The Martyrs' Stake Photo

Photographer’s Note

I've just got back from a short trip to Scotland, visiting family. Unfortunately the weather wasn't being very cooperative; strong winds, grey skies and heavy rain predominated. There was the occasional interlude however, such as on this clear evening at the Martyr's Stake on the saltmarsh of Wigtown Bay.
This monument marks the spot where in 1685, two local women were put to death for their sympathies with the Covenanter movement. For fifty years the Covenanter movement defied the claim of the king to be the head of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, accepting only Christ as head of their church.
After their trial, Margaret McLaughlan and Margaret Wilson were tied to stakes and drowned by the rising tide of the Bladnoch River. Their graves lie in the local churchyard, along with those of three Covenanter men hanged at the same time.
In such a quiet, peaceful place, it's hard to imagine the terror of their last moments. Now the only sounds are the wind, and the calls of the birds out on the wetlands.

cdmonson, Henryk_Bilor, mickyg, robertosalguero, asajernigan, ribeiroantonio, Wanda1, vbl, broglia, JCG, Cretense, Photo65Net, miuky, Elaine_Blath, kmarscher, ryno, john_c, daddo, ruisc_pt has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cdmonson (2767) 2007-01-13 18:16

Beautiful colors in the sky here Ben. The use of the ND grad is well done as well and really helps give the right amount of light to the entire picture. The grass near the monument has a bit of a bluish tinge, but otherwise it's a fitting capture of a historic area. Nice job.

Clark

Henryk_Bilor (20371) 2007-01-13 18:24

Hello Ben
Interesting place. Beautiful colours, especially of the sky and nice composition.
Regards

mickyg (815) 2007-01-13 18:26

superb shot Ben .. the off centre position of the memorial is perfect and the balance between sky and ground is spot on ..you nailed the sky with a perfect exposure too .. good work indeed

robertosalguero (110) 2007-01-13 18:51

Hello Ben. This is an excellent landscape with the monument to the left. I like the colors and definition of this picture. Very good exposure to show the natural colors of the sky and clouds. Good work :-)

Roberto

KellEy (1224) 2007-01-13 19:08

Lovely colours in this one.
Well done with the composition too.

asajernigan (14284) 2007-01-13 19:47

Ben,
Nice landscape with excellent color and lighting. The monument adds an interesting touch to the shot. You captured the sky with great exposure!
TFS,
Asa

ribeiroantonio (21967) 2007-01-13 19:54

Very nice picture with good compo and beautiful soft colours. The story on your note is very interesting too. Well done.
Antonio

sebcz (2345) 2007-01-14 3:37

Hi Ben!
Superb, simple composition. I also like the sky colours. The water in the grass also adds some interest to it.
Fine ladscape!
Seb

Wanda1 (11015) 2007-01-14 5:46

Hi Ben,
I like your off centre composition of the monument. Nice pastel colours for this lonely looking place with a sad story.
Regards
Wanda

vbl (1402) 2007-01-14 10:08

Hi Ben:
i like very much colors and contrast. Excelent compo. Sky is fantastic.
regards vanessa

broglia (3359) 2007-01-14 11:10

Very poignant shot Ben, made all the more so by the excellent notes (concise & to the point). Well composed against a beautiful backdrop. Regards, Roberto

tcht (7298) 2007-01-14 12:48

Hi Ben
Very fine landscape work with good lights and colours. I like this mix of quiet atmosphere and warm lighting. After reading your notes...this picture has a kind of chilly feeling to it too...
Regards
CheukHin

JCG (25745) 2007-01-15 3:43

Hi Ben,

A beautiful photograph on this place in charge of history. I like very much the framing and the colors of the image. The good management of the light is appreciable. A beautiful composition and instructive note, thank you Ben.

With all my friendships and a good end of day,

Jean-Charles

Cretense (57010) 2007-01-15 10:08

Hi Ben!

Great composition my friend and perfect positioning of your "subject"! Beautiful colours! There some lack of contrast in the lower part, I think, but that's a small detail. Congratulations!

Best regards,
Hercules

mhdesbois (0) 2007-01-15 12:47

Hi Ben,
The colors and the light are perfect to retranscribe the feeling of loneliness which seems to characterize this place. Very nice shot.
MH

sebinho342 (18784) 2007-01-16 8:26

Hi Ben, this is a nice shot from that "historical place" where such horrific thing happen as i read your note. Your sky is superb with those blue, pink, purple tones, yes now i trust you that this is such a quiet place ;)
Good !

Photo65Net (43096) 2007-01-16 12:39

Hello Ben,
Superb compo, full of soft colors. I like that.
I like too the depth of the landscape.
Very nice,
JB.

miuky (3335) 2007-01-17 4:35

hy
a simple but nice picture of landscape with this particular on left.
The water in the bottom, between the green grass makes a great effect of blue combined with the sky.
good job
regards, m.

Elaine_Blath (6170) 2007-01-17 5:09

Hi Ben,

beautiful soft-coloured scenery of open grassland, the composition is perfect with all the details included, well done!

Regards, Ivana

kmarscher (2881) 2007-01-17 11:22

Unimaginable demise to these two brave women! The subject is aptly shot off center and is complemented by the wonderful colors achieved by your ND grad filter. One suggestion would be to place the fence on a diagonal with a leading line into the monument, but I realize it is not always possible.

ryno (4615) 2007-01-19 2:08

Hi Ben, great photo, it does look like a very desolate & atmospheric place. I can easily imagine this as a place of execution, despite the natural beauty. I like the soft evening light bringing out the best of the moss on the rocks and reflections on the water. Lots of subtle pastel colours here. Good work! Cheers,
Ryno

john_c (24635) 2007-01-19 12:11

Hi Ben,
The evening tones somehow seem appropriate for the scene. The monument is well placed off centre, with a partial view of a brook or lowlying field water on the right. The fence helps break up the frame nicely, while the clouds are prosaically tinged by the setting sun. A fascinating note. First rate work.
John

daddo (11535) 2007-01-23 20:47

Hi Ben. An evocative photo to remember the courage of individuals. Wonderful colours in this desolate place. I can almost hear the wind as I look into the distance, over the flat terrain.Nicely balanced with the monument on the left and the water picking up the blue of the sky on the right.The fence posts add a strong note of symmetry.Great note. Regards. Klaudio.

ruisc_pt (6207) 2007-06-26 17:47

Hi Ben
This stone column it's a impressive monumente indeed, after reading your note.
Great POV and lite .
TFS
R