Light over Idwal

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 8, 2012448 views21 comments

First post here....

A cold winter's afternoon, the sun peaks above the crest of the mountains and tries to push its way through the building clouds over Cwm Idwal.

Struggled with this location on this day, the light was terrible and nothing seemed to work. However, was pleased with this one.

2 Stop soft Grad and 3 Stop full ND. RAW processed in Lightroom 4 and finished in Photoshop.

Appreciate all feedback on composition, post processing, etc.

Thanks

Phil

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 8, 2012 at 5:06 PM

Welcome to NPN, Phil! Nice first post, a lot of mood here and some great scenery! Only one real nit: the reflection is brighter than the sky/peaks. I'd probably darken the reflection a tiny bit, and brighten the top portion a bit more.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Prower on February 8, 2012 at 6:23 PM

An incredible image, great colours and textures. Love the foreground rocks.

Registered on February 5, 2012, 24 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Gasior on February 8, 2012 at 6:31 PM

Nice color

Registered on March 7, 2010, 99 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Caldwell on February 8, 2012 at 6:46 PM

Really beautiful shot--love the scenery and earth-tone colors! I like the way you can see thru the reflections in the FG and see the rocks under the water.

Registered on October 10, 2011, 62 Posts, 508 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 8, 2012 at 6:55 PM

Very nice first post, Phil. A wonderful mood captured!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 8, 2012 at 7:11 PM

Phil,

Welcome to NPN and the Landscape Gallery! What a fabulous first post. This is just wonderful.

I think the composition is first rate with an excellent application of the near/far view. Solid base and interest with the rocks, but not so much it takes away from the main event, the mountains, reflection, symmetry and of course the light, which is just perfect for the mood and conditions. I love this!

We look forward to your images and participation.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on February 8, 2012 at 7:37 PM

Welcome to NPN. I'd have to say your struggle was not in vain, this is very nice. I am particularly enamored of the cobbles beneath the water and how they extend from the fg rocks with such ease. You maybe could darken the fg and water just a bit to balance the sky. Great first post.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 8, 2012 at 8:12 PM

Welcome to NPN Phil. Wonderful first post. The symmetry in the upper 2/3 of your image is stunning. The rocks in the lower portion act as a wonderful anchor. I also like the visibility of the rocks under water. Fantastic landscape you have there.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on February 8, 2012 at 8:32 PM

Welcome to NPN. Nice work.

- Dan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on February 8, 2012 at 8:41 PM

What Stan said Phil. Nice dynamic light and comp. Welcome!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on February 9, 2012 at 6:06 AM

Great first post Phil. I love this place, it's probably my favourite spot in Snowdonia. I think you handled the tricky lighting very well. Great reflection and very natural colour.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on February 9, 2012 at 10:21 AM

I like the moody lighting. I'm curious as to why you used a 3 stop ND filter over the whole scene in addition to the grad. It would seem that would only lengthen the exposre and effect only cloud movement or running flowing water in this comp. Maybe the sky and water were smoothed out with this longer exposure

Just curious.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Corley on February 9, 2012 at 11:03 AM

Harry - I used a 3 stop ND as there was a slight ripple across the water breaking up the reflection. By slowing the exposure I managed to bring the reflection back.

Phil

Registered on February 8, 2012, 1 Posts, 2 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on February 9, 2012 at 12:28 PM

A great first post and welcome to NPN, Phil. The mood here is fantastic. My only suggestion would be to daken the reflection just a bit as it is lighter then the mountain and sky.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on February 9, 2012 at 8:19 PM

Welcome to NPN! This is a great image---and the reflection is amazing.

Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Corley on February 10, 2012 at 6:30 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys. Have slightly darkened the reflection down and bit to avoid being brighter

See attached...

Phil

Registered on February 8, 2012, 1 Posts, 2 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on February 10, 2012 at 1:03 PM

Welcome to NPN and the landscape gallery Phil. This is an excellent first post. Very nice light and mood you captured here. The repost looks perfect to me.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on February 11, 2012 at 1:34 PM

Welcome to NPN, Phil. That's a very good first post with a solid composition. I like the foreground rocks and how the submerged texture connects the foreground to the rest of the shot. My only nit would be that the reflection feels a little too bright looking at the real mountains. They are rather dark especially at the top - you could fix that. Enjoy your time here.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on February 11, 2012 at 7:22 PM

Welcome and beautiful first post!! The repost works much better me. Sweet image!!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Ant on February 12, 2012 at 4:46 AM

Very nice, and very moody, and very wintery to me. I also like the dark and brownish colors.

Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on February 12, 2012 at 6:35 PM

A gorgeous image with beautiful soft light, I like it!

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments