The intense humming of evil

This has to be the most spooky place I've been recently. Thick fog had descended and it was almost dark on a freezing December evening. Huge drops, slippery rocks and towering cliffs making you feel hemmed in. The throbbing sound of gushing water creating a constant low but loud background noise.

The image does not do this place/time any justice. The memories are far better than any image I could have taken.

I must go see the James Ward painting someday.

Thoughts appreciated,
Tristan

1/4 sec, f/8, 5D
Bigger here again

Alternate composition

What a stark and baron place, I have been up on the other side of it where the tree is and down in the gorge, its certainly a great black and white location and as for the memories you have not matching up to the picture well I wouldnt say that, you never know what magic your image can work as we the viewers can let our imaginations run riot whereas yours are locked into the experience, but I know what you are saying....!

Great, except I really need a crow pecking out the eyeballs of a victim swaying in the breeze from the hanging tree.

Tristan

Super description and the scene certainly echoes your written sentiments. I like the impression of layers which lead the eye through the image, however I do feel that this lead finishes far too centrally in the image.... know exactly what you mean about memories of a location, I don't believe there is any way that we as photographers can capture that elusive part of the formula...

Sorry rambling here, not long got home from a training course....

All the best

Hi Tristan,

As usual very good and atmospheric. I like the image very much. Would it be possible to either post or email your processing/conversion to black and white please.

Regards

Rob

Thanks guys - Phil I see what you mean about the central point. It has not bothered me until you just pointed it out. In my mind I balanced the image more on areas of light and dark and perhaps didn’t take enough notice of that cliff edge. Does it bother anyone else?

Rob - I've just selectively added contrast/emphasis to a couple of areas. Nothing more than lasso tool and levels. This is the original unprocessed image (left - just desaturated in raw) next to the final image (right). The main change is the dodge to make the distant cliff look a bit more ... distant. It was taken in b+w originally - personally I find colour distracting on the screen so tend to keep my camera in b+w mode all the time regardless unless its is something really colourful.

Awesome and quite menacing atmosphere you've captured Tristan - actually I like your alternate composition as it's a) a bit more simple, just like me and b) I think it portrays an atmosphere of even more starkness and foreboding than the first.

Very envious as I can't 'see' landscapes very well at all

I must try harder

Great atmosphere as usual. Personally, I like the first post the most.
Well done.


Edwin Kats

Nice and moody, first post works for me.

Cool image Tristan and great description and details... I also like David's crow scenario

Full of texture, detail and atmosphere and up to your usual high standard.
Sure does look like a rather intimidating place.

I can see the spookiness Tristran! Very subtle treatment to the original image too - makes a big difference.

BTW, I like the thread title - I'm a fan of a band with a song that has this title!! Grim song though, it has to be said, lol