Monarch of the Glen Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the famous Stob Dearg, a part of Buachaille Etive Mor, also known as the Shepherd of the Glen, which stands at the entrance to Glen Etive. No, I didn't take the standard waterfall shot of Stob Dearg. I couldn't find the path, but I didn't really look that hard anyway. :) Others have done it better, so I decided to get some different perspectives.

Glen Etive is an incredible place. Other than the Isle of Skye, I thought it was the most scenic area of Scotland. Glen Coe was also incredibly beautiful, as was Glen Shiel. Rannoch Moor was, quite frankly, a bit of a disappointment. But this is all relative--Scotland's absolutely incredible in general.

Glen Etive is reached by driving along a single-lane track through the mountains in the distance. The hills are beautiful, and the river running through the Glen has numerous waterfalls, but the best things about the glen are the numerous deer (I saw 6 large bucks) and the thousands and thousands of rhododendron bushes that were full of purple blossoms when I was there. I'll post a shot of those later.

Taken about 45 minutes after sunrise, and what a sunrise it was.

thor68, macondo, avene has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Bartleby (5140) 2009-07-24 9:50

Hi Clark,
an attractive light on those glens. Funny how the clouds stick to their tops.

Philippe

pauloog (6905) 2009-07-24 9:54

Hello Clark,
A wide open treeless landscape, captured with great depth as the profile of the grasses i nthe foreground bring the view to life.
regards,
Paul

chawax (6155) 2009-07-24 10:24

Hi Clark,
Wonderful shot ! The point of view is excellent, the grass and the rock in the foreground create a good depth of field. But the most incredible here is the light you caught, a fantastic one ! The colours are juste marvellous. Excellent sharpness too. Wow, I want to go back there !!!
Regards,
Olivier

Cricri (43738) 2009-07-24 11:04

Hi Clark
Un joli éclat de lumière qui rehausse les couleurs de la vallée et des montagnes, beau contraste avec le ciel et beau cadrage, belle réalisation
Good week end
cricri

tomescuc (2837) 2009-07-24 19:11

POV, DOF, light, all the essential things are very well rendered. fascinating landscape.
CT

gneufeld (15235) 2009-07-24 19:46

Hi Clarke,
I really like wild grasses as seen here, especially in that golden evening light. I really like the late day feel and the landcape is so welcoming. Great work and TFS. Gerald

macondo (13271) 2009-07-25 1:24

Hi Clark.
I was not disappointed when I opened up this photo! The light, golden yet gentle in the early morning, lights up beautifully those clumps of grass and the mountain peak on the right, which is incredibly at the same time shrouded in cloud. The viewpoint/composition are excellent, with the smooth rock a good foreground feature adding to the great feeling of depth one has from this picture. It's a wonderful part of Britain, but I haven't been there for about 15 years. Time to return. I look forward to photos of the rhododendrons.
Regards,
Andrew

Keitht (1114) 2009-07-25 13:25

Colours, composition and lighting are all superb BUT is that the shadow of the tripod I see in the right foreground? It's a reall pity as it does detract from a fabulous image.

avene (11138) 2009-07-27 22:10

absolutely love the clear lime-golden tones, the early morning "gold" is so different from the fiery tones of sunset light. I like a lot how you have layered light and shadows, feels like the light is slowly pouring into the valley, pure pleasure to look at this image.

regards,
Kristine

p.s. I see that you have already answered about the tripod shadow, so I will not repeat that. but may I draw your attention on some dust specks in the upper left part? :P

[workshop] [compare] +

Elaine_Blath (6170) 2009-07-28 1:32

Hello Clark,

absolultely amazing warm-colour toning here...I like the inclusion of lighted grass in the foreground, it makes the composition stand out...and strangely eerie place, too...I have never been to Scotland but I definitely wish to go...

Take care, Ivana

Photo Information

Copyright: Clark Monson (cdmonson) (2767)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-08
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon EOS 400D, Tokina 12-24mm f/4 AT-X AF Pro DX, Digital ISO 100, Cokin 77mm Circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/13 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2009-07-24 8:55