Home of The Troll (Larger View Option)

"Trip Trap Trip Trap" went the hooves of the largest Billy Goat Gruff

on the wooden bridge. .........Yeah you know the story : - )

 

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Thank You.

Another beautiful location captured by your talented hands.  I would like to make a recommendation if I might.  I know nothing of the location, however, I would enjoy just a bit more of the near landing  of the bridge.  The bridge seems too much like it is missing its support, just a couple of feet would probably be enough.   Thank you for sharing.  Best regards...

-Dave

Gorgeous B&W work Alf! Nice spot for a Troll too! Keep up the good work my friend.

All the best,
Neil

Hi Alf,

Well shot my friend.

The Nikkor zoom setting was spot on for this range covered.

In my lab tests, the Nikkor 24-70 ED zoom revealed a peak performance range of F/2.8 to F/5.6 across all focal lengths selected. This lens is one of my favorite choices for weddings and parties.

The use of BW works well with this presentation.

Best Regards, Mike

Very impressive outcome!  Fine details (as usual), and a b/w that adds dramatic tone to the story told here.  I love the "grandiose" presence of the  the mountains.  It boosts  the contrast between them and the house.  Bridge constitutes the prologue to the story and the physical entrance to the image...Excellent work Alf!  Cheers!

it's a must to see this large for enjoying all the fine details. Despite being B/W, it feels like standing at the bridge  - which is a well placed entry to the photo. I can imagine that the crop at exactly its first plank adds to this effect and more space would potentially separate the viewer more from the scene.

Great work!

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful b/w scene with wonderful details, composition & the perfect title.  Take care, Patsy

Alf, very interesting concept and title. The B/W adds to the "troll" feeling. I think I agree with Mike in that a little more foreground may enhance the feeling of the road. In fact I might have had a little of the road before the bridge included. I would also experiment with where I stood in relation to the left and right railings to see if a little different angle would give any impact.

Very nice shot.

Many Thanks for your thoughts and observations, very much appreciated!

You have a good point relating to the apparent missing support of the bridge due to the close proximity to the edge of the frame.

I wanted to put the viewer right at the threshhold of the bridge and so I chose to frame it this way, I also thought that the level new black tarmac on the near side of the bridge looked a bit too .........well "civilised" for this scene.  A dusty track like the one seen on the other side of the bridge wouold have been preferable!

 

Cheers Dave!

 

Alf

 

NEIL

 

Good to hear from you, I hope you are keeping well!

Trolls are all too common in this area! : - )

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words.

 

Best Regards

 

 

Alf

 

MIKE

 

From my experience so far I would concur with your tests and  findings entirely.

I can see why it would be a favourite at weddings and parties too, its such a versatile high perfomance lens.

Although I love the Nikkor 14 - 24 F2.8 for wide angle shots I tend to use the 24 - 70 F2.8 more because of its versatility.  Its ability to attach 77mm filters is another plus.

 

Many Thanks my friend!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

PANAYOTIS

 

You nailed it in your description "The prologue to the story and the physical entrance to the image", thats exactly what I wanted the viewer to experience.  It was quite a sight watching the ever shifting mist at the top of the those mountains, whilst the "Troll" slumbered in his cottage beneath.

Sincere Thanks and Best Regards

 

Alf

 

WOLFGANG

 

I agree, this image in particular looks rather flat when viewed at the normal size, the larger view seems to add a bit of impact.

I think you have read my intentions acccurately, and as explained above, the nearside of the bridge road surface looked just too uniform and clean and civilised for such a wild looking terrain, and would indeed seperate the viewer from the scene.

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and observations, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Ahh so you have read that story of the Billy Goats Gruff too : - )

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DAVE D

 

Its very interesting to get feedback on this one, we have a kind of 50/50 split regarding the thoughts relating to the composition. So I won't repeat myself here, if you could please read my reply to DAVE A.

I did a little bit of walking about before finally choosing my angle. I wanted to show at least one side of the bridge side rails. I have photographed this bridge before and a straight on shot just doesn't do it justice.And a  few steps to the right puts the house at the wrong angle to get all the moutains in the frame. But having said all of that, theres always a different angle if one looks hard enough.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and observations Dave, your feedback will help tremendously when I next encounter these circumstances.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may be confused, but I thought Trolls lived under bridges! The house seems dwarfed under those hills - I know, maybe it's dwarfs who live there! Seriously, very lovely and well done landscape Alf! Thank you for sharing. :)

Regardless of the amount of  positive comments, I like to add my to it.

You extremely careful processing resulted a perfect grayscale, around the grays. The image composition is very good, almost, a little bet more sky would help, but you missed the drama, the grandeur of the place, with the over cautions processing of the highlight and shadow area, resulted an almost flat image, like those HDR photographs. You need more black and contrast to this image to highlight the greatness of the place. If you study Ansel Adams images, you will see,  the greatness of his images the drama, the contrast. I'm not criticizing you image, rather I like to help you to get a mach better image out of this. I hope you going to understand my pure english, witch is not my mother tongue.  I'm attaching a version, to demonstrate what I'm talking about.

I hope, you going to take this as a constructive comment.

Cheers.

Another magnificent Scottish capture Alf!!! It is beautiful in black and white, I'd love to see it in colour as well. I have to look back at the larger image, is that waterfalls close to the upper right???

Amazing details and tonality in the large version. I liked its composition too.

Ahhh Yes they like to give the impression that they live under bridges in order to harness public sympathy, whereas in reality they just use bridges as hding places to frighten innocent Billy Goats : - )  The Dwarfs live in the next Glen along with the Fairys, Elves and ever growing Smurf population!

 

Glad you liked this one Trisha, and Thank You, for your interest and kind words.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

BELA

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and observations, I do indeed take these as being "constructive" and most helpful.

I agree a bit more sky would have helped, maybe I should have changed lenses as I was at the widest possible here.

I am not well versed in all aspects of B & W photography, but I understand where you are coming from and the attachment is a great help in delivering your message.

 

Now whilst I appreciate the greater drama that is delivered in your higher contrast version attachment, it also begs the question, in my mind at least as to should this be applied to every B & W image?

The reason I ask that question, is because the light at 6.30 am was relatively flat, and the processing I used reflected the conditions I encountered.

Your command of the English language is to be applauded, I know of several English people that could not match it.

 

Cheers!

 

Alf

 

GAIL

 

Maybe I will post a colour version too. I spent quite a bit of time here, as the house and the lake (just of of view to the left) looked lovely in the early morning light.

Yes you are correct, they are waterfalls from the upper right. It is fascinating to watch them, the seemingly never ending source of water is mesmerising.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and  positive feedback Gail.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MUSEEB

 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback!

The photographs I post are usually optimised for viewing at the larger size. I am very pleased you enjoyed viewing this one!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

this one seems to lack the compositional elegance your pictures usually have. the angle through the bridge is well chosen, but the cottage might better be along the right side. j

Alf, love the amazing tonality, crisp sharpness, nice composition as usual, very well execution!      Best regards

Well, you indeed have a rich story world full with goblins and trolls and whatever.

Is it so easy to get there? I thought you need to close your eyes but now I see your camera can capture it. Or do you have a magic filter? :)

Regards, Tibi

The larger view reveals awesome details! Lovely composition &  grayscale too.Thanks for sharing.

My best regsrds.

Kallol

A really beautiful result with very nice lighting and details, Alf!

 

Alf, I enjoyed reading your responses. I benefited from "seeing" your thinking behind this shot. It helped me grow as well. I totally agree with showing at least one railing and that a straight on shot would not be as interesting.

Happy Shooting

Dave

Dear Alf, compliments for this wonderful B/W landscape, really a great work!

I highly recommend that everyone view the large version of this.  Wow!!!  Although I understand the idea of creating a bit more leading room before the boardwalk, when I clicked on the large view, I literally felt like I could start walking in to this image.  I like it the way it is, frankly.  But it sounds like you didn't have a choice anyway.  :-)  You wouldn't have wanted to crop from the left because of that spectacular mountain in the rear, but did you try a shot standing more to the right with the boardwalk at an angle?  I think that would also have been a great viewpoint and might have eliminated the empty space in the left front.  Nitpicking to be sure......I absolutely love this image just as it is!

Its a tricky one to be sure. A lot of elements to balance, and of course the camera angle can look very distorted with such foregrounds. Normally I'd place the key elements ideally in thirds diagonal positions, but I couldn't do that here whilst maintaining the harmony of the peaks above.

Cheers Jamie!

 

Alf

 

RICHARD

 

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words.

I used a tripod for this scene. The light was still quite weak so I didn't want to risk any camera shake.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TIBI

 

Its not that easy to get there, but if you have a warped imagination and are willing to drive a long way its always achievable : - )

Many Thanks for your visit and thoughtful observations!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

KALLOL

 

Many Thanks for your interest and observations, much appreciated!

The D800 does capture some amazing detail.  A few shots before this one, was a lake on Rannoch Moor, it wasn't untill I processed the image that I noticed some tiny dots, when I enlarged it, the dorts were a herd of deer grazing.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

RUUD

 

Many Thanks for your visit and kind words!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

DAVE D

 

Its always good to get another perspective on things, and I do appreciate your honest feedback, it helps broaden my views also.

Sincere Thanks!

 

Alf

 

MAURIZIO

 

I am very pleased you enjoyed viewing it, many thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

I think you pretty much nailed this perspective and where I was trying to lead the viewer in your sentence " I literally felt like I could start walking into this image"  I had a huge smile on my face when I read that line, a most gratifying feeling : - )

There are always choices and different views, and no right or wrong ones. I just try to get ones that connect the viewer to the subject. And of course it doesn't always work.

But to answer your question directly, yes I did try standing to the right of the bridge, but from that angle the bridge looked somewhat distorted. But its a very valid observaton, and I might have a look through some of the other shots I took to see if I actually took one like that.

It's always very useful to get feedback from you, as you seem to have a very analytical mind and examine every aspect of the subject before delivering your observations!

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

Alf-

Viewing the large image was a treat and a definite "WOW".  What a spectacular scene.  The huge mountains in the background were given such perfect perspective by the teenie little white house.  I have to agree with the discussion about the bridge.  While it did lead me right into the image, finding it dead center made me wish it weren't.  Perhaps, that was the only place to stand for such a grand scene.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed the caoture.