A few from my recent trip to Scotland

[janet Smith]

Firstly sorry about the different sizes. All taken with 5DMk11 and 24-105 lens

This is Loch Glendhu by Kylesku during a thunder storm, the sun breaking through catching the grasses in the foreground.

From the garden of the cottage we stayed in at Kinlochbervie, Loch Inchard

Loch Voil

Loch Maree, I'm going to try this one in b&w....

We were exceptionally lucky in that we had interesting light a lot of the time we were there. I'm going to start work on the panos and b&w shots asap.

 

[Tom Robbins]

Jan,

These are all wonderful photos, beautifully composed and exposed. I am looking forward to the panos and b&w.

Tom

 

[janet Smith]

Hello Tom

Thank you, I'm glad you like them.

We were amazingly lucky with the light, we had thunder storms, gales, bright sunshine, still calm reflections, golden glowing soft evening light, cold weather, hot weather, basically a year's weather in 2 and a half weeks, in probably the best location we've stayed in so far, we really were very lucky to get such good light, April is notoriously wet and grey.....

 

[nicolas claris]

Very very well done! one can almost hear the sheeps scrunching grass and lambs calling their mum…

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

I think that you've done an excellent job Jan. Of all four, the third is my least favorite as the composition does not agree with me . Also as a general remark, I think that the pictures can be improved by adjusting the global and local contrast and by painting with light (dodging and sponging certain areas). Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

 

[janet Smith]

one can almost hear the sheeps scrunching grass and lambs calling their mum…

Hi Nic

Thank you, I'm delighted you like them! your comments about the sheep are funny because there were sheep grazing on the land the cottage stood on, and we were woken on a morning by sheep all around the house - bleeting and rubbing their backs on the corner of the house, a nice way to wake I think....

There was also a nesting site of Greylag geese just behind the house, so there were frequent excited gagglings too and fro over the garden, funny to watch them. I'm going again soon, can hardly wait!

 

[janet Smith]

Of all four, the third is my least favorite as the composition does not agree with me . Also as a general remark, I think that the pictures can be improved by adjusting the global and local contrast and by painting with light (dodging and sponging certain areas)

Hi Cem

Glad you like most of them, I was a bit unsure of the 3rd one at first too, but it's grown on me, and I like it now, I have loads more of Loch Voil some much better than this one, but they're mostly just blue sky and perfect reflections, I liked this one because it's a little different....

The photographs are so compressed that I've posted here, they're a very poor representation of the full size image, and look much darker and somewhat lacklustre in comparison to the full size shots. I've already made many localised adjustments to contrast and brightness, dodged and burned a bit here and there, but have never tried the sponge tool, your comment has me intrigued, could you explain the benefits of the sponge tool and which photograph in particular you think would benefit most?

 

[Asher Kelman]

This second one has a very interesting foreground which by itself justifies one's attention. The rest of the frame is even more inviting as it is timeless and will outlast everything near us.

Janet Smith Loch Voil ​

This lasts image, like the previous, has that timeless appeal and clarity found in clear clean mountain waters.

Janet smith Loch Maree, I'm going to try this one in b&w....​

Thanks so much for sharing,



Asher

Are there fish?

 

[janet Smith]

Are there fish?

Hi Asher

Glad you like them, yes there are fish, and yes again the water is very clear and clean. I've just had another batch of 96 shots clear quality control at Alamy so must get on and set license agreements etc now. That makes a trawl of 165 so far from the trip, we were so lucky with the light to get so many beautiful shots. I'm going to work on the pano's next, it'll be interesting working on the Mac, I was very restricted before with my old PC, it would take it ages to stitch even just 2 shots together, so it'll be interesting to see what I can achieve on the Mac..... Then I want to try some of the shots which feature a lot of rock formations in b&w, if I get anything interesting I'll post the results.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Jan,

You were certainly lucky with the weather, just as I was in Yorkshire the following week.

The first one is my favourite, just because of the drama of the angry clouds and the sunshine below the rainbow. The only thing that disturbs me is the semi-submerged rock (?) mid left, which keeps catching my eye. Now, if you could have arranged a mermaid on it........................

Regards,

Stuart

 

[janet Smith]

The only thing that disturbs me is the semi-submerged rock (?) mid left, which keeps catching my eye. Now, if you could have arranged a mermaid on it........................

Hi Stuart

Well I could always ask Paul to dress up as one!!) but seriously - Loch Glendhu is a sea loch, and it was high tide, and yes what you can see are seaweed covered rocks. Incidentally there are colonies of seals living in Loch Glendhu and otters are frequently seen, we go again soon, I'll have to see what I can do about a mermaid next trip! BTW glad Yorkshire was kind to you.

 

[Mike Spinak]

Well done, Janet.

I especially like the first and last.

 

[janet Smith]

Thank you Mike, I'll get round to the b&w rocks using your method soon (I've not forgotten, just not had time yet) We've just come back again, spent a few days in the Trossachs around Glen Lyon and been to Glencoe and Glen Etive again, had lovely weather will post some shots in the next few days when I've had to processe them, been very lucky with the light again...

 

[Asher Kelman]

Thank you Mike, I'll get round to the b&w rocks using your method soon (I've not forgotten, just not had time yet) ...........

Hmmm! A B&W method!

Never can have enough. Is it posted here?

Asher

 

[janet Smith]

Hmmm! A B&W method!

Never can have enough. Is it posted here?

Hi Asher

It was in this thread http://www.openphotographyforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8903 where Mike gives an explanation of the treatment he applied.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Thanks Jan!

 

[Ron Morse]

Well done Jan. Looks like a great place to get away to with beautiful scenery.