Glen Lyon in November, a photo from Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Photographer's Note

Taken in November from the same viewpoint as this picture but looking west toward the top of Glen Lyon instead of eastward. The River Lyon can be seen on the left as it makes its way down the glen, finally to join the River Tay, the longest river in Scotland.

Glen Lyon is also the longest glen in Scotland (at 34 miles) and is thought by many to be the most beautiful of the Scottish glens too. But at this time of year it can be bleak and windswept, especially here in its upper reaches.

macjake, Royaldevon, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (57626) 2013-02-05 8:32

Waaw Waaw Waaw!! Absolutely magnificent! What a jump in the scottish nature,a great capture under the tipical sky and whit the warm colors of this season,great exposure in this difficult backlight and fantastic work in PP,I like it!Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Noel_Byrne (7352) 2013-02-05 10:25

Hi John,
A very magical looking place, and you captrued its essence really well. Stunning wild landscape, and fair play for handling that really difficult light so well!
All the best
Noel

macjake (39227) 2013-02-05 11:07

Hi John
who wouldn't enjoy a viewpoint such as this!?
So suddenly you're becoming the landscape photographer! haha...good on ya! they all look very good! really enjoying your last few posts....not to say that i havn't enjoyed all of your posts :)

having never been to Scotland, this is the type of scenery i kinda get in my head when i think about the country side. very rugged and scruffy looking :)

but yet, there's a true beauty to it aswell, thats well conveyed in your photo to us.
well done!

thanks again for all the info on the cars! its much appreciated and i've enjoyed the learning aspect of it too!!!
cheers
craig

mesutilgim (67960) 2013-02-05 12:59

Hello John,
Very nice landscape capture with perfect format which fits perfectly to the scenery.
FS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

saxo042 (31800) 2013-02-05 14:28

Hi John,
It is very interesting to compare these two puctures, taken the same day but in different directions. You had some very attractive sunshine in the previous picture, but here everything looks very brown, quite different colour scale. I would have liked to see a large Panoramio version here too. It sure looks "wilder" on this side but there are probably neither bears or wolves here, maybe only a Famous Grouse.
Kind regards
Gunnar

Royaldevon (17791) 2013-02-05 15:04

Hello John,

It is interesting to make the comparison between the shots. For me, it is the light that is immediately so different and then other aspects become apparent.
That is the fun of photography, light, season, weather make such wonderful contrasts at the same spot!
The mood here is more sombre but it is no less interesting because of that.
You have created a great sense of depth from the f/g boulders to the distant, snow-capped hills. The dull palette of browns and khaki-greens gives pertinent information about the season.
That cloud is so important, it towers over the scene like some huge alien, bringing a sense of drama with it.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jjcordier (62328) 2013-02-05 22:57

John
Je préfère nettement ta version horizontale mais la photo que tu nous proposes ne manque quand même pas d'intérêt avec ces couleurs particulières.
Amicalement
JJ

jhm (122444) 2013-02-06 0:59

Hello John,

A lovely mountain landscape image, truly a rough landscape, very difficult for to make a stroll between the vegetation.
But your picture speak real book parts, without text can I long look to this nice panoramic view.
Nice perspective and depth image.
Excellent composition, nice presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

holmertz (26932) 2013-02-06 2:59

Hello John,
I notice your problems with the sky, which is still quite well "recovered". This scenery looks a lot less welcoming than in the other direction. Maybe it is partly due to the different kind of light and colours, but it also looks a bit wilder and more rugged, a bit like Afghanistan in fact! A breeding-place for fierce, fighting clans.
Kind regards,
Gert

timecapturer (30324) 2013-02-06 6:17

Hi John
another shot the Scottish Tourist Board could snaffle for their "Visit Scotland" ads. It certainly is making me hanker for a long overdue visit. Glorious scenery and what a magical composition. Everything tantalisingly balanced and full of exquisite detail. A stunning and beautiful piece of landscape imagery! Bravo!

Have a great middle of the week - regards Brian.

SnapRJW (18722) 2013-02-06 7:46

Hello John - I can see that this is a shot where the light was a real challenge and you have had a struggle with the brilliant patches of light in the sky. Something I experienced when we were in Scotland and short of using GND filters I'm not sure how to managed such contrasts. The view is lovely looking down across the valley to the pastures and mountains beyond and so typical with the white cottage tucked beneath the hill. Pity about the sky though. If you manage to find out how to deal with it please let me know, I have some shots that I haven't a clue how to edit! Warm regards Rosemary

marabu61 (3914) 2013-02-07 6:42

Hello John
Personally I prefer the first version, there is a more pleasing light and much more sharpness and contrast in that one. This one is a bit on the soft side but still an amazingly beautiful landscape. Thanks to your low POV one has the feeling that one could right step trough the frame in to the landscape.
have a good day
Daniel

willperrett (2955) 2013-02-07 11:11

Hello John
Bleak, lonely and beautiful. I love the deep russet tones of the heather and bracken at this time of year. You've also managed not to lose that lovely sky: did you use an ND filter, or did you do some P'shop recovery work? Or neither? I hope you found a snug hostelry soon: it looks bloody cold!
Regards
Will

rbassin (11121) 2013-02-08 9:26

Hello John,
ce paysage d'Ecosse est magnifique; les sommets enneigés créent de bons contrastes avec la végétation.
Bon W-E
Roland

delpeoples (44904) 2013-02-08 22:26

Gidday caro Giovanni

I know what you mean about post-processing: the more I fiddle with it the more I stuff it up (I've just changed the adjective to something a little softer for daytime viewing, but you know what I mean). That's not to say here that I think you HAVE stuffed it up. You haven't, but I think the photos like your previous "golden ones" which came virtually straight out of the camera, have a greater impact. This is a sensational photo, but here the sky really had you stuckered (and it would have done the same to me). As a Photoshop-moron, I could only suggest using a grad filter on the camera or in post. Or perhaps using the Paintbrush to "paint out" that OE part of the sky. In any event, the OE has had a marvellous effect on the river, turning it completely into a silver mirror. I love the rugged landscape, it's so wild and untouched. So barren yet so full of ghosts and a people who are no longer. There is an awesome, breath-taking and melancholy beauty to this photo. I love it, and maybe it's my hormones or the latin in me, but it actually brings tears to my eyes looking at it and thinking of the bloody and romantic history of the place. Actually maybe it is the hormones...think I'll go take a Bex and have a good lie down :)

Un abbraccio
Lisa

PS: Am seriously thinking of an escape to Umbria and Campania in September...any thoughts or advice?

weetrees (599) 2013-02-11 14:31

Hi John,

The bleakness of the Scottish moorland.
I find it rather inspiring rather than a downbeat thing.
The colours of the moors can be great at this time of the year. I am just back from a wee trip to Glencoe and found the colours easy to work with and made me process in colour rather than black and white.

This image...
Great viewpoint effective use of the thirds it apparently has it all.
The failings are the blown sky which is a shame but you could always slip a new one in ;-)
A longer exposure with a nd filter on stops this from being a problem but its still a wonderfully evocative image capturing a real sense of the grandeur of Scotland.
Enjoyed it and its good to see someone bold enough to put on an image like this as we see mainly very sanitised shots on here these days (i am included in that)
Bravo as they say and keep them coming
PS one from my jolly to Glencoe is in my pf should you wish to have a look no hdr just long exposure from glen etive
John