Laid Back Loch (Click for larger View)

It was still semi dark when I arrived at Loch Sheil, the deer scattered as I stumbled

through the long wet grass, the deep ruts and gullies making it almost impossible to

walk. At last at the waters edge I noticed with some disappointment a slight breeze

rippling the surface of the water, but looking at the shots I took I'm quite pleased the

way they turned out. Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Thank

You.

If anybody has been to Scotland he would recognize immediately the 'Scotch mist' captured here so well. It certainly adds an air of mystery to the place with it's amazing mood. Very good work Alf, A composition of high quality !.

 

Regards.

HEH! I've finally made it to the front & with my favourite tree, at least I think it's one seen before a couple of times.The larger version shows great detail, but this view is by far the best , a very pleasing image & as usual beautifully presented.Must admit to being jealous of all the misty & so called rotten weather so prevalent in your area.Thanks again, for another fine image to enjoy .Very Best Wishes-Ross

Hi Alf,

  Magical scene with beautiful colors, composition foggy mist.  Take care, Patsy

Wonderful work Alf, there is a real magical feel to this shot.

Jed

Great work!

regards

/RA

Love the green grass against the cool mist and water.

Nice composition, well done.

Great Landscape shot. Very mystical, great mood nice subdued palette of colors. Solitude fully achieved here. Best regards.

Wonderful landscape, looks GREAT!

What, are we photographers have become martyrs?

 

Love the story behind your images, something we don’t often get see, I welcome it, I should do more.

 

I think the blues in this piece are done just right, different tones set depth to this post. Mixed with the ambers of the “treacherous” grass makes an inviting post.

 

If that wasn’t enough you imaged a bare naked tree, alone in this beautiful setting

Alf,  You have certainly loched this one in.  Obviously, you chose to leave in the blue cast on the sky, water, and background.  Wonderful mood in this shot.  Larry

Great composition.  Perfectly presented and not overstated (not that you over-state your any of your images, but this could have been a potential candidate).  Great atmosphere.

I was 21yrs of age when I left Scotland to come to New Zealand, but am sure that you know the geography and scenes of Scotland much better than I do.

Best regards
Jim

Hey, no spots, dots or ducks :-)! A beautifully subtle image.  The lighting is superb and, from experience, very difficult to capture. Other than intrepid photographers crashing through the grass, a serene scene perfectly composed.  Good stuff... Mike

Hi Alf

This is scenery on a grand scale,very well taken with the perfect POV.

As we always said hard work pays

My best regards

Harry

Many Thanks for your thoughtful and encouraging feedback! 

 

The "Scotch Mist" is never far away, be it dawn or dusk the light is fascinating, continually changing and painting the surrounding mountains with it's infinitely variable pallet of colour. 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

ROSS 

 

This time it's a different lonely tree : - ) But it is similar to the one that stands on the shore of Buttermere in the Lake District, this one is about a 120 miles North. 

Most people dislike the "rotten" weather and they look at me like I'm not quite right in the head when I tell them I love it! ,,,,There again they could be right! 

So very pleased you enjoyed viewing this Ross.

Thank You! & Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

PATSY 

 

"Magical" is a very good adjective, it kind of sums up the whole experience! 

 

Sincere Thanks 

 

Alf 

 

JED

 

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words.

"Magical" ..........well we can't all be wrong : - ) 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

RA

 

Many Thanks for your kind words!

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

RENEE 

 

I quite liked that contrast myself, the understated colours of dawn made it more subtle.

Sincere Thanks for your kind words and observations! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

GEORGE 

 

Many Thanks for your visit and positive feedback! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

DANI 

 

Sincere Thanks!

It was the natural subdued colours that I wanted show and so did very little to the image in processing, I am really pleased they have come across that way.

Kind Regards 

 

Alf 

 

MICHAEL 

 

Many Thanks for your positive feedback,much appreciated! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

TONY 

 

Ahhh Yes Tony Martyrs to the cause .........just not quite sure what the cause is : - ) 

 

Behind every image is a story.....sometimes the image tells the whole story.........but more often than not I find it best to fill in the blanks with a few words. I find it interesting to read other peoples antidotes too.

One of the most attractive things on this particular morning was the mist and the subdued colour, I did very little to the image when processing, some spot removal  (either dust or moisture on the lens), a bit of sharpening, and very slight increase in contrast to the foreground. 

The single bare tree was a bonus.......I did find a little huddle of tree's a bit further along the shore, and of course I took a shot of them too.  They looked like a group of friends huddled together on the line of a poorly attended football match.  Maybe I'll post that one next.

Many Thanks for your thoughts and most encouraging feedback Tony.

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

LARRY 

 

Glad I didn't "Loch" horns with the deer that swiftly vacated the area just previous to my clumsy stumbling entrance! 

Yes, I left the image pretty much untouched, very slight bits of sharpening and foreground contrast. I think this type of image can very easily be over processed, and maybe "less is more" pays dividends.

Many Thanks for you thoughts and kind words Larry! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

JIM

 

You are so right! I have in the past been guilty of getting so excited about a photograph, that I have applied all kinds processing techniques to them ......only to realise later that they didn't need it. These days I kind of rate my own images in terms of how little I have to do to them before posting. 

You must retain some great memories of Scotland, it is after all unforgettable! 

I wonder did you retain your Scottish accent?  

If you had to swap your native Scotland for another country with amazing landscapes.......then you didn't get a bad deal : - ) 

Many Thanks Jim 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

MIKE 

 

I deliberately erased all ducks and spots prior to uploading : - ) 

 

The lighting is not so much difficult to capture, it's just managing to be there for the right time. This was first light and I would say that there was a 30 minute window when the light had these very subtle characteristics, then about another 90 minutes usable light.

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback Mike, much appreciated!

 

Alf 

 

RICHARD 

 

Sincere Thanks for your most encouraging and generous review! 

It was the dawn light that allowed the subtle shades, and I was privileged to be there to capture it.

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

HARRY 

 

"The early bird gets the worm"  Not that I was looking for worms : - ) but as we have often agreed, the same principle applies to photography. 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Harry! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

 

 

Masterful work.  I guess the universe grants such to those most capable of seeing and imaging for others to see.  Congrats, Alf.  Deserves no less than 7.

Sincere Thanks for those heart warming words! 

I just feel very humbled and privileged to be a witness .......if I manage to convey the moment with a decent photograph, it's a real bonus! 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

 

Wonderful! Best regards.

Hi Alf, You really do seem to find the most wonderful places to photograph! Beautiful scene with the mist coming off the lake. Really like the position of the lonely tree. Wonderful work!! Best wishes. Sarah.

Thank you so much for your interest and kind words! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

SARAH 

 

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! 

Sometimes it's a challenge to find a new place to photograph, a new scene, a new mountain...........but that's not the case in Scotland.......Scotland is Landscape Photographer heaven, at every turn of the road is a new photo opportunity, as you may guess I just love the place : - ) 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

very picturesque Alf...great work...regards....David

Ahhhh, one day I will experience this magical place. It seems there are so many locations, and yet I imagine each one would be seen differently on any one day. The light, the mist, the aroma of the air. I have not even mentioned the 'sky'. I know - you must know, what a blessing it must be to be able to view such landscapes. And in turn we are blessed by your sharing of what you say on 'that day'. I wish if I were ever to visit there, it could have been with my Mom. For her to have a sense of her heritage, how wonderful would that have been? The singular, somewhat lonely tree, yet it has the 'best view' in the 'Loch'. Beautifully composed 'in camera'. How wonderful to not have to do much of anything in processing. Your continue to 'wow' me with your gift. I am so happy that you had a wonderful holiday in this place that you love so much,

 

sincere regards and the best always, Gail

As in a dream or in a tale...

Many Thanks for you interest and kind words, much appreciated! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

GAIL 

 

I truly hope that you will have a chance to visit this enchanted land.  To see first hand the land of your forefathers and just feel the earth beneath your feet in this most amazing place.  Your Mom would have been spellbound as I am certain you would be too. 

The terrain is quite deceiving, what looks like a flat patch of grass is rutted with holes and voids some 2 - ft deep, it makes it very difficult to walk on, but to get  to this place where to my knowledge no other person has taken a shot from was  well worth the laborious trek.

I always maintain that my "best" shots, or at least those I consider best, are the ones that need little in the way of processing.

Sincere Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts Gail! 

 

Warm Regards 

 

Alf 

 

MAURIZIO 

 

It is a land from whence adventures are born.

 

Thank you so much! 

 

Alf