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© © Alf Bailey Photography 2015

Eileen-Donan-Castle (Click for Larger view)


alfbailey

Artist: Alf Bailey;
Copyright: @AlfBaileyPhotography2015;
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows);
1/250 sec @ F/8 ISO 200 Focal Length 24 mmHand Held

Copyright

© © Alf Bailey Photography 2015

From the category:

Landscape

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  • 290,309 images
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Last stop before heading back home from Skye (Only 7 more hours to go if I don't stop

again) I have visited this castle a few times, and always there has been blue sky's

and sunshine. At last I captured the dark mood I wanted.......But what do you think?

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated Thank You.

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Nice dramatic presentation Alf. Perfect timing it seems that the rays of light are heading towards the castle. You have achieved some nice rich tones, bravo!

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Moody, dark and dreary but since you normally find this place in the sunshine perhaps Longfellow is a better reference than Poe ;-).  The dark, overhanging clouds, the sun breaking through, the semi-lighted castle all align perfectly in this classic image.  Love it! 

 

A bright and Merry Christmas to you and your family... Mike

 

"Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary."  -  Longfellow

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Great capture Alf. It has a definite darkness about it, especially the sky and austere surroundings. It looks beautiful when viewed large as we are able to see all those nice details. You've definitely caught the mood though, a very Dark Shadows like feel. Get home safely......

Best Always, Holger

P.S. On a brighter note I hope you and your family have a wonderful Holiday.

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A truly wonderful image! I also had "too nice" weather when I was there... You were lucky this time!

Best regards,

Alain

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Hi Alf, a excellent atmospheric and dramatic shot of this well known location ( think it's been used in a film or two, I recognise the bridge!) Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas & New Year. Best wishes. Sarah.

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This is timeless.  Well done.  I've been there a few times too-- either blue sky or too much rain.  This mood is perfectly suited to this castle.  And I like that there aren't busloads of people and that you cropped out the flagpole. 

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Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words.  I had a whole week of torrential rain and high winds with few opportunities for photo's, but still managed to get a few nice moments! 

Best Wishes! 

 

Alf 

 

GEORGE 

 

Thank You for your interest and positive feedback, much appreciated! 

 

Alf 

 

MIKE 

 

 I love that poem and it does suit the image! 

This is my favourite though : -  The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, 
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, 
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, 
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. 
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door - 
Only this, and nothing more."  ......Edgar Allan Poe 

Glad you liked the image Mike! 

A Very Joyous Christmas  to you and your family and Best Wishes for New Year! 

 

CHRIS 

 

Many Thanks for your visit and kind words! 

 

Alf 

 

KEN 

 

The weather had been appalling all week with only a few breaks, but at last it stopped raining and I took advantage!

Many Thanks & Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

HOLGER 

 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback.

The broody dark, austere looking castle just doesn't look the same when there is blue sky's and sunshine so I was quite pleased when the storm coincided with my trip home.  The snow and rain fell shortly after this was taken, but I got home safe and sound thank you. 

Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes to you and your loved ones! 

Alf 

 

DAVID 

 

Sincere Thanks Very pleased you like it.

 

Best Wishes

 

Alf 

 

PATSY 

 

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback.

 

Merry Christmas! 

 

Alf 

 

JON 

 

Many Thanks for your positive feedback!  

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

JACK 

I think the castle and it's surroundings lends itself to this kind of weather, I was just very fortunate to witness it.   

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf 

 

ALAIN 

 

I welcome the "nice" weather with as much enthusiasm as a vampire : - ) 

I was indeed most fortunate on this occasion.

 

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf 

 

JED 

 

Thank you for your interest and kind words! 

 

Regards 

 

Alf 

 

SARAH

Many Thanks 

It is probably one of the most photographed locations in Scotland and yes I believe it has been used in several films.  I was just lucky to catch in a very moody setting. 

Sincere Best Wishes for Christmas and New Year to you and all your loved ones.

 

Alf 

 

JEFF 

 

Sincere Thanks for your positive feedback.  It is one of those places where you wished you lived just a few miles away so as to take advantage when the weather is just right. But for most of us it's pot luck!  Ahhh yes the dreaded flag pole....it was easily disposed of and the car park was almost empty of people, courtesy of the rain, snow and wind!  Well it was my fourth visit, I had to get lucky some time : - ) 

All The Best 

 

Alf 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks to your narrative, I was able to confirm having seen this amazing structure and surroundings before.  The image is evidence of why fortresses so often were built at water's edge.  To me, the beauty of the lakes and the surrounding mountains can encourage an invading force to make landfall here, only to find out when making the final approach that the landing won't quite be that easy.

 

I'm guessing that very little, if any, postprocessing went into the production of this photograph; this increases its impact, because of the ambient lighting.  The break in the clouds is just enough to illuminate the front of the structure.  Although I also doubt that you deliberately vignetted the frame, I am confident you used the dark tones of the clouds, mountains, and foreground shoreline for that purpose.  All in all, the image is moody, mysterious, dramatic, and it leaves the viewer wanting more.

 

My best,

michael

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Alf, very well done. I cannot think of anything that might improve this image. I've never been, but this image paints a very evocative mood and feeling, appropriate to a Poe rhyme. High marks all around. Merry Christmas.

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Alf,  Wow!  This couldn't be better.  My wife and I went by this castle on the way to Skye right across the Kyle of Lochalch if I recall correctly.   I can feel the dank eerie sensation of the old castle.  The mood is perfect.  You make me want to go back now.  Did you just happen to be at this sight in this weather or did you camp out waiting for nature to shine its spotlight on this Gaelic wonder?   Happy New Year, Alf.  Larry

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They are indeed formidable structures, sometimes just getting to them is a struggle, but imagine being weighed down with armour whilst rocks, arrows and boiling oil are aimed at you.  There is a castle in North Wales (Castle Dinas Bran) where just trying to climb the steep hill is almost impossible.......well in the snow it was! 

I have to admit on this one I just used light room and CS6 to process the image, mostly by making adjustments to the RGB channels, to take advantage of the moody sky!

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback Michael and Sincere Best Wishes for 2016.

 

Alf 

 

DAVID 

 

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

Hope you had a great Christmas and Best Wishes for 2016.

 

Alf 

 

GERALD 

 

As you know, there are some amazing photo's of this castle, but as usual it's all about the light.  I find myself being drawn more and more towards B & W photography .........maybe the drab colour of a wet British winter that is influencing me : - ) 

Sincere Thanks! 

 

Alf 

 

LARRY 

 

I was very fortunate, in as much as I had a week of terrible weather on Skye with only a few breaks to take photo's, but on the way home I made a final stop for a sandwich at the castle, before I started the 7 hour non-stop drive back home.  It had only just stopped raining and I could see it had fell as snow on the distant mountain tops (just in the cloud to the left)  So when the sun threatened to break through the cloud I was out of the car in an instant camera in hand to catch a few shots! 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful feedback Larry and My Very Best Wishes for 2016

 

Alf 

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Alf absolutely stunning ,you are so far ahead in your printing skills you leave the rest of us far behind.You must wake up every day thanking the Gods for such , some would think, terrible weather, but you know better.Have been thinking of returning to B&W Would you mind telling me what program you use.OOPS! AGAIN,BEST WISHES to You & Yours-Ross
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Many Thanks for your positive feedback, much appreciated! 

I tend to use software called "Nik Silver Efex Pro- 2" the version I have is a plug in for Lightroom, but you can also purchase stand alone versions.   However for this shot I converted to B & W in Lightroom and used the RGB channels to make a few changes.

You will be very pleased with Nik Silver efex, it has a whole host of effects you can use including simulating all types of film, you will be more familiar with these than I am. 

Best Wishes to you and yours for 2016.

 

Alf 

 

PIERRE 

 

I am very pleased you like it and thank you for stopping by.

 

All The Very Best for 2016

 

Alf 

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Alf, firstly best wishes for the New Year and continued superb images. It always a pleasure to stop by one of your images for a number of reasons. I know that it will be aesthetically pleasing and there will be abundant dialogue which will be edifying and entertaining. Even great poetry and narrative descriptions that paint an additional image and sometimes taking us back into history like this one.

 

Why mess with a masterpiece especially since it has very mood and character. I checked the histogram and increasing micro contrast or similar would blow the highlights. I wondered if I would increase the contrast of the bottom third. In the end I voted to leave well alone.

 

Congrats on a very fine image.

 

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