqueline

I really love the mood and pale blue silhouetted mountain ranges you captured here, Alf. The softness of it all really appeals to me, and the tiny islet and soaring bird above provide just enough contrast to add interest without spoiling the dreamlike atmosphere. And yes, of course (imo) the stones should stay :-) They seem to  ground the picture slightly, and as Mike mentioned, they add a tad of texture to the surface of the lake....This has a bit of the feeling of a Japanese painting to me. (although I know it was taken on an altogether different continent, of course :-) My only hesitation is the elongated format of the photo, and I wonder if you ever considered a different crop for this..? (and yes, even a square might look nice here too :-) However, I know this is a just my personal opinion, and = just a detail of an otherwise beautiful scenic photo... Gr, Marjolein

Hola Alf.

Una imagen bella, con colores suaves muy agradables, el islote y la gaviota aportan vida a la composicion. Te felicito.

Un cordial saludo, Joaquín.

Hi Alf,

Nice results.

Good job witht he hand held shot at 175mm focal length.

I like shooting my Tamron zooms and fixed lens wdie open for obvious reasons.

Best Regards,  Mike

Amazing in every single element, the blue cast, the bird, the grass in lake, the atmosphere. I think it can be used for tension treatment.

A fine capture well composed.You have captured and presented  the essence here,the flying bird enhancing the shot.

Regards,

TSR

KARALOS

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts and providing thoughtful feedback, very much appreciated. The misty layers seemed to be far closer using the longer focal length of the Tamron, it kind of had that compacting effect.

Best Regards

Alf

MICHEL

Sincere thanks for your well considered imput and feedback, much appreciated. I liked the layered effect too, but can't take any merit for the bird, that was just luck, but hey! we all need some of that now and again.

Cheers Michel

Alf

KEITH

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and invaluable feedback. Sometimes it seems like photography is getting gradually more and more difficult, then I realise it's me that beings harsh on myself. But This one just fell in my lap, conditions are everything and when they are right it becomes easier.

Best Regards

Alf

NURULLAH

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words. Th ebird just happened to be in the shot, and I'm really not that good at copying things into a scene, in fact I wouldn't know how to start. I like the idea of the island surrounded by water, but then I'm not sure I'd want to manipulate the image that much, good suggestion though.

Best Regards

Alf

MIKE

I guess that rules me out then : - ) The general consensus seems to be in favour of the stones staying (phewww) I think in the larger view thay can be recognised as some kind of objects, I think my main concern was that people would think they were just blemishes or dust. But thats an interesting observation (differentiate between water and sky) and one I hadn't previously considered. The bird was pure luck, he invaded my shot at just the right time!

Sincere thanks and Best Regards

Alf

WILLIAM

Sincere Thanks for your invaluable feedback, much appreciated!  It would seem the popular consensus that the stones should stay, and I have to say I'm relieved for two reasons. Firstly I don't like the idea of changing an image too much, clone out the odd telegraph wire or dust spots maybe but thats about as much as I'd want to do. Secondly it's too much like hard work all that laborious fiddling about, but I might have tried it if opinion had gone the other way,

Cheers William

Alf

JAMIE

Thank you for your interest and positive feedback, much appreciated! Ahh yes the bird just got lucky to be in one of my photographs : - )

I'm really glad you liked it Jamie.

Best Regards

Alf

ALBERTO

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words.

Best Regards

Alf

DONNA

I thought the bird exuded a feeling of freedom, but I can appreciate the "lonely" analogy too and I agree it does add a sense of life to the scene. The islet and the bird do seem quite harmonious but if I'm honest I'd prefer them more balanced with bird upper left and the island lower right.  As for the near monochrome....well there simply wasn't much colour to be captured, the original was very slightly warmer, I made the small adjustment to cooler to add to the atmosphere, but Ideally a warm to cool colour gradation from left to right would have been preferable. Sincere thanks for your thoughtful analogy and invaluable feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

JACQUELINE

Many Thanks for your thougtful feedback and encouraging words, muxh appreciated!  The title was a bit elusive, I didn't want a cliche, in fact I think I've used most of them up : - ) So the bird was inspirational in that respect. I'm pleased about your consideration of the stones too, I tend to agree and it saves me a lot of fiddly work : - ) I'm really pleased you liked this one Jacqueline.

Best Regards

Alf

MARJOLEIN

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for your feedback, much appreciated. Ahh good! I'm pleased about your consideration of the stones, it seems fairy unanimous that they should stay.  I know what you mean about the "Japanese painting" its not something I previously recognised in the image biut I'm glad you brought it to my attention, as it's given me an idea. As for the format, I tend to agree with you. I normally do like a pano shape or a landscape orientated shape, but this seems to fall in between both. There is a reason for this, I cropped it this way are there were two larger stones closer in that were out of focus but on relfection I migh have been better leaving them too and getting opinions of thier removal too. I'm not even going there with square crops : - ) Even though I have to concede (grudgingly) that they do look good in certain instances.  Your opinion is, as always very welcome and valued.

Best Regards

Alf

JOAQUIN

Muchas Gracias por su interes y amables palabras, estoy de acuerdo en la gaviota se le anade el elemento vital la vida.

Un cordial saludo

Alf

MIKE

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words. I wonder what your thoughts are relating to DOF? I can appreciate your reasoning regarding image quality, but wouldn't a wide open lens restrict the DOF?

Best Regards

Alf

MUSEEB

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated. Iinteresting comments relating to the "tension treatment" I might present one to my boss in work : - ) .

Best Regards

Alf

RAMESH

Thank you so much for your encouraging words, much appreciated. The bird does indeed enhance the image, but that was more by good luck than good judgement.

Best Regards

Alf

Well done composition with the wonderful mist.  Peaceful mood.  Best Regards,

A brilliant piece Alf.  I would not change a thing.  The stones feel as though they belong with the islet, and serve as a good anchor for the image.  The bird, in front of that dream-like background really is the topper, could only have been better on the right third line (maybe).  A wonderful study in blue.  Best regards...

-Dave

Great shot with a dreamy tonality!Thanks for sharing.

My best regards.

Kallol

Alf, I agree with everyone—a beautiful, tranquil scene. I like the range of monochromatic tones and the fog enhancing the serenity. The stones should stay. If there were only on or two then they might be mistaken for dust on the sensor. As they are now, they add more interest to the foreground.

Hi Alf,

   I agree with all the comments.  This is a beautiful peaceful scene with wonderful processing.  The bird had perfect timing.  Thanks for sharing.  Take care, Patsy

That is an amazing series of early morning shots,nothing beats the morning light,every time you shoot is different,you got all the compositions here right.Last month i spend a week in Greece and got up early every morning to catch it,i think i am a convert now,wonderful staff,keep it coming,best regards

Love the colours, lights and the composition. Great shot!

HI Alf, I love the light, it brings great ambiance to the image. The small stones don't bother me, not that I didn't notice them, but they look natural to me. The pespective is so nice it gives a very relaxing feeling to look at. Very good image.

BR,

Holger