Victoria Lodge, Tweedsmuir Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is Victoria Lodge, built originally at the end of the 19th. Century in beautiful woodland near Tweedsmuir in the Scottish Borders. It was built to accomodate the directors of the Edinburgh Water Company during construction of the Talla Reservoir which, together with newer reservoirs in the same area, provides much of the water supply to the city of Edinburgh. It is rumoured that this place also provided an excellent location for the directors to entertain their mistresses - a fine setting indeed and far from the madding crowd!

Victoria Lodge is now a guest house providing luxury accommodation in the Scottish Borders. You can read more about it here.

Shot in RAW and converted and edited in PSE6.

All comments/critiques/advice welcome!

finlay, BWJ, graffer, robjol has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

finlay (387) 2009-02-07 11:56

John

These magnificent fir trees with the light snow covering make a great backdrop for this grand building.

The light is good and brings out strong colour in the foreground and on the facade of the building.

Good work.

Regards
Finlay

BWJ (1771) 2009-02-07 13:16

Hello John,
Excellent POV which adds to the dramatism of this lovely snowy landscape. Your note about Victoria Lodge, a grand and imposing structure, is interesting. I enjoyed both your photo and the note very much.
Kind regards,
Betty

Glint (2997) 2009-02-08 0:57

hello John,
I like this wintery scene. The snowy trees are a perfect background. For myself, I would have cropped the sky and the bottom to simply the picture. But neverless this is a pleasant scene with a nice light.
Bev

graffer (1764) 2009-02-08 2:18

Hello John,

I've only just caught up with this, as my email, and hence favourites notification, was out of action yesterday.

A fine picture, with that low round tower at the bottom right making a good starting point for the composition. The curving track[?] and the steep steps lead us directly to the front of the lodge.

The brown of the FG and the dull green of the conifers behind, are enlivened with the dusting of snow. The lodge itself with the low sunlight on it, is well set in the middle ground.

To start with, I thought the thin band of sky was not quite right, but having played about with cropping your image, I think I prefer it as it is. Perhaps you should post your alternative as a WS.

Regards,

Peter.

robjol (2023) 2009-02-08 11:46

Hello John,
A lovely setting for your photo, I think it is just about perfect with no cropping, we get the full idea of this area, peace and quiet indeed.
Perfect lighting.
Lovely photo.
Good notes.
Regards
Rob

Photo Information

Copyright: John Cannon (tyro) (2578)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-12-02
Categories: Nature, Architecture
Camera: Canon 20D, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP AF, Hoya 67mm Circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Map: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-02-07 5:26