The Waking Of The Rock Lord

I have no suggestions to offer - instead, I will relax and simply enjoy a superb image. Well done.

The sun was rising to the left and the last layers of mist were rapidly

burning off when I took the shot at around 6.00 am in July of this

year. The title comes from my warped imagination that can see a

giant rock creature whose head and shoulder is emerging from an

earthy grave. Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated.

Thank You.

Alf, I'm with Tony.  What a great imagination.  

Alf,

I suppose I must be warped too!

I can definately see that rock creature awakening.  What a fitting title for your photograph here.

 

The light fog, with those clouds on the horizon give one just enough suspense to imagine the Rock Lord.

I really like the crisp details when viewed larger . . . Excellent!

 

Regards always,

Jim j.

Hi Alf, Great title first of all and I'm all in on the warped imagination, but there is also much to enjoy viewing here. Lets start with the rolling mist, it perfectly isolates the head of the Rock Lord and the mother mountain keeping an eye on her child Rock Lord under a forboding and menacing sky, thats when rock lords are always born, it must be forbding and menacing. Well this is getting to be too much fun so I'll say my thanks for giving me an image I could truly enjoy. Take care Alf.

Best,

Holger

I can see the frankenstein like rock monster there alright Alf. Love the mist in the valley lit by the rising sun, and the excellent detail in the foreground rocks. Very well done guy!

All the best,
Neil

Beautiful image Alf.  Great tonal range in this image, and i love how the mist serves as a natural separation between the foreground and background.   BTW I also see that head and shoulder in the stone, a bit freakish indeed and a feeling that is accentuated by the B&W treatment...  Regards - michel

Alf, enlarged is even better.  I love the mist -- the ephemeral softness against the jagged rocks and its delicacy in contrast to the denser clouds.  This rock  has the face of a muppet. It's a lovely, lovely image.  I can see this hanging on the wall garnering much praise.  

Very nice! Best regards, Ilkka

A beautiful composition with very nice lighting, Alf!

With best regards,

Ruud.

 

You have used well the overall circumstances here Alf! Congratulations!

 

Best regards

 

PDE

I hope that you shared your coffee and sandwich with it.  It looks benign.

Good shot and interesting interpretation.

What inspiration to you for this title with this rock.I like the result seen in this landscape,excellent details and contrast in this image,is for sure that D700 shows all his power,but also your hand.That mist from the valley and light create a special mood for this composition,it deserve your wake up that morning.This is more than a simple shot is part of your feelings in here seeing this.

my best regards

A wonderful and deep sense of mistery! Bravo!

Sincere Thanks for your interest and very generous comments. Its very gratifying to read you enjoyed this image.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DOMINICK

Many Thanks, and what a great compliment! Imaginations hath no boundaries!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JIM

 

Being posessed of a warped imagination has great benefits, even we, the owners of such mental gymnastic abilities never really know what fantasy our minds will evoke next : - )

I'm very pleased you liked this one Jim and shared the vision!

 

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

HOLGER

 

I like your analysis even better! Mother mountain and Rock child Brilliant!  I would have named it "The Birth of a Rock Lord" had I thought of that particular angle.......ahhh yes I can see you are really getting into the story and I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!

Thank you so much for your own unique warped connotations of the subject and such thoughtful comments.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

NEIL

Frankenstein!

He is a bit of an ugly baby Neil, but I'm sure his Mother Mountain loves him : - )

Many Thanks for taking a look Neil and for your most encouraging comments!

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MICHEL

 

It is most gratifying to read your thoughts on the tonal range, I think / hope my B & W processing has improved, but its one of those things that takes a lot of practice.  "A bit freakish" If he had any ears I'd cover them up" He has feelings you know! : - )

Sincere Thanks Michel

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DONNA

It was a delightful morning, and worth getting out of bed at  4.00 am for.  But as I drove to my destination I feared that I would miss all the misty bits as the sun climbed relentlessly above the horizon.  I practically raced up the mountain path to capture the last vestiges of the mist before it dissapeared.  The composition was hastily structured, and it wasn't until I processed the image that "Rocky" reared his head and invited the subsequent title above.  I can see the similarities you indicated when you mentioned >"This rock has the face of a muppet"  I'm so glad you didn't add the words "just like the photographer" : - )

I have never printed a B & W image yet, but after your encouraging comments, this could be the first!

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

ILKKA

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Thank you for your visit and thughtful comments Ruud

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PIERRE

 

I guess that using whats available to the best advantage is what its all about.  It was all a bit rushed, but it worked out better than I'd hoped.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TERRY

 

I didn't dare risk putting anything near that crevice of a mouth! I dropped a "Harvest Crunch Bar" nearby and never did find it......come to think of it ....he does look like he's chewing something!

Many Thanks & Best Regards  (Hopefully baack up to Scotland in November)

 

Alf

 

RADU

 

The D700 is indeed a great camera, and although I've contemplated the pro's and cons of purchasing a D800 I can't convince myself that the extra features are worth the extra expenditure.......though I'm still arguing with myself over that one : - )

I was very fortunate to capture the last traces of mist, and even more fortunate to choose a rock that posessed these strange humanoid like features.

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MAURIZIO

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and comments.

I am very fortunate to live within a couple of hours drive of this amazing location, that does have that "deep sense of mystery" that you described.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful b/w scene with wonderful processing & story to boot.  It doesn't get any better that this.  Take care, Patsy

For your shots Alf I am going to stop talking about exposure, composition and the like because it is always very good to excellent. There is very rarely something technically wrong in a photo that you post here. This one is no different but I would say that I really love the wonderful tones of this photograph.

This for me has an aura of mystery, suspense or even menace. The dark tones combined with the fog make me think of some ghost story or murder mystery. I guess it comes from the landscape being obscured by the fog but immediately American Werewolf in London springs to mind, the two men walking across the moors, shrouded in fog unaware of the danger.

Or I could see this playing out as the final scene of some movie with one person chasing another across the field, the brooding clouds in the background.

Nice work Alf...and yes I do see the Rock Lord rising out of the land!

Hi, Alf! First I looked at your picture and enjoyed the dramatic sky, rising ( disappearing) fog, enjoyed the scene and the tones of the picture! Then I red your introduction and everything has changed : the rise of the Giant took all the attention :) and made the imagination go wild! Great vision and presentation! Made me smile too. Warm regards, Tamara

What more can I add?  Once more, beautiful work Alf.  I too can see the rock creature, and certainly agree with the "muppetine" features as well.  I believe the BW really bring out the feeling in this image.  The sky is glorious!  A definite hanger!  Best regards...

-Dave

Indeed a dreamy image, Alf. Mist and clouds indeed provide the right mood and setting for the scene of "resurrection with a grin". It will take him millennia to stand up, but what the heck, he seems to enjoy the process a lot and after all what is that compared to eternity?

Regards, Tibi

This is a fine example where the overall appeal of the photo comes completely from its theme rather than from the subject itself. (mho).Great execution qualities as usual. Regards - El

All I can do is tip my hat and say, "Bravo!"  This is stunning and simply couldn't be better.  Well done, Alf!  Cheers!  Chris

Intriguing shot and the imaginative story! I can see the creature. All the elements, composition till bw conversion are superb. The haze/fog added much to the attractiveness. Bravo.

Hamid.

Alf,

Very impressive work in B/W.  it is very powerful one.  Excellent composition and the well balanced scene.  The fog is adding a lot to the work.  Nice clouds also.  Love it.  Thanks a for your advise.  Best Regards,

Great timing and conditions for this capture Alf, and actually if it were not for the grass, the terrain could, if I let my imagination get carried away (not difficult) it could be 'almost - another planet'. It certainly has an air of mystery and the 'Spirits of the Unknown'. Always when I view images such as these, I am 'taken back in time' wondering who traversed these lands over the centuries. This may just be one to consider for your 'competitions'. Impressive in every way.