The-Mirror-Cracked (Click for larger view)

A deceptively calm scene, but it wasn't long before a snow storm arrived from over the

mountain to the right. There was then some drama as my driving skills were tested!

I have several compositions of this scene, but do you think that the fence is a

desirable element?

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Thank You.

I like the fence Alf; it introduces humanity to this pristine scene. Others will have different opinions I'm sure but I'm just offering mine. I have always enjoyed harmony of colors so I see the green of the fence interacting with the green still visible in the grasses under the dusting of snow. Lovely clear image; very well done. Thank you for sharing and I hope you and yours have been enjoying the holiday season! Happy Healthy New Year! :)

I like the natural look, sky, and colors.  But the scene looks too busy to me-- likely because of the fence.  I can imagine the fence removed, but then the scene is too boring with the hill & reflection nearly smack in the middle.  And the foreground (and busy) grasses aren't powerful enough as a foreground element.   

Wow, this really comes alive in the larger view, just like being there! I like the fence even though it does pull my eye to that side. The fence, in conjunction with all of the reflected mountain ridges, lead my eyes all the way to the far shore and provides superb depth.  Fantastic landscape and if you had just waded out about hip deep.... Nah, just kidding :-)... Mike

This is a lovely shot! It looks so serene and peaceful!

I'm not sure about the fence, it can be distracting. Love the reflections and clarity of the shot. What are the other views like and where is it please?

All The Best

Gary

Hi Alf, great winter landscape, the reflections are wonderful. The fence doesn't add anything to the scene for me but it doesn't impact negatively either.

Jed

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful scene with amazing clarity, details & reflection.  I like the fence. Happy New Year!! Patsy

I have to agree with you about the fence, I always think a little touch of men's influence to a scene kind of accentuates the beauty of nature.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and positive feedback, very much appreciated!

My Sincere Best Wishes to you and your loved ones for 2015

Alf 

JEFF

Can't please all of the people all of the time.  Who said that.........well I just did : - ) 

But I am very pleased there were some elements of the image you did like! 

Sincere  Thanks & Best Wishes 

Alf 

MIKE 

Knee deep is my limit! : - ) 

I have a few different compositions of this scene, some where the fence is more predominant than others and some where the fence is totally absent. I think will post another couple to really get the debate going : - ) 

Sincere Thanks for your input Mike! 

Alf 

BENJAMIN 

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words! 

Alf 

GARY

Good to hear from you! 

This is the primary view at this location, though you can choose whether or not you include the fence. I have compositions with and without. The Location is "Brothers Water" just off the A592  Patterdale, Cumbria.  A climb down steep rough steps and a short walk through the woods to this spot.

Cheers Gary! 

Alf 

JED 

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

Best Regards 

Alf 

PATSY

Thank you so much! 

Sincere Best Wishes to you and your loved ones for 2015 

Alf 

ALF - a superb shot that is very aesthetically pleasing. The two small green plants and the ice in the foreground are well defined and add a nice touch. The light seems to be just perfect.  I am OK with the fence because it has a similar shape to the land mass on the right side. The low and darkened colors of the fence keeps me from being too attracted to that side of the image.  

For my library and just in case my tastes change, I would have taken a couple of shots without the fence.

As Mike was hinting, you might have waded into the water but that small amount of ice can be slippery and that might increase the risk to body and camera ending up in the water in an awful 'oops' situation.  The last time I waded into water I had to wait a minute or two for the manmade ripples to subside.

All the best for 2015.

The large view really does bring this one to life.  A beautiful image!  Personally, I like the fence, and knee deep in icy water is far enough.

Have yourself a Happy New Year, and continued joy in photography through 2015 and beyond.

-Dave

Many Thanks for your interest and much valued opinion.

I have taken several shots without the fence and some from a completely different perspective with the fence ( kind of looking over the fence) which also seem to work. 

The icy margins were not too slippery, but the mud beneath bank side grasses is very deep and I didn't fancy leaving my Wellington boots in the mud : - ) 

I have waded into many lakes, rivers and streams, and yes had to wait for the ripples to subside. Though sometimes a gentle ripple can add a different feel to the shot.

Sincere Best Wishes for 2015

Alf 

DAVE 

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

I agree, knee deep is deep enough : - ) 

Sincere Best Wishes for 2015 and I shall look forward to seeing your further postings on PN 

Alf 

A superb composition and the fence actually makes it even better as it points to the center of the photograph... The picture achieves a very good depth with its five levels of elements, the grass the reflection the shore the mountains and the sky. The shore line is strategically placed to divide these elements into thirds. Contrast, colour and sharpness are very good and it has a very good title to boot !!. Very well done!. Alf I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy and healthy new year !!.

Warm regards,

Dimitris.

I'm OK with the inclusion of the fence as it adds a human element without a human stealing the scene.  The pointy parts of the fence play with my visuals as the lower boards appear to be a reflection but the surface of the water seems to be too low for that to happen.  On closer examination it would seem that the water is as smooth as glass & the fence actually penetrates the surface.  Optical illusion! Love the sharpness and clarity throughout,  what we viewers have become accustomed to from your offerings.  Good idea to have a tad of separation between the tip of the reflected peak and the shore line.  You set the bar pretty high.  With the current weather conditions in my neck of the woods my driving skills too will likely be soon put to the test.  (snow, freezing rain)  Stay safe!  Happy New Year.  Best, LM.

Good to hear from you as always my friend! 

Despite some of the shortcomings of this site, and I refer mostly to the rating system, I have to say the quality of the feedback excels any other I have tried. There is a great balance of viewpoints and I'm pleased to hear that no one is ermmm "sitting on the fence" with this one : - ) 

As mentioned previously I have several compositions and will post another one shortly with a fence running kind of diagonally with a view over the fence and with less foreground, then after that another one of the scene but with no fence at all. Should be interesting to raed the preferences. 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful feedback and positive contributions, very much appreciated! 

Best Wishes for 2015 

Alf 

LEN 

Thank you so much for adding your thoughts and positive feedback to this one.

I think your first impressions are right, the lower two boards do actually enter the water, otherwise you would see the sawn blunt ends of the boards, there again the top board has a pointy bit too, so you could be right : - ) 

The separation you mention is minimal and Ideally I would like to have more, but this is one of several compositions and more / less foreground was one of the compositional elements that I was experimenting with. 

You guy seem to cope with the bad weather a lot better than here in the UK, where a leaf on the railway line has been enough to cancel trains : - ) 

Take good care of yourself Len, Stay warm, Keep safe and enjoy a great 2015!

Alf 

It is a disadvantage to view the lesser of two images after, as I have just done.  Ignoring the good points of the photo, the busyness of the fence reflection, in this case confuses my senses a bit.  My top marks certainly go to your image I saw first, which is an absolute gem ! 

Best regards and wishes to you, and yours, for the year just started, Jim

Thank you so much  for taking the time to view this one also, there are many more shots I took, but I will only post one more that has no fence at all, just as a means of comparison. 

Best Regards

Alf