Rock of Ages

This was one I fished out of the "rejects" file. I took the photo in 2010

and didn't like it when I processed the RAW file. I tried again with the

newer version of Lightroom and a better understanding of how to use it,

and this was the result. Your thoughts and comments are always

appreciated. Thank You.

The mirror image punctuated by the boulders gives this an elusive, hallucinatory feeling that lifts it out of pure nature photography. Good work.

WOW, outstanding piece again, Alf! such a nicely natural colors, great sharpness & textures, the reflection makes perfect symmetry, just amazing!    Best regards

Colors, shapes, mood, everything is well done, only maybe a little boat on the nlake would have made a better, by the rules composition!

 

Best regards Alf!

 

PDE

Agreat shot!! very nice lighting -colors and beautiful mood I like it . best regards 

Really beautiful work with very nice reflections, Alf!

 

lovely view! nice capture!

Alf,

  Breathtaking scene with beautiful colors, composition & reflection.  Take care, Patsy

Superb image, Alf.  There's some vignetting on both sides that really doesn't bother me as it brings attention to the main mountain and the rocks.

Hi Alf- First off,you should tell the viewers to view the image in the large size. To my mind, it,s the difference between night & day.The small size is OK but the large size is really a strong powerful image showing the strength & lasting nature of the large rock structure, it is definitely not going anywhere any tine soon.Also like the details of what lies under the surface of the lake. Simply stated , another great landscape by a very visually perceptive photographer.Best Regards-Ross PS Must admit I am still trying to figure out why the foreground boulders make such a difference in your image. Any suggestions?

I am so glad you 'fished' this one out and reworked it in Lightroom. Stunning composition Alf. Beautiful reflections in the water, lovely detail in the foothills and mountain. Wales must be so lovely! When I look at this, I feel as if I am there. THANKYOU!!! most sincerely,Gail

Hi Alf. Wow! Stunning composition and perfect sharpness and light - you certainly strive for perfection! I'm sure there would be a number of Camera Clubs that would love to have you on there team! All the best. Sarah.

Even when the sun decides to come out again, you should continue to keep digging into your 'rejects folder', Alf.... I really appreciate the overall sense of clarity & purity, which is present in the composition, as well as the lovely subdued blue & green colors hue in this one.... Really wonderful work..!

Nice image Alf.  Your composition is spot on. I like the bolders in the foreground they make an interesting entry point in your image.  For my taste, and at the risk of being booed by others, i feel it could use a bit more contrast to bring out the wonderful details in the rock face, as well as making the submerged stones more visible in the reflection. I also think the sky needs a bit darkening (see my 2 mins adjustment, as usual i do not claim my version is better just different).  Regards - michel

Hi Alf

It is clearly apparent that your better understanding of the software has undoubtedly enhanced this image Alf.....the natural soft colours,the crisp mirror image and the inclusion of the rocks completes the impressive composition of this outstanding image..... it ROCKS Alf!

kind regards

 

Jacqueline

Beautiful composition and reflections, I like the sharpness of the rocks :)

For the sky, it might be possible to bring out more details playing with the graduated filter in Lightroom , so that the rest of the picture is not affected.

I would try to reduce the highlights first (without changing the contrast), and maybe add a touch of clarity (just a little). See how it goes.

 

Regards,

Francesco

JACK

Many Thanks for your interest and observations. This old glacier pool is usually ravaged by wind, but on this occaision it was flat calm and took on an almost oily kind of slickness, which I think was a result of the late evening light.  

Best Regards

Alf

 

RICHARD

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, much appreciated. This was destined for the recycle bin, but I'm glad I rescued it now, I'm beginning to like it too.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PIERRE

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and observations, much appreciated.  Now if only i had your skill and dexterity in digital alteration, I might have been able to place a little boat out there : - )

Cheers Pierre!

 

Alf

 

JANEGBERT

 

Many Thanks for your interest and encouraging words, I'm very pleased you like it.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Thank you very much, I think the reflection was key to the images success too.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

SLAVOMIR

 

Many Thanks, as I remember there was a couple of people camping right where I wanted  to take the shot from, otherwise it may have looked slightly different.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Thank you so much, its a great area of North Wales to take photo's, the terrain is wild and rugged, but I was particularly fortunate on this occaision that the lake was calm.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DAVE

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful comments, much appreciated. The last time I tried to process this shot, I didn't like the result, and since then I have dumped it in the rejects file.  I come across the RAW file and decided to have another go and part of the processing this time was to add the vignetting in Lightroom, and it's gratifying to read it had the desired effect in directing the attention.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

ROSS

 

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments, much appreciated.  Yes you are quite right I should indeed place the suggestion to "View Large"  but somehow this detail escaped my attention when posting.  The rock you are looking at is a remnant of the last Ice Age, and the lake was formed by the Glacier that scoured the earth to form the hollow. I think the boulders make a difference because of the contrasting colours and because they lead the viewers eyes gently into the image, well thats my theory, though others may see it differently.

Cheers Ross!

 

Alf

 

GAIL

 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful observations, much appreciated! I have hundreds of photo's that could benefit from a second look, but time is my enemy. And I must admit that part of me wants to move on, new horizons, a different dawn and whats round the next corner is forever pulling me like a magnet to the next discovery, the next chance, the next photo. : - ) Wales is indeed beautiful Gail, I just need to see every inch of it in every kind of light before I will be satisfied. Kind of glad I rescued this one now though, its growing on me, and very glad you liked it too.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

SARAH

 

Sincere Thanks for your interest and kind words. I think we all strive for perfection, the great thing about photography though, is that even when we thnk we are near to perfection, it is only our own perception of such, and others may think we have a long way to go. The reverse is also true, when we feel we are no where near perfection, others see it differently too.  And of course the pool of knowledge is a bottomless pit that we continually dip our nets into, in the hope that we will accumulate a large chunk of photographic wisdom and knowledge. But more often we find only a few tiddlers in the net, and it is only by digesting the tiny bits that the larger chunks materialise.......wow I'm getting deep here : - )  As for camera clubs, there is one that I'm considering joining at the moment............not sure yet though......I like my solitude........but I think there is an opportunity for me to dip my net into thier pool, so maybe ...I'll keep you posted on that one.  Glad you liked this one Sarah.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MARJOLEIN

 

Many Thanks for your thoughtful and encouraging comments, very much appreciated. You are right, I know you are, I should delve into the rejects folder more often and some of the hundreds of semi - redundant RAW files too............but while its interesting to look back, I find myself always wanting to go forward, always wanting to see whats round the next corner, always wanting to see the next dawn or sunset, always excited at the prospect of a new location........I need to clone myself so one of me can stay at home and look at the old files : - ) I'm very pleased you liked this one.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MICHEL

Many Thanks for your thoughtful comments and observations, much appreciated!  So often you offer an interesting alternative to the processing which I find most helpful. I think others also appreciate viewing an alternative, (so no booing)  and sometimes its much easier to show an example than try to explain in words.  I like the contrast increase, but in making the adjustment so the saturation levels have also increased.  Now this might be viewed as an improvement by some, but because I know the area and the colours that prevail, it looks unnatural to me. However if the contrast was increased and a further adjustment made to desaturate the image to near orginal levels, I think it would be a winner. The sky darkening is a definite plus. 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JACQUELINE

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful comments and encouraging words, much appreciated.  You are right,  as Michel has demonstrated above, taking the photograph is only half of the story these days, and the processing is the other half. The software invloved can be complex and takes time to learn, and it becomes an ongoing journey of discovery.  The first time I tried to process this I was so dissapointed that I changed it to B & W, and then trashed it altogether.  But thankfully I made some progress : - )  I'm really pleased you liked this too !

 

Kind Regards

 

Alf

 

FRANCESCO

 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments, much appreciated. Good suggestions too. The problem with the graduated filter is that it goes in a straight line, and invariably it would effect the rocks below the sky line.  I don't doubt there is a way round this,  possibly with the brush tool? I have tweaked the clarity in processing but maybe a little more would help as you have kindly suggested.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Alf, yes obviously you have a better knowledge of the location. I used Topaz Adjust5 to increase contrast and clarity but it does tends to add a bit of saturation to the image. For a more subtle desaturation, you may try using a vibrance adjustment layer and reduce vibrancy by 20 to 25% or so (instead of reducing saturation). Then mask out the sky from this adjustment.  Regards - michel

Many Thanks for your further guidance, I will try the suggestions you have made, they make sense to me in theory, but I guess the proof is in the pudding as they say.  Not that I doubt your suggestions will work, more a case of doubting my limitations regarding processing.

Thanks again Michel

Best Regards

 

Alf

Alf, this recreates the feelings of being in the mountains; the perspective and proportions of sky/land/water are good.  The mountain is intimidating for some who have discomfort on them, and the clarity of the water and little rocks on the bottom, big rocks poking through tempts me to skip rocks mentally on the surface.  The clarity and colors, composition and light draw this viewer in

I enjoyed viewing this in the larger version because this image is so involving. The water is so serene with its stunning reflection, the rocks give a good sense of dimension to the image and the mountain gives an excellent backdrop. Just wonderful to look at and not easy to take my eyes off.

My best, Alf.

Lester

Hi Alf, I love looking at old images as my processing skills develop. My skills are still in their infancy but every so often I look at something old and retouch it with a new skill learned and see how a little knowledge sometimes goes a long way in changing an image.

The overall composition is excellent here and the the boulders and reflections guarantee interest from bottom to top of this image. I think there needs to be a bit more contrast or an increase in the blacks to offset some of the fill light.

However these things are minor and are more a matter of taste than a needed adjustment.

Another high quality image in an otherwise long list of high quality images.

Joe

Lovely scene from a man who knows how to present high quality results.  Myths and legends could evoke from your story telling shot.  Take care my friend!

Delightful!!

Hi Alf,  Yes, viewing this large is essential.  It's so natural, nothing is "pushed." I ditto all of the kudos in the other comments.  Can you explain the benefit of Lightroom and the and the difference between it and Photoshop?  This is another of your large collection of terrific images.   Larry