NikonGear'23

Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: David Paterson on January 18, 2016, 11:11:55

Title: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 18, 2016, 11:11:55
Reviewing some b/w work shot on film about 15 years ago - trying to decide if I should spend time and energy scanning some of it - I came across this and scanned it because I remembered being quite excited when shooting it.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Mongo on January 18, 2016, 11:21:53
Mongo really likes this image. It has real mood and character. The light is doing all the right things to give it a sparkle of extra life and depth. Great shooting.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on January 18, 2016, 11:22:14
The mood is endearing and the curious sheep in front makes the overall composition complete. Perhaps snipping off a little of the "empty" foreground will heighten the impact ever so slightly?
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Frank Fremerey on January 18, 2016, 11:27:53
Wonderful.
Backlit sheep with trees!
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 18, 2016, 11:50:31
Many thanks, Mongo, Bjørn and Frank.

I really wasn't sure how others might respond to this image - I have a big emotional connection with that region, its history and the book project I was working on (The Highland Clearances). Sometimes those feelings can give you a false idea of how good an image is.

The project, a b/w book on the Clearances, became a colour project and was later published as "The Glens of Silence". The b/w work has lain in its folders ever since, completely untouched and unseen.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on January 18, 2016, 11:55:27
I hope you now are encouraged to process this b/w capture to its fullest potential, Dave.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 18, 2016, 15:51:46
I hope you now are encouraged to process this b/w capture to its fullest potential, Dave.

I've made a couple of biggish prints but they are not quite "there" and I'm not sure right now which direction to take with the image. Perhaps I'll go back and re-scan the neg, but yesterday my scanning software (Vuescan) caused an almost catastrophic crash. I've emailed the software company and won't use that software again until I'm sure it's safe to do so.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Anirban Halder on January 18, 2016, 16:22:57
What a beautiful backlit shot and the sheep look so curious. Reminded me of "Shaun the Sheep" instantly.
It will be our pleasure if you please scan and share your other older shots.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Gary on January 18, 2016, 18:17:54
Thank you for scanning.  This is beautiful.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Frank Fremerey on January 18, 2016, 18:31:40
looks much better on the big screen. Originally only saw it on my phone...
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: afx on January 18, 2016, 21:29:57
Well worth the scanning effort ;-)

cheers
afx
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Akira on January 18, 2016, 23:05:59
Wow, I love this idyllic image!
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 19, 2016, 00:19:16
Thanks, everyone  - I'm very pleased that you like this picture.

Frank - look at my images on a phone - go to jail -  it's the law! Well, it should be!   ;D ;D
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Chimper on January 19, 2016, 00:23:40
Really like this -- the composition and B&W treatment.  Cropped?
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: rosko on January 19, 2016, 01:12:37
You were very well inspired to scan this one, Dave !

Congrats !

A master piece. :)

I love these sheep. is ''Kildonian'' the name of this specie ? 
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Tristin on January 19, 2016, 03:44:17
Excellent image David, I enjoy everything about it.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 19, 2016, 10:26:25
Thanks for your comments, Chimper, Rosko and Tristin - much appreciated.

Chimper - the image is very slightly cropped at top and bottom.

Francis - the Strath of Kildonan is the name of an area in the far north of the Scottish Highlands (Strath = valley).
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Erik Lund on January 19, 2016, 17:54:11
Excellent! I'm with Bjørn on the slight crop, then you also loose the' hair' along the edge ;)

And please do share you Sheep images with Farmer Jan Anne  :P
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 19, 2016, 19:04:46
Excellent! I'm with Bjørn on the slight crop, then you also loose the' hair' along the edge ;)
And please do share you Sheep images with Farmer Jan Anne  :P

I'm posting a version cropped as you and the boss suggest, though I don't altogether agree with you - I think the image needs that solid base to anchor all that height of tree and sky.

And J.A. a farmer? This I have to see . . .
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: simato73 on January 19, 2016, 21:55:46
I think the sheep shadows at the bottom are an important element of the picture and that space for them is necessary, so I prefer the first version.
You have good reason to like this photograph.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Jakov Minić on January 19, 2016, 23:25:22
David, it's beautiful! THe contrast and mood are special!
I am with Simone on the original version and the shadows in the foreground.

Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Øivind Tøien on January 20, 2016, 00:21:47
I think the sheep shadows at the bottom are an important element of the picture and that space for them is necessary, so I prefer the first version.
You have good reason to like this photograph.

There is beautiful light in the image, and it is rendered very well. I agree that the first version is best. Perhaps those shades in the foreground could be emphasized slightly without affecting the tones in the rest of the image?
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 20, 2016, 01:18:42
Thank you all for your interest and very kind comments.

Actually, I have found a better version (original film negative) and have scanned it. It needs a little work so I hope to post it tomorrow.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: armando_m on January 20, 2016, 02:22:07
Very very nice !

thanks for sharing it
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Akira on January 20, 2016, 05:47:12
I think the sheep shadows at the bottom are an important element of the picture and that space for them is necessary, so I prefer the first version.
You have good reason to like this photograph.

I agree.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: charlie on January 20, 2016, 06:29:48
David, the lighting is what make the picture and the difference between the two crops is very minor. I wouldn't be opposed to a little more contrast. Great catch though and I suspect the rest of the film would be worth the hassle of scanning.

What kind of film was this shot on?

What sort of trouble were you having with Vuescan? I've had it be 'non-responsive' while the scanner was warming up or making scans/previews, but I've always been able to switch over to other programs for the time being then come back to Vuescan with no issues. I suspect that is not what you are referring to though?
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Erik Lund on January 20, 2016, 09:42:58
Thanks ;) I meant 'slight crop' as in just a little tiny bit maybe half of what you did ;)

Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: David Paterson on January 20, 2016, 11:58:15
Thanks for your comments, Charlie, Akira and Erik. The problem about things like contrast, final cropping, etc is that everyone's taste differs; it's fairly rare to get total agreement.   ::)  ;D

Charlie - the image was shot on Agfapan 100; 6x7 medium format. My scanner renders it as quite grainy; I don't know why - it's not a grainy film.

Vuescan - I hit the "Cancel" button in mid-preview-scan. This detonated a virtual bomb in my system and I suffered the worst crash I have ever had. Vuescan would not quit, would not restart, would not force-quit; no other software would run or could be launched; the computer would not restart or shut down. When I finally regained control of the computer, several bits of software - including Vuescan and Photoshop, had to be deleted and re-installed. The whole thing cost me four hours and some data-loss.
Title: Re: In the Strath of Kildonan.
Post by: Frank Fremerey on January 20, 2016, 12:23:42
Frank - look at my images on a phone - go to jail -  it's the law! Well, it should be!   ;D ;D


I use this site as I used Fotozones and Nikongear (old). Most of the time on a phone with a 5.5-inch-OLED screen