The title bar doesn't accept Scottish gaelic names!!

[Donald]

Sgórr Tuath, Coigach

Starting to process my images from my holiday/vacation of the last two weeks. The second week was spent in the village of Ullapool in the north-west highlands of Scotland, which as well as being a lovely place in its own right, is the doorway to the magnificent and dramatic (well, I think so) Coigach Peninisula. I could spend a lifetime on that bit of land and never tire of making images.

I quite pleased with this one. I'd welcome your analysis.

[Daisy Mae]

Well...that is a surprising shot Donald. I am very used to your 'low contrast' style ..which is abundant but diffuse in the background.

The foreground is heavy by comparison and I can see little bits where I would have liked the light and structure picked out.

When evaluating it as a whole I tend to think that mid-ground interest/contrast may have brought the scene more together for me.

What the heck do I know though.

A lovely, lovely place and so glad you had a good break.

[Donald]

Do you mean along the lines of ............


?

Pity the lightbox isn't working yet (Sean is working on it)

[thegman]

Donald, a great atmospheric image, your edit makes it so much stronger.

[Donald]

Donald, a great atmospheric image, your edit makes it so much stronger.

Thanks, Gerry. A good lesson in understanding that you can get it wrong (or not quite right) first time, I think.

In originally processing this I actually darkened up the foreground and midground, and reduced the structure (detail) in the belief that I need to throw attention onto that top left area. Sharon, very correctly I think, picked up that it resulted in an image that wasn't totally 'joined up'. And I always do what I'm told (It's one of my endearing characteristics!).

[Rita]

I love the second image Donald. Find it really appealing how each layer is a different shade.
If this is a sample of what the area is like I can sure see how you could spend a lifetime
there with your camera and never tire of it.

[Donald]

I love the second image Donald. Find it really appealing how each layer is a different shade.
If this is a sample of what the area is like I can sure see how you could spend a lifetime
there with your camera and never tire of it.

Thank you, Rita. It is a dramatic landscape. This is but one small example. It is one of the few places I've been that you can describe as truly awe-inspiring. The only limitation to great pictures is the skill level of the photographer.

[Daisy Mae]

The most important thing for me is..does the suggested edit work for you?

You were there....I was not.

[Rebel]

Seen this on Facebook Donald and I love it, I prefer the 2nd edit though a bit more detail in the foreground does wonders for me.

[Ndukes]

Sharon was right. Second version is really superb. Beautiful composition. Makes me want to go there.

[John 2]

Stunning Donald. I prefer the second edit but what I admire is your seeing the potential in the first place. Sort of thing that sets an example to support the recent discussion on 'seeing' an image.

[Kris V]

Amen to the 2nd edit! Beautiful!

[Rebel]

I keep coming back to look at it... and theres no leading lines but what takes my eyes from top to bottom is the tonal range from black to white, if that makes sense!

[Shadowman]

Nice flowing layers and depth.

[Andrew1]

Different strokes. I actually prefer the first version. Another has said it makes them want to go there. Ergo a good travel shot. That's not what I saw in the first one. What came to my mind was 'foreboding'. An old horror movie setting. A werewolf or a Baskerville hound is out there someplace.

The first shot had more of an easier transition from top to bottom then back up again. (a few times) The transition of tones is easy and leads me one way or the other. The horizontal darker ridge does interrupt the flow a bit and I would probably like another shot even more without it. It is there however so must be taken as is.

The adjusted version has the darker ridge in the lower portion intersecting two planes of what are now more equal weights. My eyes stop on the much darker ridge both on the way up and the way down. It cuts it. It's even more obtrusive when viewed in Flickr. Another version I would like to see is the first one you offered with the ridge in shadow lightened up a bit. Blending it into the hillside for a more linear slope to the top.

A very nice shot to be proud of Donald. A large canvas would do it well.

[Donald]

Thank you all for your comments.

... but what I admire is your seeing the potential in the first place.

Interesting thing about that is that I 'saw' the image from about 5/6 miles away. I was driving along the single track road from Achiltibuie towards Ullapool. At bits on that road, you can see well ahead. I saw what the light was doing on the hillside and I knew the road well enough to know where I needed to be. Anyone who has driven on a single track road with passing places built in, knows that you've got to be a little bit cautious in case there's a vehicle coming towards you around the next corner. Well, in this case, it being early morning, I took a bit of a risk and sped along.

I got to where I needed to be, got things set up as fast as I could and started to shoot. I stayed at the location for about 45 minutes, just watching the light changing on the hillside and capturing some more (I think I maybe took 8-10 photos in all). However, I felt the very first frame that I shot was pretty good. Sure enough, that is the one that has been used to make this image.

A large canvas would do it well.

I was really sorry that I did not have my Canon 5DS with me (It was in for repair). This was captured with my 7DMkII, which will still produce a good sized print. But I'm sure the detail would have been even greater if I'd shot this with the 5DS.

[Mike Buckley]

I love layers in landscapes and these layers almost seem to be undulating. Very unusual. Very well done!

[tbob]

I prefer the first version. Not being artsy and not having the lingo, you will have to bear with my attempt to justify why.

The second version has just enough detail in the dark area on the bottom that I spend time initially trying looking at it to pull out info. It is also very close in tone to the darker band on the base of the mountain. In the first version the almost black base supports the foreboding feel, the second dark area now is more prominent and the viewer goes directly to the swirling mist upper left and rock face ; which to me is the main actor. However the viewer can then move over the entire image and is rewarded by more and more detail slowly revealing itself with time. Even on the very dark area on the base. It is an extremely rewarding image to spend time on, yet has an immediate visceral impact. I feel the initial effect is lessened by the lighter base in version two. Plus I can't spend as much time looking about and finding more stuff, something I really think the first version allows me to do brilliantly.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Donald While reading all comments above I was wondering who will prefer the first one and at last Trevor has preferred it! I too prefer your first image and my reason is emotional rather than being technical. I find your first version very moody and it reminds me eternity .

[Shadowman]

Very nice.