Random Scotland pics

[appleguy]

I just came back, man it was wet but got a day and a half of nice weather. I only took a few, normally I come back with loads.

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8206/bideansummitxl9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Took six hours to get up and back down again. Hard work but worth it.
Direct link: http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/355/bideansummitiz5.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4944/dawnatglenetiveeu3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Direct link: http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/9768/dawnatglenetivevc9.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/2038/lochetive1io2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Direct link: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3503/lochetive1xe5.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8238/lochetive2hb5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Direct link: http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4144/lochetive2fi7.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2875/lochloyneai2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Direct link: http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/8458/lochloynech4.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4904/riveretivedh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Direct link: http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6260/riveretivevg7.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/9848/thefivesistersgj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Direct link: http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/733/thefivesisterstb6.jpg

[shiato storm]

awesome pictures, really like those. what was your technique when you shot/edited these? really nicely done.

[rudgej]

They are lovely David from composition to processing. Where are you from?

[beano]

All beautiful shots! ;)

[shiato storm]

just re-read the title... bit more than 'random shots'!! :D

[Seaboarder]

Well what can I say?
Exceptional shots and PP just perfect.
So glad that you posted these.
Paul

PS. Hope you don't mind me pointing out the sensor dust .. shows up in 114/4.

[Meerkat17]

Well thought out images, nicely composed and presented - Well done.

[Dimitri_V]

Nice pictures,love the mood in #3 and the comp in #6,nice PP work,although some are a bit too dark at places.
Well done.

[tumblew33d]

These are amazing!

Only minor niggle - 2nd viewing of numer 2 found my eye drawn to the bottom right corner. Is it a reflective bollard?

Absolutely stunning set, thanks for sharing them!

[asolie]

Gorgeous pictures!

[Vinmum]

Amazing shots!!! I am from Scotland and I don't get back too often. My last trip back I was too sick from pregnancy :( to take too many pics. Thanks so much for sharing these.

[J T]

David, can explaing the dark spots on the first two and last one? In the first two, it looks like you used a blotchy filter. Am I just seeing things? I love the river shot.

[appleguy]

Thanks for the reply's everyone, much appreciated.

These were taken with a canon 20D with a 17-40mm EF 1:4 L USM lens, using a Lee filter system most of them had a .6 and .3 ND graduating filters as well as a circular polariser. The light was harsh, especially on the last one of the five sisters which had a .3, .6 and a .9 ND grad on there! I'm amazed that came out as well as it did I thought it was gonna be a wash out.

I took all the images in RAW (I always do) I ramped the contrast and shadows and saturation in the adobe RAW editor and enhanced some of the shadows and highlights with dodge and burn, especially those that had the sun breaking through the clouds in patches (JT I think that might be what you're referring to)
Seaborder you where quite right about the sensor dust a quick bit of clone stamps sorted that out.
Rudge J I'am from Wigan in Lancashire northwest of England (it pains me to say).
Tumblew33d yeah thats a bollard right there.

I'm going back again in April when there's some snow on the mountains and hopefully the weathers better.
Apart from a day and a half it did nothing but rain but I guess that's the price you pay for going in autumn beautiful colours but totally unpredictable.
Next time I hope to summit Buchaille Etive Mor and Ben Starav, Bidean wasn't too difficult but one of the hardest to do in Glencoe, if I can tackle that the other too should be a breeze.

[Dorman]

These are simply near flawless, there are a few small spots that could be improved, but man you did well considering the difficult lighting. Great job on composition and processing, and a good example of the power of GND filters.

[wayne_eddy]

WOW! :D

These are an absolute pleasure to view, welcome to the forum.

Must look into that lens, been thinking about it for a while.

[saravrose]

for a second I thought I was looking at one of Dimitri's posts... absolutely beautiful! I'm more and more convinced that everything about scotland is this outstanding....

sari

[Lesmac]

Excellent series, and I know only too well how difficult and unpredictable the weather can be in this area.
You have made best use of the conditions presented.
Good work.

[appleguy]

Thanks for the comments everyone, very kind of you.

Wayne_Eddy If you're thinking of getting a good all round wide angle lens for your camera I can't rate the 17-40mm highly enough, it's pin sharp and cream crackers all over the 18-55mm lens that comes with the camera. I've never looked back.

[CarolP]

They are all stunning!

[dewmuw]

Rudge J I'am from Wigan in Lancashire northwest of England (it pains me to say).

So #4 is really Wigan Pier? :)

Great series of shots. I've never got the hang of dodge and burn - any tips?

[Hellashot]

Clean your sensor! Sensor dust showing up big time in #4.

[appleguy]

So #4 is really Wigan Pier? :)

Great series of shots. I've never got the hang of dodge and burn - any tips?

Yeah Wigan piers exactly the same, just with more raw sewage and dead rats floating down it.

As for dodge and burn just use the burn tool to add extra pump to shadows and the dodge tool to bring out the highlights that are already there the default settings on PS are fine for them. Burn is also great for bringing out colours like a blue sky it can make it more rich and add a lot more texture to your clouds if they seem a little weak. Just have a practise with them they're like spray on ND filters. Very, very useful.

[bachscuttler]

for a second I thought I was looking at one of Dimitri's posts

They weren't that bad surely? :lol:

Welcome Appleguy from a fellow pie-eater (ish...Golborne)
I moved to Scotland 4 years ago so these scenes are reletaviley speaking on my doorstep.
Jealous hey? :):p

I love your series and particularly like your post-processing.
I know only too well how dull and drab the lighting can sometimes look but you really brought the images alive.

I like the Loch Etive pier shot for it's beautiful simplicity (just clone that annoying sensor goober out!) and I think the Five Sisters image is a superb moody image, captured at just the right time as the breaking rays scatter on the land.

Look out for posts on the fabled Scottish POTN meets...you'd be more than welcome and it would be great to hear a familiar accent!

[appleguy]

Hah! Golborne, eh? small world, I'm from Bryn which is just a mile further up than Ashton and you'd better believe I'm jealous, you're living what a couple of hours away from Glencoe?
I've already sorted out the sensor Gaff, I just haven't reposted the image.
I would be interested in the POTN's but I have no idea how they work could someone inform me?
And thanks for the kind comments.

[bachscuttler]

Type 'Scottish POTN meet' into the searchbox on this forum.
The next shceduled one is the 4th meet.
The 2nd meet was at the three sisters in Glencoe and the very recent 3rd was around Perthshire.
They are usually held on a Sunday but members travelling any distance tend to come up a couple of days before.

Lesmac is now a regular attendee, travelling up from Durham.
There's always plenty of advance notice and advice is given on suitable accomodation in the proposed area.

PM me if you need any further details.