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Photo Information
Copyright: Piotr Czechowski (regis) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 13 W: 7 N: 100] (396)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-18
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, Lee Filter System
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/4 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-27 10:11
Viewed: 1034
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Buachaille Etive Mor is probably one of the most recognisable "Munro" (peak above 3000ft = 915m) in Scotland. It is a magnificent mountain of four distinct peaks standing at the head of Glen Etive and overlooking the north-west corner of Rannoch Moor. The best known view of the mountain is from the north and east, from where the great rocky cone of Stob Dearg is the outstanding feature of the mountain. Extending south-west from Stob Dearg, a 7-kilometre long ridge goes over two Tops, Stob na Doire and Stob Coire Altruim, and ends at Stob na Broige, another very steep and rocky peak overlooking lower Glen Etive.

This rocky tower guards the entrance to Glen Coe – that’s why some people call it “The Guardian”.

Collecting Munros is very popular among Scots and it is quite a big challenge – as the list of all Munros is about 284 long.

This is another shot of this beautiful place in my collection. I took it about two weeks ago at the very beginning of a single track road, leading down to Glen Etive. There is a small bridge over the Coupal River and few steps off the road you can find this place - with several small waterfalls and this beautiful mountain in the background.

After pretty warm Saturday the night was extremely cold and so was Sunday morning. It was really the thing I’ve been waiting for (it is when the visibility is at its top, plus you can find a decent frosty foreground to match the composition :)).

I know that this composition is very popular and not at all unique, but the geography of this place and its amazing popularity makes it really hard to create something extraordinary. In my opinion, however it is all about light and weather that makes a particular shot unique – so the possibilities are almost endless.

When it comes to technical specs : I used my CPL filter to remove some reflections in the water and 0.6 ND Soft Grad filter to balance the exposure. Camera was set on a tripod and as I do in most of my shots.
SelenE, Adanac, Jamesp, hester, marjan, SunToucher, Aramok, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2007-02-27 10:19]
  • [2]

Hi Piotr,
The exposure is very well balanced, there is a great light harmony between the parts in the shadow and in the sun. The landscape is beautiful. Very well done. TFS
Selen

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5209] (17609)
  • [2007-02-27 10:28]

Hello Piotr,
One day I would love to have your talent of composing beautiful landscapes such as this and using the lighting to showcase everything so superbly. Your choice of shutter speeds in this shot is also very good as the blurred water adds greatly to this composition.
Thanks Rick

Hi Piotr,
Very nice shot!
Beautiful light.
All wide angle elements are there; good compo, well done saturation, light,...
Wonderful!
TFS
Annick

Yours is a lovely photo of this popular subject. Your composition and skill makes this one unique. The weather and light also helped. Technical aspects look superb. The blue cast to the water does unify the image by toning with the sky and makes this a very artistic image. I, personally would have to remove some of the blue cast as I am a slave to realism... or at least the illusion of realism ; /

Thanks for sharing a beautiful photograph.

Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2007-02-27 12:46]

Hi

Lovely shot, Great DOF and saturation. I love the blurred water. James

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-02-27 12:55]

Hi Piotr

That is just stunning. Perfect exposure and an amazing composition. Really beautiful

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • marjan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 14 N: 360] (2641)
  • [2007-02-27 15:02]

hi Piotr, excelent shotwith good long exposition and exelent POv
Marjan

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2007-02-27 22:33]

Superbe composition,l'éclairage est magique et les couleurs sont splandide.
Bravo!
Joseph

Hi Piotr,
It may sure be a composition that is very popular, but I've never seen it before. To me it is just spectacular. The combination of water and mountains is always very attractive to me, but the fact that there is only one tree makes it perfect. The combination of the frost in the FG and the warm colors on the rest of the photo are very beautiful. Wonderful clarity and exposure and lovely light. I am just not that sure about the cyan color cast on the water.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • Aramok Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 891 W: 101 N: 1451] (5002)
  • [2007-02-28 15:14]

Great shot Piotr. the foreground detail is excellent and the detail in Buachaille Etive Mor is excellent.

willa dd more tomorrow.

TFS
Emma

After reading you advice in the Forum, I decided to have another look at your landscapes of Scotland, Piotr. They are marvellous!
I notice you have used 10-22mm in various situations to great effect. But then as I always say, it is NOT the lens but the PERSON behind it who counts.
One thing good about landscapes is that they do not fly away like birds! However, light conditions do matter and it is essentially in the understanding and perception involved in this kind of photography that dermines what kind of a picture you end up with.
For example, in this picture, you have done full justice to both the zones -- the mountain and the tree in the light and waterfalls in the shade.
Best regards,
Ram

  • Great 
  • TBW Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 94 W: 28 N: 200] (846)
  • [2007-12-04 0:25]

Hi Piotr
Great shot! The composition is just wonderful, so is the exposure! I guess with the filter system it worked wonders - the foreground and backgroun are matched very well together! The detail with the frost covered vegetation is a great bonus!

TFS
Torbjørn

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