Gateway to the Lakes, a photo from Cumbria, England

Photographer's Note

This is a shot that I took the evening before I took the sunburst shot of the Castlerigg Circle, which you can see here http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo1522484.htm

The contrast in the weather and light could not be more apparent but such chamgeable weather and light is what adds to the drama of the scenery and attracts many a light chasing photographer.

This gate is in a field next to the Castlerigg circle looking down the valley towards Helvellyn and Thirlmere lake. To my back, over my left shoudler is Blencathra. Over my right shoulder is Skiddaw. All three being famous peaks in the Lake district.

Landscape is not my usual genre but when in Rome...

Enjoy.

pajaran, ikeharel, Royaldevon, tyro, jhm, macjake, PaulVDV ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (112391) 2016-08-10 2:59

Thanks Michael for the note written on mine.
Last and only time visit to the Lake-District was too short to remember, but this landscape picture sure seem so familiar countryside, especially with the stoney-fence and wooden gate.
B&W enhanced the dramatic sky in good contrast, though light was too subdued for a colors version, i assume.
Perfectyly allocated the pic. space with excellent DOF.
My best regards,
Ike

Royaldevon (85576) 2016-08-10 3:27

Hello Mike,

You have to keep alert when photographing.
You may have one objective in mind but see a completely different one along the way.

This is a really well composed shot.
There is a strong f/g triangle, the gate is perfectly positioned and leads us into the undeniably beautiful scenery of the Lake District.
Like you, I thought this location benefitted from b&w, it is more dramatic and somehow, more direct.

Have a great day,
Bev :-)
Are all caravan troubles behind you, now?

tyro (30513) 2016-08-10 4:41

Hi Mike,
Landscape might not be your usual genre but nonetheless it is a genre in which you excel!

This is a beautifully composed photograph, the gate being perfectly placed in the frame and with all other elements pleasingly arranged. I do like your conversion to black and white because that has accentuated the lovely play of light on the ground, the foreground lighting being much brighter than that on the distant hills which are overshadowed by a wonderfully interesting and threatening sky.

Fine composition, perfect exposure with delightful rich tones, contrasts and textures; and perfect details, sharpness and depth of field.

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

jhm (211734) 2016-08-10 4:54

Hello Michael,

Your black and white picture has almost allure of a horror movie.
The imminent sky is also a nice addition.
A wonderful found picture.
Details are splendid and clear to look at.
You create a lot of depth and perspective.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

samson (2250) 2016-08-10 5:44

Hello Michael,

Like the stone wall, like the gate, like the rolling hills. Lovely B&W.

cheers,

sam

kasianowak (17648) 2016-08-10 5:52

Hi Mike
Classic take on the quintessential English landscape. Almost hard to believe it is not, as you say, your usual genre.
There is a lot of drama in this image, not just due to the well-exposed stormy sky and perfect contrast of the monochrome but also the dynamic zigzag created by the dry stone wall, the slope and the mountain tops in the distance.
Best wishes
Kasia
Ps. To answer your question earlier - I use Southern Railways to commute to work. You may have heard - currently the worst train network with a protracted industrial dispute lasting for months, regular strikes, cancellations due to, I quote, "driver sickness" and 300+ trains taken off the timetable during the last few months. They say some commuters have lost their jobs courtesy of Southern so I consider myself lucky...

Sergiom (117241) 2016-08-10 5:53

Bonjour Michael,

Quelle bonne idée que d'utiliser le noir et blanc pour cette composition. Cela offre des contrastes accentués et de très belles textures. Le ciel est remarquable.

Amicalement

Serge

jemaflor (146168) 2016-08-10 9:36

Hi Michael,
Interesting effect for contrast in b&w, brightness is well managed, well seen, good composition with all these stones.

macjake (98256) 2016-08-10 20:38

Hi Michael
so the ride is going to get bumpy eh? well, lets get right to it I guess.

good on ya to post something very different from your norm, its always good to shake the boat a bit.

are you sure Bev (Royaldevon) didn't take this photo? haha.
looks like she took this right outside of her house :)

and I gotta say, those clouds are the bomb! they really make the scene and are the icing on the cake. the landscapes are rolling along for what seems like infinity, and the stone wall and old looking fence give it that ol' time look and feeling. a bit of everything here.
cheers
craig

emka (157280) 2016-08-10 22:24

Hello Mike,

Landscape is not your usual genre?? I wouldn't say so looking at this wonderful picture. In black and white it looks very dramatic. Interesting to compare the pictures made in different light conditions. So,you stayed somewhere near this place when you could go there early in the morning and in the evening. Marvelous this gate and the stone wall,so typical for the area.

WArm regrads

MAlgo

You visited Perm, I think you should visit to Warsaw.it is much closer :).

holmertz (101880) 2016-08-11 2:55

Hello MIke,
I think you stepped into an unknown genre like you never did anything else. It's a great photo, well balanced and with fine diagonals, a beautiful greyscale and not least very impressive clouds.
Best regards,
Gert

lousat (138521) 2016-08-12 1:09

Hi Michael,lovely landscape with the usual professional work in PP to create a masterwork.Magnificent dark black and white under the clouds,very well done! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

willperrett (14195) 2016-08-12 5:25

Hello Mike

Remembering the weather that day, monochrome was the obvious choice. Dramatic sky, effective pp, perfect composition. Thanks for the hospitality!

Regards

Will

serp2000 (47063) 2016-08-20 12:49

Hello, Mike,
This scene looks like a somewhere in time. No cars, no wires. The b&w solution adds some historic effect. Well done! If I remember Cumbria is the old historic region of England.
Have a great WE!
Serghei

PaulVDV (62746) 2016-08-23 9:38

Hello Michael,
A beautifully tranquil landscape that you present in a very attractive way in black & white.
The gate is closed but that doesn't stop us to have a look further down the slope towards the mountains that border the valley at the other side.
The overcast sky adds a dramatic accent.
Best regards, Paul