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Loch Garten


Loch Garten
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2344 W: 206 N: 2784] (10175)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-17
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro, Tiffen 82mm UV
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Summer vacation 2007: Scotland
Theme(s): Reflections [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-24 11:41
Viewed: 1013
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
While on our wildlife safari in the vincinity of Aviemore, we stoped in Abernethy Forest at Loch Garten. I am actually not sure what particular bird we were looking for, because I was much more focus on the superb lighting conditions caused by the mixture of heavy morning for and the sunrise.

When reaching the loch after a short walk from the parking lot, I immediately was atracted to the distorted reflection of the treeline and the light breaking through the fog on the distant mountains. The lack of color due to the fog and time of day gave the entire scenery a tranquil atmosphere.

Abernethy Forest is a remnant of the Caledonian Forest. The Caledonian Forest is the name of a type of woodland that once covered vast areas of the Highlands of Scotland. Today, however, only 1% of the original forest survives, in 35 isolated locations. The forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife, much of which is not found elsewhere in the British Isles.

The Caledonian Forests were formed at the end of the last ice age. Trees began to recolonise what is now the British Isles over a land bridge which is now beneath the English Channel. Forests of this type were found all over what is now the island of Great Britain for a short period, before the climate began to slowly warm and the pinewoods retreated north into the Scottish Highlands, the last remaining climatic region suitable for them in the British Isles (see Climate of Scotland).

The native pinewoods which formed this westernmost outpost of the boreal forest of Europe are estimated to have covered 15,000 square kilometres as a vast wilderness of Scots pine, birch, rowan, aspen, juniper, oak and a few other species. On the west coast, oak and birch predominated in a temperate rainforest ecosystem rich in ferns, mosses and lichens.

The forest takes its name from the Romans, who called Scotland Caledonia, deriving from the early Celtic word '*caleto-' meaning 'hard, strong'. A name recorded as being used by a local tribe or tribal confederation of native Picts or Britons called the Caledonii. First recorded in a panegyric by the Roman poet Eumenius in A.D 297.
gracious, Silke, gannu, pablominto, JORAPAVI, PaulH, go2stones has marked this note useful
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To PaulH: MountainsSunToucher 3 08-27 08:05
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Niek! Wonderful landscape. Very good capture. Great POV! Cheers!

Hello Niek,
What a lovely captured of this morning sunlight through the fog!
Perfect senerity and tranquil atmosphere!
very well composed and well seen also thanks for the notes
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
  • [2007-08-25 14:13]

Wonderful mood, superb composition. I love the textures here, from the rippled glassiness of the lake to the softness of the mist.
TFS
silke
:D

It's hard for me to critique this because on my monitor there is almost no detail in the trees. I do like that bit of sunlight on the hills behind and the striped reflections. That's funny... I just read your note and those are the two things you say attracted your attention too. I might have tried an alternate crop .... of just those elements. It might be a dramatic, simple composition.

Yesterday I spent several hours at the Portland Art Museum at a special exhibition: "Treasures of the Rijksmuseum: "Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art". It was wonderful. It interested me that so many of the 17th century landscapes featured your love of "big skies" with low horizons and the subtle muted, almost unusual colors that permeate so many of your landscape shots. You are a true son of your native land!!

Evelynn : )

Hello Niek,
A lovely light falls on the landscape in the background!
Cloudy and foggy weather can give great photo opportunity too, provided there at least are some light like here...
Interesting composition, the calm lake is beautiful!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2007-08-26 1:11]

Niek, Lovely shot and what an landscape you have done here.Excellent work Ganesh

Hola Niek,
Bonita composición de este simple y bello paisaje, excelente contraste de color y luz, TFS. Saludos
José Ramón

Hi Niek, fascinating landscape, great reflectioon and wonderful misty BG, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 23 N: 3656] (13083)
  • [2007-08-27 0:42]
  • [+]

Hi Niek,
Nice muted tone and good use of the reflection to fill the foreground, this is well seen. I might have perhaps been tempted to clone the bird floating in the Loch though.
These Caledonian Forrest are pretty amazing aren't they? The trees twist into some amazing shapes, i wish i had been able to photograph them properly in decent light and dry conditions
Great posting,
Paul

Hello Niek.
I had to look at this pic for a few minutes. At first it didn't do anything for me. I read your notes and considered it again. I do see what you see in it. I don't think it's one of your best. It doesn't have the striking light and feel that is usually present in your shots. Now, don't get me wrong. It's still good. It's one of those shots that grows on you and you kind of absorb. Sometimes that's best. We tend to rush over things and if it's not all there in a microsecond then we move on. I like the sunlight in the b/ground. Well done.
Best regards, Steve.

Interesting shot. Expression very good. Well presented.
Best wishes,
Achim

The image almost looks like a black and white photo until the veil lists on the fog in the distance and we get a glimpse of warmth. Nice effect and mood. Thanks for the history. We're having our annual Scottish Highland games here in Atlanta the third weekend of October. I'm supposedly descended from the Picts but never paint myself blue. :-) Well done.

TFS!
Reid

hi niek, an exquisite touch of mystery in the horizon,that along with you hoist them and the water causes beautiful sensations to me....tanks and regards from Chile.

Hi Niek

We were there for the red squirrels... They are rare in the UK and endangered... It is a good place for them.

You really have a lovely shot there... The light in the distance is great and so very accurate.

TFS
Emma

TFS
Emma

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