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The Black Cuillin


The Black Cuillin
Photo Information
Copyright: Emma Taylor (Aramok) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 896 W: 101 N: 1501] (5166)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-26
Categories: Seascape, Mountain, Sky
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II USM, Digital ISO 200, 58mm circular polarizer
Exposure: f/11, 1/50 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Cape Wrath, Outer & Inner Hebridies
Date Submitted: 2006-08-18 16:29
Viewed: 6808
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Some what we have here are the Cuillin - a lot of people mistakenly make this plural Cuillins, its not, its the Cuillin (singular) or the Cuillin Hills.

It is a range of mountains on the Isle of Skye that are simply stunning to look at and you definitely need to know what you are doing when you try to climb them and they are not much of a walk, a lot of climbing and scrambling and even at this time of year can be lethal. They are rarely out of cloud so I can quite pleased to get these 2 pictures. (2 18mm pictures stitched together)

What you have here are specifically the Black Cuillin. It is from the dark colour of the gabbro that the Black Cuillin receive their name. Somewhere in the spot of light is my tent - for a change it is actually on a campsite - there is no wild camping allowed in this area... and becuase it was on a campsite we were eaten alive my midge.... They know campsites are good feeding grounds!

The Black Cuillin are as you can see quite black. there are also the Red cuillin, but they are more rounded than the black Cuillin and further north.
For info on the geological difference etc see Wikipedia.

For anyone considering it as a suitable 'walking area' please see these pictures first. The Great Stone Chute is interesting to say the least and dangerous in the ice. I have actually decended by this route and it was one of the more interesting descents I have done over the years - the rocks are actually loose, so it is a good idea to actually make sure your partner is alongside you not above or below otherwise life becomes a lot more interesting...

But on good days the views are simply stunning and the climb is a stiff one to the highest peak - I have done it, though not on this visit to the island.

The 2 pictures were taken on a walk specifically to try to get some good shots of the mountains - and this was not as easy as it sounds, becuase there is no path on this side - everyone wants to climb the mountains, not look at them! The ground on this side is very boggy and there are millions of midge wanting to eat you alive...

You have 2 pictures taken in RAW at 18mm with a polarising filter each. Both on the same settings, so that the join is easier. Both underexposed by -1/3 and taken at 8pm at night.

Please enjoy - I know I did (except the midge bit).... and there should be a large post as well.
graz, horia, vanderschelden, Signal-Womb, scottevers7, liquidsunshine, fyapici, jmp, captainsgirl, SunToucher, Evelynn, Robbrown, PDP has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • graz Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 21 W: 0 N: 26] (216)
  • [2006-08-18 16:35]

hi, your photos of scotland have certainly done a pr job on me.after looking at them i want to go there.They are wonderful shots and this is a great example.TFS and i hope you enjiyed your hols.

Hello Emma, beautiful landscape, especially with the change in light and the interesting sky. You are spoiling us really with these wonderful panoramic posts. Viewing the large post on my 22" wide-screen is a huge bonus. Very good work.

Hi Emma,
A beautiful panoramic! Such a great feeling of space and depth. Beautiful soft light. The colors and clouds look great. Awesome shot! :-}
Scott

Good morning Emma,
The details are nice, clear and sharp. Large post was a good option for this image.
Good colours, lighting and exposure. your stitching is perfect, what software do you use? The POV is good.
Well composed and good notes.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2006-08-19 3:26]
  • [+]

Splendid shot(s) Emma!
These mountais really impose respect, especially after looking what you have to climb in order to get here. Fantastic!
Perfect POV, great exposure, colors and composition. The fact the it is only partially lighten by the sun, gives it a total different dimension...almost mithical.

A very big Bravo (both for the efort and the shot itself) and TFS
Horia

PS: how do you stich you photos so wel? i tried with Photoshop but i'm really lousy :(
What do you use?

Hi Emma.
Very good work. Nice scene. You have done it very well. Congratulations.
Regards
Fevzi

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2006-08-19 3:47]

Hi Emma,
Beautiful panorama and interesting description of the mountain, the place, the shot,... I've found it a very good document!
TFS, José M.

wow...they are beautiful! Love the lake and the hightlights shinning on it as well. Nice shot..TFS
Donna:o)

Hi Emma,
Thank Adam for the option of positing a large version, because the details in it are really stunning. I tried to find your tent, but I didn't succeed. Your POV is perfect with the front hill leading me straight to the Cuillin Hills. The COP worked perfectly and gave it great colors in both sky and land. It looks like it a little hazy in the hills. This looks like a really great campsite.
TFS,
Niek

Hello Aramok, excllent colors, Bg, POv DOf perfect detail,s very crisp, nicly composed and a wonderful place, You alll must have had a wonderful, time their, Great work, TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • Scott Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 225 W: 0 N: 356] (1752)
  • [2006-08-19 11:37]

Emma,

You spliced them togeather well, Moody place.

tfs
Scott

Great stitching job Emma. The enlarged version is really nice. I would like to see just a touch of contrast in the lower left corner, just to bring some of the weeds a little out of the shadows and give that corner a little life more life. It's a nice image. I wish I had seen some of your pictures before I visited Scotland years ago. I may have changed my itinerary. : )

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi Emma another cracking panorama, stitching looks very good. the touch of sunlight works wonders for it, one might wish for a simular spot on the tops but thats probably asking too much of the photo gods ;0))

? did you get my sugested date for a visit.

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 955 W: 0 N: 89] (7805)
  • [2006-08-23 6:14]

Hi Emma
Great landscape shot again. Great colours, sharpnes, details, light, DOF and POV.
Well done Emma

osse

Hello Emma,
Interesting lighting situation, really makes this one!
Excellent lines and an all over great composition, the colours are wonderful too!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 795 W: 138 N: 1319] (5674)
  • [2006-08-24 15:01]

Isle of Skye, yeah, this reminds me of two thing:
the wonderful band Runrig and Talisker Distillery. *g*
i was there for 2 days in 1990 so i do not really remember everything...
so it´s very nice to see and relive this experience a bit
through your beautiful photo, emma! :-)
the LPversion is superb and so detailed, i would just like to jump into it.
well seen & captured, thorsten.

  •      
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-12-02 17:41]

HI Emma, I missed this one until now. It's a very good panoramic, well composed with some good light. I wonder if you could have got some more detail from the brighter areas of cloud from pp. Well done.

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