Beyond The Hidden Glen

Well, that time of year is almost upon us, and it just remains for me to

thank you all sincerely for your help, advice and support during the last

12 months and beyond. Best Wishes To All

 

There was only one way to get this shot, and that was standing in the

water, fortunately this time it wasn't deep.

 

You thoughts and comment are always welcome. Thank You.

Delightful view!!

Merry Christmas.

A real treat for eyes specially on larger view! The FG details are awesome as well as the tonality.The play of lights in betweeen the clouds are magical!

Thanks for sharing it.

Wish you a Merry Christmas & a Very Happy New Year 2012 ahead.

Kallol

How the photograph could be more beautiful, it couldn't be. Composition, colours and details in its high definition and beauty.

Beautiful image. I really love the DOF and the slow shutter. All the different element really come together to make this great photograph. Best Regards, Alf. 

Alf - your images are at the point where I have very little to add and in many cases, there is nothing to say except " a jolly good image that is beyond reproach".  I would not leave this location without trying a 2nd image in portrait mode and I suspect that you did capture one like that.

Thanks for your solid and insightful support in 2011 and I hope you will be able to continue what you do so vitally here at photo.net. Merry Christmas!

Hi Alf,

Well accomplished.

A viewing pleasure, indeed.

All the best for a healthy and joyous Christmas and New year coming, Mike.

 

 

 

Paths swirl into clouds, water rushes and slows at the same time, there's isolation except for a lone house, the grey heavy sky cannot cover completely the blue light and white puffs waiting behind it, there's texture, movement, life, and, I suppose, a photographer who must make sure to have warm, water-proof boots that come high up.    I love your presentations of nature so much.  I recently discovered I'm part Welsh -- (knew about the Irish and English and Scottish) -- so it's very cool to see this stuff in photographs.  

I hope you are having a Christmas as lively and as much fun and filled with meaning as the beautiful nature you pursue -- Be well

Alf,

  Beautiful scene with amazing color's, water flow & darken sky just add's to the beauty of the scene.  Thanks for sharing.  Wishing you a Happy Holiday!!  Take care, Patsy

It may be a generalization but this is what I think of when I think of Scotland.

A dramatic grey sky ready to burst with rain. Highlands surrounded by grassland plains and brook and a lonely home set in the middle of it. For me this image is iconic.

The composition and exposure is just perfect and creates the perfect atmosphere. I love the silky effect on the water.

Great photo Alf, nothing else to say here.

The deep focus is set off by the rushing water at your feet. I appreciate you sacrificing your comfort for your art but I assure you it was well worth the wet feet.

Hello Alf,

 

There is nice dynamic in this picture, my eyes are switching between three points of interest. The blurred water in the foreground, the house, and the valley between the mountains. 

This is a very nice picture.  Well Done.

In my opinion you can get also a nice picture by cropping out 2/3 of the botton.  This give you two excellent picture with one shot.

Merry Christmas,

Ben

i'm afraid the house forces the rest to be too dark, though.  best, j

ALBERTO

Many thanks for stopping by and sincere Best Wishes for 2012

Alf

KALLOL

Yes I don't thnk the normally viewed size does it justice really. probably because it's been optimised for viewing larger. I'm never sure if I should optimise the normal view or the larger view, but I think most people prefer to view the larger.

Sincere Thanks and Best Wishes for 2012

Alf

MUSEEB

Many Thanks for your visit and kind words, very much appreciated. I'm very pleased you like IT.

Best Wishes for 2012

Alf

JOSHUA

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, very much appreciated.

Best Regards

Alf

TONY

I remember the advice you gave me long ago regarding taking a portrait version of landscapes, and it's one of those snippets that has stuck with me since. I mostly prefer a landscape orientation, but it's also good to have a choice.

Sincere Thanks Tony May I wish you every bit of the success you so richly deserve for 2012.

Alf.

MIKE

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words, much appreciated.

Sincere Best Wishes for 2012.

Alf

DONNA

I love reading your eloquent descriptions, they always border on the poetic. Welsh are probably the oldest historical race of the Ancient Britons. The Druids last safe haven from the Romans was on Anglesey.

If you happen to find a location of your Welsh Heritage, I'll do my best to provide a photograph of it.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and hoping even more that Santa brought you lots of pencils and paper so that I can enjoy more of your work in 2012.

Best Wishes

Alf

PATSY

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, very much appreciated.

Hope you had a great Christmas and My Best Wishes for 2012.

Alf

JOE

You are quite right, it does epitomise Scotland to a great degree, the stormy clouds and mountain mist are quite typical The brook that I'm standing in to take this photo becomes a raging torrent after some rain and the last  time we visited this location the brook would have been up to my waist such was the volume of water. I'm very pleased ypou liked it Joe.

Best Wishes for 2012

Alf

JACK

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated.

I come well prepared fo Scotland and the possibility of wet feet, and so didn't actually suffer on this ocassion. Neoprene boots are lightweight, comfortable and waterproof, they don't stand up to very long walks, but they fit the bill for most wet encounters.

Cheers Jack

Alf

BEN

Sincere Thanks for positive feedback and kind words. I was trying to for a leading line with the stream of water and I guess it worked by your description.

Yes I can see that the shot could stand a crop also, it's a good suggestion

Hope you had a great Christmas Ben and Best Wishes for 2012.

Alf

JAMIE

"Grows on you"

Its probably a fungal infection due its damp darkness : - )

Hard to know how to address that difference, dark/ light, as thats how it appeared. Interesting observation though.

Cheers Jamie

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

This is a great image full of mood.  I love the depth you captured here.  I'm with Tony on this it is very difficult to find any fault or possible improvements in your images. So most comments are really nit pics, but even those are hard to find in this photo.  

May i take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones, a happy new year. May 2012 bring joy, happiness, health and many beautiful locations to shoot.  I have greatly enjoyed the constructive exchanges and collaboration we have had in 2011, and i'm looking forward to more of this for 2012.  Warm regards - michel

The true beauty of this image is revealed when viewed large.  The detail is superb - the eye is drawn to the welcome hint of sunshine on the distant hills, while the cottage provides a sense of refuge in a rugged landscape.  Definitely worth the wet feet, Alf. All the best, Margo. 

Alf, The water detail of the foreground helps to give this a nice sense of distance and somehow even a sweeping movement. Also the grey clouds at the top helps to keep it all contained to the nicely detailed area in front of the mountains. I look forward to more vicarious adventures in the new year. 

Alf, this is an image I would proudly add to my collection(in fact I will add it to my favorites) I will start with the small stream and the water in foreground, it leads perfectly to a junction beneath the mounts and give me time to pause and explore the cottage and it's surrounds. I a m then lead back down the wonderfully colored stones by the creek bed only to go back up the creek to the hills. The clouds frame the image perfectly. This really is a great capture. I think this kind of image can be presented many ways, including black and white and processing to emphasize some of the areas described above. All would look great. Your choice of presentation works for me.

Cheers RJE

a little brighter with a little more exposure recovery to keep the house from blowing out.  best, j

It's a joy to look at pictures like these.

Alf, my best wishes to you and your family for the new year! Keep up the excellent work! Cheers!

MICHEL

Many Thanks for your interest and invaluable feedback, very much appreciated. It was a sense of  depth and space I was aiming for here, so your feedback is particularly gratifying to read.

May I take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for your knowledgeable contributions to lively debate, your always constructive critique and your very helpful advice and expertise during 2011, I also look forward to further exchanges in 2012.

My Sincere Best Wishes to you and your family for the New Year

Warm Regards

Alf

MARGO

Ahh you noticed the "hidden glen"  where the sun shines, there is a story about Bonnie Prince Charlie where he led his men to a hidden glen and the comparative safety from the English. And I used a bit of poetic license in the title. It would seem that the stream as a leading line worked and sent you in the right direction, and as for my feet, well I cheated, I used neoprene boots, lightweight, comfortable and totally waterproof : - )

Sincere thanks for your interest and positive feedback Margo and Best Wishes for  2012.

Alf

TONY 

Many Thanks for your well considered feedback and interest. The sense of distamnce and space was exactly what I was aiming for, so it was very gratifying to read your comments. No doubt there will be more documented images to read about Tony, and eventually a book, but thats a few years away yet.

Best Wishes

Alf

RICHARD

Sincere Thanks for your positive feedback and kind words, I'm very honored that you consider this a favorite.

By your description I am able to ascertain that the composition worked as I had hoped it would with the stream as a leading line. I don't have much confidence with B & W, the few of mine that I consider successful are probably the result of chance rather than great design, but it does interest me and I'll definately have a look at the potential for this one.

Cheers Richard!

Alf

JAMIE

Ahh yes I see! thank you for the further explanation.

Theres no doubt that the image could withstand the increase, but probably by a small degree, as I remain cautious as not to lose the "mood"

Cheers Jamie

Alf

PANAYOTIS

Sincere Thanks for your interest and kind words, I'm truly pleased that you enjoyed this one.

I wish Peace and Prosperity for you and your family in 2012

Alf

Very quality one.  Best Regards,

It never ceases to amaze me - I look at the thumbnail, looks like a great scenic, and then I ENLARGE it and it takes on A LIFE OF IT'S OWN !!!!! amazing results Alf. I am truly envious of your talents both 'in camera' and in Editing. I know they should come to me one day, but the results obtained in this shot are nothing short of spectacular. The lighting, detail, perspective, I feel I could walk right into the Photo and take a stroll along that stream. Wonderful detail in the rocks in the foreground, and amazing sky.

Congrats my friend, beautiful offering,

Kindest regards, Gail

Gurney Halleck of House Atreides, in the American Sci-Fi Channel version of Frank Herbert's "Dune," beautifully and cheaply filmed in Rome and Prague.

Gurney says this after Paul complains that he is not in the mood for fighting.  I think the actor has a South African accent, but this line comes out with Scots indignation.  Random or what?  Really though, I don't think you'd lose the mood, it would just hang together better.  Happy New Year.  best, j

Iconic scene of all iconic scenes. Great atmosphere and mood with the wonderfully haunting clouds over the mountains.

Happy New Year and keep the great shots coming.

Regards.............John