Sunset on the Stones of Stenness, Orkney

This photo was taken last summer on a visit to the Orkney Islands. The Stones of Stenness are reckoned to date from at least 3,100 years BC and are one of the earliest stone circles in Britain.

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Great silhouette. I sthe cirlce defined by just two stones? Ok just kidding. I love the colors in the sky.

Thanks SanderH. There are a few more stones than that - although not as many as the nearby Ring of Brodgar. The site also suffered from a local farmer who, in 1814, was fed up of ploughing around them, and knocked some down. There was a public outcry, and the farmer apologised - and then knocked down a few more.

Jings, I can't imagine what the histogram says about that shot John, were you using an ND grad upside down ?

Great shot and the story about the barmy Scots farmer doesn't surprise me to be honest I've been known to dispose of a few coniffers in similar fashion ...............without permission ........

Thanks Scottie. This shot was actually taken on a PowerShot S30, so no filters for me back then.

Buggbairn wrote:
Jings, I can't imagine what the histogram says about that shot John, were you using an ND grad upside down ?

Great shot and the story about the barmy Scots farmer doesn't surprise me to be honest I've been known to dispose of a few coniffers in similar fashion ...............without permission ........

I`m guilty (but not proud) of that too,a tree had to go,to give way for my house in Greece,regrets? hmm,the house had to go there.
Anyway,the picture looks very good to me with fine shilluettes John.
I wonder where the name Stenness came from,why i`m saying that?
Stenness stones in Greek would mean slim stones,i don`t know if there is any relationship there.

Interesting Dimitri, but just coincidence I think. The name Stenness is supposed to come from Old Norse and means stone headland.

Darn,i thought i had a connection there between the 2 countrys.

dv2004 wrote:
Darn,i thought i had a connection there between the 2 countrys.

There is...you!

http://www.orkneyjar.c​om …standingstones/​index.html

wee bit of info from the net .....and yes nice composition

superscot wrote:
http://www.orkneyjar.c​om …standingstones/​index.html

wee bit of info from the net .....and yes nice composition

Thanks for the link. There is some useful background info there.

rudgej wrote:
There is...you!

Chears John,and i forgot the other 2 things.
The same flag colours and the...Athens of the north.

dv2004 wrote:
Chears John,and i forgot the other 2 things.
The same flag colours and the...Athens of the north.

You're quite right Dimitri. For those that didn't know, Edinburgh is sometimes known as the "Athens of the North" due to a number of 18th century buildings being made in a Greek neo-classical style. Here for example is Edinburgh's Shame, so called because it never got finished. It was meant to be a replica of the Parthenon.

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Both shots are good, John, but the sunset silhouette is special. Until recently, I thought Stonehenge was unique. Now I see there are stone circles all around the UK, and perhaps elsewhere.

Thanks Stan. There are numerous stone circles around Britain. Check out http://www.stonepages.​com/ancient_scotland/l​ist.htm as an example.