Retreat (Click for larger view)

I thought that people might like to see colour version of the B & W

bridge photo, but rather than posting a copy, I chose this one which

is taken about 200 meters to the left of the bridge across the loch

(lake) that feeds the river. Your thoughts and comments are always

appreciated. Thank You.

Hi Alf Wow, this is the second time I have been first.Super image_ projects a feeling of ruggedness & permanence.You have captured the dark granite like ruggedness in the upper portion with great detail , while displaying a softer image in the lower section. The icing on the cake is the small white home with the small steam finding it"s way down the mountain side , finally ending in the calm smooth loch. Bet you are glad you moved up to the Nikon D800. Very Best Regards_ Ross.

Hi Alf,

Scenic beauty at its best my friend.

Technically, this is a well shot image for the camera and lens settings selected.

On the telephone, we have discussed other fine short fcoal length lens for such applications

to be considered for your Nikon D800, too. Perhaps it is time to start saving for a very worthwhile investment in the Carl Zeiss 21mm F/2.8 made for Nikon.

I know that you are also looking for other focal length options, too. So I will not spend all your money right now !!!

Best Regards, Mike

The still water giving a perfect reflection really makes this shot. The image reminds us how insignificant we can be compared to nature. I believe this is the same location you posted earlier from in front of a bridge. It looks like a very remote and peaceful place. Very nice image.

Hi Alf

Wonderful colours and reflection, the water seems not deep so as some grass appear in a very beautiful manner.

it's so deep.  i think it's largely the darkness.  i will make this one a favorite.  best, jamie

The bareness of the color is what first struck me about this picture. This seems a place where summers are brief and winter is always a breath or two away. And yet there is stern majesty here that no lush grass or flash of blooming flower could enhance.

A wonderful scene and superbly captured. I would have had a field day with all kinds of compositions including a portrait mode. Something tells me that you have one of those.

 

For what it is worth, that house with the trees would have been involved in all of my compositional variations.

 

All the very best and keep up your excellent work.

 

 

Wonderful work. Gorgeous scenery. It's nice that in this tranquil space is so much fine detail. I considered for a long time. Thanks for the fun!

What can I say ? Superb landscape , the large view is breath taking ! Bill

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

With best regards,

Ruud.

 

Excellent landscape Alf! What strikes me about this version is just how isolated and lonely it looks. Even though this one is in color it seems lonely and unattainable; the b/w version, I think, because or your angle and the bridge providing access seems more livable. Some days though, I would cherish living in a quiet home away from all life (aside from animals)! Very beautiful and well done! Thank you for sharing. :)

Beautiful colours and great composition. Love the reflection and lighting. A very nice place to be there. Congrats.

Breathtaking!

Alf......A beautiful image. It evokes a feeling of solitude, but can we really ever be alone with nature. Best regards, Bob.

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful scene with wonderful colors, details & reflection.  Take care, Patsy

Very beautiful, Alf!!

Alf, this  exceptional photo stirs many emotions, placing it in the "fine art"  category.  Technically perfect, I wish I knew more about it.

This image really comes to life in the enlarged view. In that view, the great mass of the mountains just jumps out at you. As always, Alf, your composition and processing are spot on. Nicely, done !

Hi Alf, love your large images really shows the detail involved with this amazing scene. Wonderful perspective shown here, the house looks so tiny against the massive mountains. The large image show a great waterfall behind the house and the rugged coldness of the mountains that are seemingly somewhat barren and the wonderful reflection in what looks like a shallow lake. The house, trees and possible hay fields make for a great image to view and ponder. I guess this is called the true meaning of getting away from it all, truly being by yourself. Excellent capture.  Best regards,  Sherry

Hi Alf,

I am impressed by the level of detail and your light management. The misty sky makes for a wonderful counterpart to the sharp reflections in the water.

As far as I may judge, this is a technically stunning shot.

 

Best regards,

Alex

impressive textures, mood and composition. excellent photo, for me it is one of your bests.

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback!

I took maybe 20 shots of this house and surrounding scenery, and every one was different. I usually delete a lot of images, but can't bring myself to do so for this session. Its just a beautiful wild place that I never get tired of seeing or visiting. I just wish this one was closer to home.

 

The D800 is truly a great piece of photographic equipment, and so was the D700 I had before that and the D90 before that and the D40 before that : - )

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE P

 

We have indeed discussed short focal length lens, and the 21mm Carl Zeiss lens you described sounds like an absolute landscape photographers dream of a lens.  I think you must be going into competition with my wife for spending my money : - )

Sincere Thanks for your valued thoughts and opinions Mike, much appreciated.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DAVE

You are quite right, standing before these great majestic mountains, it is easy to feel almost invisible amongst the grand scale of things. You are also right about the previous posting of the bridge which was taken some 500 yards to the right of this image.

Its a wonderful place to lose yourself.......albeit for a short space of time.

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MUSEEB

 

The lake is very shallow and chrystal clear, you can see the stubble remnants of last years grass poking through the surface.

Thank you so much for your interest and kind words!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JAMIE

 

A shallow lake within an image with depth, some opposing combinations were just mean't to be!

I am very honoured that you consider this a favourite!

 

Thank You!

 

Alf

 

JACK

 

You are spot on about the understated colour. This was early morning and the light was quite flat, but even when the sun shines on these mountain slopes, there is a bareness of vegetation that only seems to have any kind of vibrance in a few short weeks of Autumn. I wholeheartedly agree with your eloquent description, the rugged terrain commands a great presence that I find compelling.

Incidentally the weather forecast for this day was no wind and plenty of sunshine, I arrived there at 4.00 am to a blizzard!  It did calm down later though.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Jack.

 

Alf

 

TONY

 

Indeed, I must have taken about 20 shots of this scene and yes some of them were portrait orientated.  I usually delete quite a few of the shots I take because they can be repetetive, but in this case every one is slightly different so I've kept them all! And yes, that house with the trees is involved in all but 1 of the images. The one exception being a more abstract view of the reflections.

Many Thanks for your thoughts and encouraging feedback Tony!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

OLEXANDER

 

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful considerations. It is most gratifying to read that you enjoyed viewing this for some time.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

BILL

 

Many Thanks for your interest and most encouraging feedback, much appreciated!

The place is a dream to photograph, with every turn of my head I could see another scene I wanted to capture.

 

Best Regards

 

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words. The morning light was very gentle with me : - )

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TRISHA

 

It does indeed look remote and isolated, but in actual fact it isn't far from the main highway.  I would love to live in this location, as long as it had internet access : - )

The surrounding countryside is equally beautifu, ruggedl and wild, and I can see why it captivates all that viist the area.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful feedback and kind words.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RAYMOND

 

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback.

Its a great place to visit, and it was early enough in the season to avoid the clouds of Midges (tiny biting insects).

Hopefully I will return again in the Autumn.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RANGA

 

Thank you so much!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

BOB

 

Its an interesting question that you pose. "Can we really ever be alone with nature"  I think the short answer to that rhetorical question is .........no probably not.  I took a few shots on the moorland about 3 miles from this location, it was just after dawn and it was silent, and apparently deserted.  When I processed the images, I zoomed 100% in for a closer look at some details and found that I had photographed a herd of deer that went unnoticed to the naked eye at the foot of the distant mountains. 

My sincere thanks for your thoughts and kind words.

Cheers!

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Many Thanks for interest and positive feedback. I am so pleased you enjoyed viewing this.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

ALBERTO

 

Many Thanks for your visit and kind words!

 

Alf

 

DOMINICK

 

Please feel free to ask anything you wish to know, I am more than happy to supply any exif information or details about the location.

I am just so pleased that I have done the scene justice and been able to convey the exceptional beauty of the area to the viewers.

My Sincere Thanks for your positive feedback!

 

Alf

 

LEO

 

Its really gratifying to read that the view I witnessed has been successfully conveyed through a photograph.  The snow capped moutains and shifting mist at thier peaks looked amazing.

Sincere Thanks!

 

Alf

 

SHERRY

 

Its so good to read that the little house against the huge landscape has made the same kind of impact to you as it did for me when I was standing there gazing at it.

The waterfall can be quite spectacular when there has been a lot of rain, and the whole area is just so rugged and incredibly scenic.

The lake is fairly shallow but looks even more so because the water is chrystal clear. 

The highway isn't far away though, but the feeling of solitude ins't diminished, and I spent about 45 minutes at this one location and didn't see another person........heaven!

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

ALEXANDER

 

Coming from a master of detail and such technical wizardry, your words are most gratifying to read, I am truly flattered!

Sincere Thanks!

 

Alf

 

ZSOLT

 

Thank you for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alf, very impressive. Looks 3-D. Seeing it enlargement is mind blowing. Almost as if I actually stood there.

Now to the important stuff...Rooney to Arsenal? TORRES to Arsenal? what do you say? Will Wenger pull out a stunt here?

Very impressive! Excellent reflection, colour, composition and overall mood.