No Critique Required Bothy at Buachaille Etive Mor

[DavidC]

It's one of those cliche Scotland photos, but I was travelling through the area today and couldn't resist.

 

[Piquet]

Nice shot

 

[Minor Problem]

It's a very good example and not conditions you see every day in Glencoe!

 

[winchestergoose]

Very nice.

 

[David_MC]

I really like the motion in the sky. Great shot!

 

[DavidC]

David_MC, Piquet, winchestergoose - Thanks
Minor Problem -The sun had gone within an hour, and everything was back to normal

 

[intwophoto]

She's a tad blue for my eyes, but it's a great composition and a nice shot. Nice work on the Z line as well. I always tip my hat to that

 

[DavidC]

She's a tad blue for my eyes, but it's a great composition and a nice shot. Nice work on the Z line as well. I always tip my hat to that

Thanks for the input. The current internet trend of oversaturated images is one of my pet hates too! In this case, I did not touch the Vibrance or Saturation sliders post-processing (honest!!). Just a touch on the colour balance with highlights and whites to balance the shot. What I did use though is an ND10 to get the 30-second exposure, and have always thought it wasn't as 'neutral density' as it is made out to be. I will therefore go back into this and shot and desaturate the blues slightly to remove the colour cast.

 

[intwophoto]

I'm thinking just a little white balance tweak is all you need. Maybe push it between 6000-6200? I use 6500 a lot, and I think that will be too warm.

 

[Pete Larkin]

Really like the composition in this, and those clouds. With a curves layer colour correction, it is so much better!

 

[DavidC]

Really like the composition in this, and those clouds. With a curves layer colour correction, it is so much better!

Thanks Steve, I went with a targeted attack using the tones curve on the blue channel, and dragged that down until the house lost its blue tinge.

 

[H1ghlander]

I keep returning to this picture again and again and my reaction is always the same. There's no polite way to put it but I don't see the need or point of long exposure in this context. It brings or adds nothing to the picture other than a distraction.
Glencoe doesn't need any on trend fads or gimmicks to make it look wild and wondrous, the glen speaks for itself. I'm betting your test exposure is better than this, it wouldn't have the colour cast for a start. Sorry for being so brutal and this is just my opinion.

 

[DavidC]

I keep returning to this picture again and again and my reaction is always the same. There's no polite way to put it but I don't see the need or point of long exposure in this context. It brings or adds nothing to the picture other than a distraction.
Glencoe doesn't need any on trend fads or gimmicks to make it look wild and wondrous, the glen speaks for itself. I'm betting your test exposure is better than this, it wouldn't have the colour cast for a start. Sorry for being so brutal and this is just my opinion.

Long exposure shots are like marmite. You either love them or hate them. You obviously fall into the latter.

 

[H1ghlander]

Long exposure shots are like marmite. You either love them or hate them. You obviously fall into the latter.

Not at all, I've made many LE's. One of my favourite UK photographers happens to be a LE mono specialist.
There's a time and place when a picture merits the long exposure treatment. I just think the location, conditions or subject matter don't need or warrant this application and a 'normal' shutter would have rendered a stronger picture. But it's not my picture, if you're happy then that's all that counts.

 

[Pete Larkin]

Thanks Steve, I went with a targeted attack using the tones curve on the blue channel, and dragged that down until the house lost its blue tinge.

Steve??

 

[DavidC]

H1ghlander I think you hit the nail on the head with that last statement. Photographic interpretation as with all forms of art all comes down to opinion as to its merit. e.g. two artists could paint the same landscape scene and one paints something Turneresque, and the other an abstract. It is only with a personal idealistic view on a location that would render the romanticised abstract painting as being unnecessary or incorrect.

I recommend your looking at the William Keddie illustrated guides of Scotland from the 1800s. In these, the artist used a curved black mirror and painted from the reflection. The result was that the mountains looked more forbidding and harsh. Almost like something from the Swiss Alps. Are these illustrations somehow wrong? No, they are an artists interpretation to romanticise the scenery that he saw.

 

[H1ghlander]

There is no right or wrong, only like or dislike. Nobody is saying the picture is wrong or incorrect but it is my opinion the long exposure is unnecessary in this context and instance. Do you have a test exposure to compare?

 

[Banjo Ryan]

The composition of this photo is spot on, and before reading the comments I also thought I'd prefer it without the long exposure. I find the clouds distracting and the sky too blue. The photo is strong enough as it is and doesn't need this. Perhaps worth a re visit? I also don't mean to be negative, this is a stunning shot.

 

[DavidC]

Banjo Ryan, In the end, I settled with a slight adjustment on the blue channel in the tone curve and I think has solved the sky issue. I also adjusted her by 1/2 a degree as my horizon was slightly off. The long exposure I still stand by in this instance, as I wanted to convey the static grandeur of the mountains with the fluidity of the clouds. Some people like the result, some don't... it's just a picture at the end of the day. I will, however, be looking for a new ND filter, this Cokin one is definitely iffy!

I am lucky enough to live 30 minutes from this spot though, so weather permitting there are opportunities for more snaps

 

[Paul the Painter]

A great image with its Rule of Thirds and I, amongst many, am a fan of long exposures so this incorporates my kinda image. The bothy is a tad blue but doesn't detract too much. If there's ever a gap in the clouds in Scotland be ready with your camera.....

 

[Banjo Ryan]

Banjo Ryan, In the end, I settled with a slight adjustment on the blue channel in the tone curve and I think has solved the sky issue. I also adjusted her by 1/2 a degree as my horizon was slightly off. The long exposure I still stand by in this instance, as I wanted to convey the static grandeur of the mountains with the fluidity of the clouds. Some people like the result, some don't... it's just a picture at the end of the day. I will, however, be looking for a new ND filter, this Cokin one is definitely iffy!

I am lucky enough to live 30 minutes from this spot though, so weather permitting there are opportunities for more snaps


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Nicely done. I think perhaps apply this adjustment as a gradient from top to bottom so it effects mainly the sky and not the foreground colours.

 

[SFTphotography]

Banjo Ryan, In the end, I settled with a slight adjustment on the blue channel in the tone curve and I think has solved the sky issue. I also adjusted her by 1/2 a degree as my horizon was slightly off. The long exposure I still stand by in this instance, as I wanted to convey the static grandeur of the mountains with the fluidity of the clouds. Some people like the result, some don't... it's just a picture at the end of the day. I will, however, be looking for a new ND filter, this Cokin one is definitely iffy!

I am lucky enough to live 30 minutes from this spot though, so weather permitting there are opportunities for more snaps


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Doesn't need as big a colour shift.

What I'd do is make the curve a slight inverted C shape pulling the mid point in a bit. This removes ugly blue tinge In the shadow parts but keeps that lovely deep blue sky you have