There & Then

The cottage was the initial attraction for me then I noticed the weed

strewn lake that made some interesting reflections. I shot this wide

open at f2.8 as a bit of an experiment, choosing a focus point about 1/3

of the distance into the shot, and was surprised to find that everything

appears to be sharp. I realise there are a few crop possibilities, I tried a

few myself, but inevitabley lost a portion of the image that I wanted to

keep. Your thoughts and suggestions are always appreciated. Thank

You.

Alf...  A scene of desolate beauty.  The lighting, the lines in the lake, the weeds, the stream, all point to the farmhouse and trees... Excellent... Mike

Hi Alf, very beautiful, colorful and serene scene. As of cropping or composition I would like if I could  see some more of the rocks in the left corner and a creek, maybe I would go for a portrait orientation, square format and diagonal line with internal round composition empowered by the vignetting...Anyway you have transferred the mood and magic of the place...Best regards, vf

Hello Alf,

Very nice composition. I like the cropping, nothing wrong with that. 

The only suggestion I have is the vignetting.  It is now done symmetrically, leading the eye to the center of the picture.  I would put the lighter area centered around the house.

In Lightroom this can be done by making the whole picture a stop darker and use the brush to make the house and the area around it lighter. Of course there are many other techniques in PS for this.

Well Done,

Ben

 

 

There lots to like about this image. The trees and the house give it scale. I like the water weeds which start at the foreground bottom left and lead me ashore to the house. My eyes frolic in the bulbous and colorful hills which take me up another level of satisfaction. Wonderful image!

Great image Alf.  I seem to remember that you shot in this location before (in the rain if my memory serves me right), you did well to return. I like the patchwork colors in the hills behind the house, what a wonderful background.  As Tony pointed out, the weeds and the gentle ripples serve as nice subtle leading lines.  Nice reflection.  I also agree with you it would be difficult to crop this without losing something delightful.  Nicely shot. Regards always - michel

A very nicely composed shot with beautiful lighting and colours, Alf!

With best regards,

Ruud.

 

Still.  Beautiful and graceful.  best, j

Alf,

I think this image is successful partly because it elicits an emotional response from the viewer, words like peaceful and secluded apply very well to this beautiful setting.  The focal point is definitely on the lighter area around the house, whereas the rest of the image provides an extraordinary frame, as others have suggested these elements provide leading lines directing the viewer towards the house.  This is every landscape photographer's dream setting.

Jim

For f/2.8, that really is remarkable.  The composition is ideal:  both left corners are anchored by elements of the composition, and they provide great balance to the light-colored and nearly centered house; the triangle that the three form is key to the composition, IMO.  I like the salmon-colored rounded hills, the two small groves of trees, and even a reflection of the house in the water.  It's a very idyllic scene, and I'm just imagining the lives of any children who live there.

Alf

You captured the serene ,peaceful setting and mood wonderfully. I like the vignetting here as it bring out the highlights of the house and hills.

I heartily recommend viewing this photo larger , as it is so much richer that way

Thanks for sharing

Pat

What is there left to say? (one has to get in quick on your images).

Absolutely beautiful........ well done.

Best regards

You've captured a beautiful slice of heaven.  Congratulations!

so calm, i can look at it forever.

Alf,  There's little more I can add to the comments already made, but I want to offer my congratulations for another superb image.  This image is simple, yet includes so many elements.  The blending of colors, light, and the connection between the rocky cliff on the left and the waterfall add interest and impact to the image.  Jack Dykinga, an excellent photographer of the American southwest teaches about filling the frame. You have filled it well.  I enjoy learning from your images.   Larry

Hi Alf,

Bravo, finally I see the Nikkor zoom at its full potential.

Well shot at 44mm F/2.8.

Fine results.

Best Regards,  Mike

Viewed larger - what a beautiful landscape!! Makes one almost feel they are there. I think your experiment turned out very well!

Beautiful!

Warmest regards, Gail

All of the technical stuff has been said and indeed they are all correct, this is a very appealing image which is well composed. I also like emotional appeal and for me its a place I would like to live. The beauty and isolation is right up my alley.

Hola Alf.

Fantástica composicion, la luz y el color es excelente. Te felicito.

Un cordial saludo, Joaquín.

Very nice composition, Alf

Best regards
Eystein

Delightful!!

Alf, The subtle richness of the colors is quite wonderful. The white of the cottage is perfectly done, it draws the focus right to it. The scale of the cottage gives the landscape such grandeur. 

MIKE M

Desolate indeed! I often wonder what it would be like to live in a place like this, I can't imagine ever being bored with the scenery or taking the peace and tranqulity for granted, but I do wonder how long it would be before I missed fish and chips, a nearby restaurent, and a local pub for a few beers........yeah I think I could make the trade I have a large fridge. : - )

Sincere thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

VLADIMIR

Interesting suggestions and idea's Vladimir, my warm thanks!

I think there has to be a trade off no matter what the composition you lose something, but the portrait orientation wasn't something I hadn't really considered and maybe I should have. I do have some with a lot more of the rocks visible though, so maybe I willpost one of these at a later date.

Thanks again Vladimir.

Best Regards

Alf

BEN

Yes I see what you mean Ben I follow your logic, it's a good Idea I will make use of it on my next postiing of this cottage, taking care of course not to overexpose the cottage in the process.

Many thanks for your interest and positive feedback Ben.

Best Regards

Alf

TONY H

Sincere Thanks for your interest and invauable feedback, much appreciated! I think I'm attracted to images like this because I have a deep burning desire to live in such a remote residence. I'm very pleased you share my enthusiasm for it Tony.

Best Regards

Alf

MICHEL

You were very nearly right! The last time we shot another cottage a few miles from this location and I named the image "Big Storm At Black Rock" and yes you remembered correctly I got soaked to the skin in the process. But as it turned out the cottage which we then believed to be Black Rock Cottage" was not the that at all. It wasn't untill we returned this year, and shot the images of "Black Rock Dusk" & Black Roack Dawn" that we realised the mistake. This particular farmhouse is the third residence along this stretch of road that I have shot.

I have tried all ways of cropping it, but it's always a trade off for losing something. I do have a couple of other shots taken at a wider view, which may give a few more options.

Many Thanks for your interest and invaluable feedback Michel.

Best Regards

Alf

RUUD

Many Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, very much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

JAMIE

Many Thanks!

You would love it, the place is magical, vibrant and inspiring and ever changing, yet it retains the quiet graceful aura throughout  that you refer to.

Best Regards

Alf

JIM

I think your observations are spot on! The impression of a still peaceful house overlooking a lake does indeed tug at the heartstrings, well I know it did for me, and it's very gratifying to learn that I was able to relay the same emotions to viewers of the image. My enthusiasm for the area becomes ever more strong the longer I'm away from it, it is indeed a dream setting, but then at very turn of the head there was another : - )

Sincere Thanks for sharing your thoughts and invaluable feedback Jim.

Best Regards

Alf

STEPHEN

I agree f2.8 isn't an aperture setting I would nornally choose, but after reading previous succesive recommendations from Mike Palermiti  (PN member who has commented on this image) I thought I'd try it and see for myself. I wasn't convinced it would work, and maybe it wouldn't with a different set of near and far objects, but I have to say from the evidence of my own eyes, he was right!  I'm not sure if I'd have posted it if it turned out looking blurred though : - )

It's very gratifying to read your approval of the composition, my only concern was the "nearly centered house" it didn't fall into the ideal cross hairs / thirds junction that I would normally strive to achieve, but as it seems to work for everyone I think I can live with it.

What a life those children would have! to be part of such a natural environment, a priviledge they would only appreciate at a much later date.

Sincere thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback Stephen.

Best Regards

Alf

PATRICK

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, very much appreciated.

I quite like how the vignetting turned out too, it did have a small amount which I accentuatd ever so slightly.  As for the larger view, yes it does look better larger, and this is because the image is optimized for viweing at the larger size, and whilst I like people to enjoy the larger view, I sometimes wonder if its wise as the initial normal view suffers as a consequence.

Cheers Pat!

Alf

GRAYHAM

I think you were quick enough : - )

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

Best Regards

Alf

KATHY

It was only the tiniest of slices of that massive pie they call heaven, which just happened to be located in Scotland that day : - )

Sincere Thanks Kathy!

Alf

DROR

Could this be alternative therapy for your patients : - )

Yes, you need an element of calmness too after the euphoria of the VP's goal

Take care!

Alf

LARRY

Sincere thanks for your visit and well considered feedback, much appreciated. I'm glad you mentioned that waterfall I wasn't sure if it was apparent, but I liked its presence above the house giving an impression of scale and height. I shall look up Jack Dykinga as the concept of filling the frame is something I do try to keep to the forefront of my mind when composing a shot. I also try and position the various elements in a balanced way, I don't always succeed, but I think the more I stay aware of the of these guidelines, the more frequent the success rate.

Cheers Larry!

Alf

MIKE

You will not be surprised that I took the shot at f2.8 after reading your successive comments and reccommendations for using the lens "wide open", and I have to say, you were right, on this ocassion it have proved succesful. However this doesn't mean that it's right for every ocassion surely? Or put quite simply my question to you would be, if it is right and proper to use the lens at f2.8 or "wide open" for all or most conditions, then why do the manufacturers bother to go to so much trouble and infinate amounts of time research and expense producing lenses with extensively variable apertures? I don't mean to question your expertise, I'm merely seeking an explanation (in laymans terms if possible)

Many Thanks

Alf

GAIL

Thats what I love about photography, each new snippet of knowledge begs a hundred more questions, there lies the fascination and joy of learning. I'm working my way through the D700 manual slowly so far I fully comprehend the front cover and the list of package contents......well I did say "slowly"  : - )

Thanks for stopping by Gail I'm really pleased you enjoyed it.

Warmest Regards

Alf

LEO

Good to hear from you, thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts and positive feedback.

I can entirely empathise with your desire to reside in a location like this, it's my idea of heaven too, just a shame I can't convince the wife, it's just too far from the supermarket for her liking : - )

Cheers Leo!

Alf

HOLA JOAQUIN

Muchas gracias por venir y compartir sus pensamientos, muy apreciada,

Saludos Cordiales.

Alf

EYSTEIN

Many thanks for your interest and positive feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

ALBERTO

I'm really pleased you liked it, thank you!

Best Wishes

Alf

TONY F 

Sincere  Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! I am glad you have given consideration to the cottage and its scale in relation to the huge mountainous landscape. One of my initial fears was losing the cottage amongst that vastness, but you have now addressed that to my satisfaction.

Cheers Tony!

Alf

 

An excellent shot Alf! Gorgeous viewed large! I don't think I'd crop any of this image. I find it well composed with some excellent elements. The cascading waters coming down above the cottage, the cottage itself, the lake, reeds, and the small cliff on the left are all important parts of this image. Nicely done!

All the best,
Neil

Wow, great detail at that f-stop.  The color is subdued and very realistic.  The entire composition feels solid to me, and the diagonal line of the weeds in the lake lead your eye right to the house.  I really like this image - very nice job.