Sunrise over Stac Pollaidh, Inverpolly, North West Scotland.
We spent a weeks holiday in this area, and the weather was pretty poor most days, I had a hard time pulling anything good out of my Canon 40D !!
However, on the last morning, I woke early to a glimmer of light, and planned to shoot the early morning light falling on the Summer Isle. Of course, that didn’t work out, so feeling despondant, drove around the corner to turn around.
Glad I did, for less than five minutes, the light played ball !
I knew I couldn’t shoot for a conventional shot, far too much contrast with those sunbeams, so I settled for a three – shot , hand-held, HDR image. There wasn’t time to set up the tripod, but I didn’t need it, since great depth of field was not required on this occasion. Luckily I had my IS ( image stabilisation ) lens already fitted ! The light rapidly disappeared under a big blanket of cloud, which remained with us in the North West for over a WEEK !!
It was however, a magical moment, filled with adrenaline !
Shot on my Canon EOS 40D, Canon 17-85mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM lens set at 79mm, 0EV, -2EV, +2EV, RAW, iso 100, cloudy wb, then processed in Photomatix, and further enhanced in Adobe Photoshop CS3, where I had to do some more selective Tone Mapping, in particular the moorland, where I wanted a little ‘pool’ of light. I also helped along the sunbeams with a subtle use of ‘dodging and burning’.
LAB colour was also employed, gently. The ‘warm up ’ photo filter was also used in Layers, and eradicated from areas not required by using Layer masks and painted out.
The result was what I had in my mind when I saw the scene, and could not be described as a true record of the scene before me.
This is the Digital Age, let us enjoy it, and use it to advantage !!
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Sunrise over Stac Pollaidh, Inverpolly, North West Scotland. belongs to the following groups:
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Lois Bryan
ooooo … soooo unusual … just glorious!!!!! Read your commentary about the taking of the shot … I always love knowing the story behind the image … I have to tell you … even if this is the only shot that worked for you the whole of your week, it is worth it!!!!! Well done!!!!
Curtiss Simpson
Sometimes the those best shots come un expectly the light and color is stunning, beautifully photography !!
Torfinn Johann...
Stunning shot!
Frank McCafferty
Outstanding Sublime Wonderful Hell Burning!!! LOL What A Favulous Piece of Work The Craggy mountains are lit along there tops so beautifullly A masterpiece YES Definetly Be Lucky Frank x
PhotosEcosse replied
Do you like it just a little then Frank ??? LOL ! (hugs xx)
Karl Williams
Yep .. this’ll do, kid!
PhotosEcosse replied
Thanks Karl !
dinghysailor1
absolutely wonderful.. we’ve spent many weeks camping near here waiting for the weather to change.. love this mountain… simply the best.. small but perfectly formed – superbly captured
you certainly made the amazing best of the moments you had…
:))
Antonio Zarli
Wonderful!!
Linda Jackson
What a shot! glad you turned around! take care, Linda
ellcot
Fabulous work!!! Well worth the trouble!
philjimi
Stunning work !
Randall Scholten
Photographic excellence!
Saleh Rubat
Nice shot .
Vendla
Wow, awesome picture, the lighting is amazing.
naturelover
Absolutely stunning!!!
jacqi
Totally beautifully sublimely fantastic image. Haven’t a clue how you did it or exactly where you took it from as Stac Pollaidh is on its own but it’s certainly worked! A fave for sure!
PhotosEcosse replied
From near Polbain, where Cul Mhor looks as if it is behind Stac Pollaidh. Thanks !!
sunsetgirl
beautiful lighting!! nice capture!
Kelly Cavanaugh
Gorgeous capture!
sidfletcher
Its a magical place Stac Polly (have climbed it several times) you have captured it wonderfully
Sid
en-joy
Wonderful, what a great moment!
lorilee
Beautiful!!!!
joak
magic !!!!!!!!!!
PhotosEcosse replied
You are speaking from the ‘other side’ of course Joak ?
JamieGreen
Magic, you have a very steady hand.I just had a shock, cos i just spotted the ethereal and ghostly essence of Laphroaig above…..Is Joak playing for the other side now?
joak
of course… us ghosts like tae keep in touch wi you earthbound folk
John Kowalski
Excellent sunrise ….... lovely light, colour and processing!!
M G Pettett
If the result is a beautiful picture like this, I think it doesn’t matter whether digital manipulation was used, but I know a lot of people who disagree!
PhotosEcosse replied
I know ! – but when colour photography was introduced, way back when, ‘they’ said it wouldn’t ‘catch on’ !! LOL !!
‘They’ also said it would be the death of monochrome !!
Richard George
Your use of digital manip is so well done, it only reinforces the beauty you so aptly capture on a routine basis… nice work!!
Dave Corn
Stunning and lovely photography!
Randall Spencer
Congratulations, Great job, great timing. You already know, . . . if you dont look for it you will never find it.
I’m glad you found it.
Randy
LeilaniMelayna
WHOA!!!! HORSIE!!!! I’m going to have to visit this place before I die! TO DIE FOR!!!! That’s a real compliment!
Smiles Leilani :o)
lozzar
This is truly stunning. Such a great moment and capture. Well done.
Rany Lutz
Very special image…..you can take the credit for it all! Great work!
Rob Schoon
What a great picture this is! Well done, the light and colors are just perfect.
richiedean
Delicious work Barbara …............... :))
Terry Mooney
fantastic piece of work.
kathy s gillen...
PhotosEcosse replied
Brilliant ! A tremendous honour, really appreciated !!
bobculshaw
What a fabulous capture and processing. Well done for your perseverance!
Lisawv
Stunning, breathtaking and beautiful scene. Great work.
Fraser Ross
Great light and nice subtle HDR.
Jen Ryan
PhotosEcosse replied
Thank U so Much, a true honour that is very much appreciated !
TaniaLosada
beautiful light!
gabbielizzie
congradulations on your feature
walela
Beautiful!
Angie McKenzie
stunning!!!! congrats on your feature!!!!!
Mimmie Hunter
Congratulations…gorgeous capture
M. Wiessman Ph...
congrats! your work is featured in Northern Landscape group!!!
PhotosEcosse replied
That is marvellous new, much appreciated, my eternal Thanks !!!!!!
LarsvandeGoor
catching those last rays, wow! Aint that wonderful how nature showed itself just long enough for you to capture it, you’re blessed Barbara :-)
PhotosEcosse replied
Yep, a lucky ‘snap’ !!
Zefira
magical image, congrats on your features
Jason Asher
Another fantastic piece by you, love those rays of light, such a inspiration image. Congrats on the features!
ilpo laurila
Very beautiful, Barbara. Congrats on the features!
Oldrooz
Just stunning well done.
TaniaLosada
marvellous!
kemal91
Spectacular. Breath-taking. Beautiful colours. :)
Norval Arbogast
Gorgeous
Andrew Murrell
PhotosEcosse replied
Once again, Thank You, I very much appreciate it !
Ted Byrne
Etherial! We can feel it shimmering and the light seems to turn the mountains translucent. You are a poet …
jo beerens
Wow. Supershot. Best way to attract tourists to Scotland….
ctheworld
lovely capture!
Andrew McNeil
What a stunning image. You have really captured the light well on this shot
Michael Treloar
I have dreams of taking photos like this, super work.
Svetlana Sewell
Excellent!
Rod Mueller
Stunning capture.Mind blowing light.Cheers.
Ron Moss
Awesome work, well done.
Anne McGinn
gorgeous, so well done!!!
Jean M. Laffitau
Stunning landscape and shot!
Linda Gregory
Barbara, this is fabulous!
Lina
love the tone of this
sundawg7 25 days ago
An absolute marvellous image. Splendid sky, landscape and another fave. Your patience and persistence paid off,,,and a HAND HELD HDR no less. I raise a toast to you. >Ron<
Sharon Mau 13 days ago
inglesina 13 days ago
Beautiful :)
Lisawv 13 days ago
Stunning and beautiful image. Gorgeous rays of light and colors, great composition and excellent shot.
David Silsbury 13 days ago
Great composition, popular too, well done and congratulations on being featured.
David