Ardvreck Tranquility

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted September 28, 20171,580 views7 comments

Loch Assynt, Assynt, Scotland

One of the most difficult things to capture in an image is something I refer to as "motive", the meaning behind an image. Ostensibly this is a low contrast shot of a castle on a loch in calm conditions on a bleak overcast day. But try and see past that try to put yourself there on a cool October morning shortly after the sunrise that never happened. For me the mood is tangible, the cool thick air makes me shiver and I am immediately transferred back to the rock that I was sitting on staring at the utter stillness of a loch that I could just see below the surface of. For me it is a little piece of sheer magic. I doubt it stirs others in quite the same way.

Please view LARGE..

Pentax 67II, 55-100 zoom, f/22 at 2 Seconds, Fuji Velvia 50

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 30, 2017 at 9:32 AM

Your image is ethereal and very peaceful Ian. The partially submerged rocks in the foreground are a wonderful lead in the the castle.

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

Comment posted by Ben Samuel on September 30, 2017 at 12:18 PM

Hi Ian, there is something to this image that keeps me coming back to stare into it. I think it is the tranquility of the water that leads up to the rather powerful scene beyond. I really like it a lot. That being said, whilst the foreground rocks clearly do provide some leading into the frame, for me personally they distract a little from that magic.

Ben

Registered on September 23, 2017, 1 Posts, 2 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on September 30, 2017 at 1:34 PM

Ian, there is an intriguing tension in your composition to me, that immediately draws my attention. Matching tonality between the sky and the water works perfectly in my opinion. Finally the hint of colors in the midground just make the difference for me.

Maybe reducing the contrast in the foreground elements would be an option, but this is only a minor matter I think and certainly not easy to decide from the web presentation.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Norma Tareila Matl on September 30, 2017 at 2:03 PM

I just Stepped into your tranquility... I love this peaceful scene. I am sure it does not stir me like it does you because I was not there. Much of the experience of taking the image in my option is part of the awesome reward. I can however evoke another feeling from your beautiful scene and of course mine is personal just like yours. If I may, the only thing I would like to see more of is the top of the mountain ridge which would certainly give this image more dof a slight burning in of the edge as the fog and mountain top are the same value. I like it just the way it is but was wondering how that might change the distance view....just a thought. What a great memory.

Registered on October 27, 2016, 229 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Schwartz on October 3, 2017 at 4:44 AM

Ian,
A beautiful, serene and, yes, chilly image. It just pulls me in. It's the kind of image you can look at over and over.
I agree with Peter about the foreground rocks to maybe balance it a tiny bit more, but really minor.

Registered on September 29, 2016, 23 Posts, 97 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 4, 2017 at 4:40 PM

Beautiful work, Ian! Love the quiet mood.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on October 5, 2017 at 7:47 PM

Love this tranquil scene with all the negative space and muted colors. I like the fg rocks, however, having just the topmost rock by itself would have been an interesting composition. very nice image.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments