Loch Lomond Trip

You may have guessed the "trip" part of the title wasn't referring to my

visit to the area. To get to the intended position to take this shot I had

to get down a frosty bank that was a sheer drop of some 15 foot, of

course it didn't look quite that bad, but by the time I hung from the edge

of the frosty rocks by my fingertips and my feet were no where close to

touching the ground I knew it was too late to go back, and pain was

going to inevitable, I slid down the remaining 5ft of rock gashing open

my ankle and leg ending up with my tripod half in the lake, one wet foot

and the rest of my body in an intidy heap, my camera was ok in my

backpack so I breathed a sigh of relief, I looked up at the area I had fell

from, just in time to see a group of photographers peering over the

wall......they must have wondered why I was laying on the

ground.....propably thought I was trying for a shot from a unique

viewpoint.....but I wasn't surprised that none of them attempted to

descend to the vantage point that I was in. The main thing is, I managed

to get the shot without the trees that blocked the view from above, then I

realised I had to get back up the rocky incline again.........but thats

another story. I saturated the colour for this one. too much? Your

thoughts and comments are always very welcome. Thank You.

I read the humour in your story with a painful wince on my face. I thought I was the only intrepid photographer doing "dumb" things... chasing birds.

Was the effort and pain worth the image...... oh yes indeed.

Gorgeous............ ( I run out of new accolades to attribute to your images).

Another spectacular capture............ well done my friend.

Best regards

 

I'm not sure i would put myself in harms way for a shot, but then again the effort certainly paid off in this case. This is a superb shot! I like the graphic lines in the water and the cool blue hues.  There is such peacefulness and serenity in this image. I'm glad there are fearless people like you so the rest of us can enjoy such beautiful images without risking breaking our necks... ;-)   Hope your ankle and leg recover quickly. Regards - michel

Oh MY!  I can certainly see the appeal as to why you would want to risk life and limb for this shot!  But it sounds like you're lucky you weren't injured worse than you were!  Looks like I'm not the only one who gets injured while taking pictures.  Remind me to tell you about my accidents (including an encounter with a tiger) sometime!  :-)  Outstanding image, Alf.  So peaceful and serene with beautiful morning pastels. The geometric figures add another element of interest.  Just beautiful!  Hope you heal quickly!

 

When I posted my image, I realized that I used exactly the same adjectives to describe your image as Michel did.  Sorry about that!

it was worth it! Great image again, I would say unique. I hope you are ok and heal fast. I really admire all the photographers that have so much passion, courage and... who lose their mind to get THE PICTURE. :) You did it and we are proud of you! Warm regards, Tamara

A very nicely composed beautiful shot, Alf!

 

Perfect, really perfect, by a true master!

You really be paid off by this exceptional scenery! It distinctly worth for all difficulties. The picture is very beautiful with coordinant vibrant colors, not oversaturated and completely natural looking. Details are awesome as always. I like the abstract quality of shapes in this capture. A successful brilliant shot. Bravo.

Hamid.

Risking all for one's art . . .  Your narrative really struck me personally.  Let me know if you're interested, and I'll be happy to explain.

To answer your question, the saturation level is spot on, in my opinion.  It enhances the reflections and the overall peaceful mood the image creates.  The presence of what I take to be poles in the water and the geometric reflections is interesting, to say the least.  The diagonal they follow leads the viewer's eye to the soft detail in the background.

Again, your landscape work consistently is at the highest level.  I always look forward to taking it in.

michael

In the quietness and serenity of Loch Lomond, you have captured this excellently here, Alf. The reflection mirrors the horizon beautiful and the reflection also of the poles add geometrical touch to the image which is both pleasant and attractive.

Superb landscape! Best regards!  -  Lester

Alf,

  Your hard fall to get this one certainly paid off!!  Beautiful image with wonderful composition, colors & lighting.  Thanks for sharing.  I hope your ankle & leg heeled up alright.  Take care, Patsy

GRAYHAM

It isn't the first time I've done a "dumb thing" to get a shot, but up to now it's been the most painful, the strange thing is, it didnt hurt right away, I was too concerned with getting the shot, and trying not to look as stupid as I felt.........although in retropect it must have been hilarious! Sincere Thanks for your kind words and thoughtful comments, very much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

MICHEL

I'm not sure I'd do it again either Michel : - )  But I guess it was one of those things, take the risk, or miss the opportunity. The chances of me being in that exact spot on a beautiful dawn with the loch (lake) being so calm would be very difficult to repeat, in fact I could go there another 20 times (5 hour drive) and never see the same conditions, so I took the risk and ouch! But it was very kind of you to describe the act as fearless instead of stupid : - ) The leg and ankle have just about healed, but there will be some scars.  i'm really pleased that the serenity of the image was communicated so well, and thank you most sincerely for your thoughts and positive feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

CHRISTAL

 

I've always been able to land like a cat, and rarely injure myself, but all that balance stuff goes out the window when you are carrying a backpack and a tripod.......well either that or I'm just getting old : - ) I can't wait to hear all about your accidents, my wounded pride will heal much faster if I know I'm not the only one that makes an error of judgement. Many thanks for your positive feedback and kind words, I'm really pleased you liked this one! Oh and please, they are great adjectives I'm lucky they got used once, but very lucky they got used again : - )

Best Regards

Alf

PS: -  Email me I just have to know about the "Tiger Incident" : - )

TAMARA

 

No pain no gain.........well I'm not sure if thats true but yeah, it was worth it. I can't imagine what I would have felt if I had walked away, no physical pain thats for sure, but the memory would have haunted me. I think I lost my mind to photography some time ago, fortunately in this instance I didn't lose my leg too : - ) Your words are really heartwarming Tamara, thank you so much!

Best Regards

Alf

RUUD

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words!

Best Regards

Alf

MAURIZIO

Sincere Thanks I'm very flattered!  

Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

Thank you for taking the time to provide such useful feedback, very much appreciated! I'm not really sure what the objects are in the water but I suspect they are the remains of an old jetty.

Best Regards

Alf

MICHAEL

Interested? Now I'm absolutely fascinated, please do explain! It's very reassuring to read how you have guaged the image with regards to the saturation levels, and composition. I did use more saturation than I normally would, as the dawn colours were somewhat muted in the original RAW file.  The "poles" in the water are the steel remnants of an old jetty, or at least thats what I think they are. Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful comments and positive feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

LESTER

Many thanks for your thoughtful feeback and positive comments, much appreciated! It was the geometrics of the "poles" or jetty remains that attracted me to the spot. I could have gained easy access to the shore a couple of miles further along the road, but the foreground interest wouldn't have been quite so unique.

Best Regards

Alf

PATSY

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! The leg and ankle are ok now thank you! I can look back and have a laugh and just be thankful that the van load of photographers didn't arrive in time to take a shot of me falling : - )

Best Regards

Alf

 

 

 

 

This is a breath taking scene and perhaps worth one ankle :) The balance of the diagonal and the horizontal is perfect. Best regards. Jayanti 

Hi Alf, 

Soothing and calm, a great image. The effort and pain has paid off, making it better than what possibly others (including me) would have carried home. 

Thanks for sharing,

Harsha.

i really like it.  it's a little indecisive, somehow though - like two pictures forced together.  I see you had to be that far to the right to separate the whatever-they-ares.  What would a picture pointed more to the left have looked like?  best, j

simply and well done... very nice light and composition

Simple poetic and extremely well crafted image, Lovely hues, Just goes to show, you dont need dramatic clouds when everything else comes together.

A quiet and reverential scene with a nice tension between hard metals that look like sculptures in the water and relaxed nature.  I love the reflections and gradations of colors in sky and water, as one thing merges softly with the other.   I think you must be happy with the results.  

JAYANTI

Worth one ankle and a wet foot : - ) The shapes seemed so angular and bizarre against the natural background, I just had to get the shot!  Sincere Thanks for your interest and kind words.

Best Regards

Alf

HARSHA

Well ......I guess it was a good trade off, pain for a better POV? but maybe if you had been there you might have risked it too : - ) Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback!

Best Regards

Alf

JAMIE

It kind of struck me as being like two pictures forced together in some ways, the foreground almost like an abstract against a natural backdrop, but thats what attracted me to the scene.  Pointed more to the left would have picked up overhanging trees and maybe lined up the agled objects a bit too parallel for my taste. Mnay Thanks for your thoughts and kind words, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

NIKI

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

Best Regards

Alf

RICHARD

You are right of course, you don't need clouds, but they do help : - )  I suppose I saturated this a bit in order to give that sky a bit of a boost, but ideally I would have preferred a few clouds.  Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback Richard, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

DONNA

Good to hear from you I hope you are keeping well, I keep looking out for more drawings but alas none have appeared on your portfolio page yet : - (

There is a kind of severe contrast here, hard metals that you mention against a softer misty backdrop. I'm really pleased you liked this. Happy? yes, satisfied? No......but then I think if I was ever fully satisfied, all the appeal of photography would be lost. Many Thanks for your thoughtful analysis and positive feedback.

Best Regards

Alf

 

Sorry about your mishap. Everything here to like.   Very Good work and up to your usual high standards,

I think of it as a occupational hazard, and the end justifies the means, well to me anyway : - )  ManyThanks for thoughts and kind words!

Best Regards

Alf

Hi Alf, I don't believe it is over saturated. I enjoy the colors you have created for this image.

I haven't looked at the tech data to see if this was a long exposure (looks like there might be a few small ripples) but the flat calm of the lake makes for a nice feel. The strong foreground elements of the pilings sticking out of the water are a great touch adding interest and (again) a sense of depth to this picture. It is odd when shooting over a lake how easy it can be to lose that sense of depth without a shore line or something to give everything some scale. Nice reflections.

 

Ouch...! sorry to hear about your ankle... Quite the determined photographer, I reckon...! Beautiful hues for this serene setting, Alf.... Love the receding triangular reflections of the poles & the classical landscape format works really well for the way you composed  this.  Just tried scrolling up the screen very slightly (your name), to remove a bit of the blue cast in the sky & the mood felt a bit softer to me, even more poetic if you will...although that might not have been your intent with this, as the blues add some (morning?) freshness to the whole too... Kind regards to you, Marjolein

Nice composition with some kind of the abstract mood.  Love he lines of these 4 forms in the work.  Well balanced.  Best Regards,

Alf

 

I looked at this image and mouthed the word "wow"...... then I read your story, and I laughed ... and winced at your antics..... This image is outstanding.....and I can only reiterate others comments....but I have to say,having read your story and the risk you took to capture this image just goes to prove IMHO why your portfolio stands out from the rest....you are always prepared to go that extra mile to capture that extra special shot.... Well done Alf...keep them coming!

 

Kind regards 

Jacquieline