Down In The Dunes

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 13, 20171,599 views10 comments

Seilebost, Harris, Scotland

Quite often it is low contrast relatively flat light that interests me the most. Its restricted dynamic range offers up a gentle muted palette of colours which leaves the onus on the photographer to try and make the best with what has been given particularly in respect of composition. I wanted to convey the constant breeze blowing the grasses and the gorgeous sculpted sand shaped by the wind so these took up a substantial part of my foreground the sense of place being conveyed by the distinctive Harris mountain peaks beyond. Most importantly I like it.

Fuji XT-1, 18-55 zoom, f14 at 1/4 Second ISO 320

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Nancy de Flon on October 13, 2017 at 4:54 PM

Hello Ian, the kind of light you describe seems to be rather typical of Scotland and parts of England, because I often see photographers from your particular part of the world making good creative use of this light. The foreground grass adds both color and a sort of direction to the image. I like it too!

Registered on June 28, 2010, 61 Posts, 284 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on October 13, 2017 at 5:32 PM

Wonderful moody, breezy image, Ian. And you have succeeded in your objective.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 13, 2017 at 7:00 PM

Absolutely wonderful work, Ian. This image has power with feel and emotion. It seems that I can actually feel what it would have been like had I been beside you. It looks and feels so real and you did an amazing job capturing what you wanted to do. The conditions of blowing grasses, great sand patterns, waves with mountains and clouds all brought together wonderfully. Totally enjoying this!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on October 13, 2017 at 9:01 PM

But wait...this is digital! ;) Still screams Ian. Great work. Love the way the comp is pieced together.

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on October 14, 2017 at 1:32 PM

I like it too, Ian, for all the reasons you specified! The bending grasses and sharp waves demonstrate the wind that moves the sand and the cold sky and colors provide a hint of storm. The result is a feeling of presence (especially in the large version) and reality which are two of my favorite things when viewing landscape photos. This kind of photo is like a gentle touch instead of a slap in the face. Very well done! devil

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on October 14, 2017 at 7:34 PM

The flat light and the muted colors make this place look very cold.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 15, 2017 at 4:52 PM

You accomplished your objective in this image. As I look at it I can feel the cold wind blowing in off the water. Very well thought out and executed image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Mattia Oliviero on October 16, 2017 at 4:22 AM

Very well composed picture, Ian. Make me want to walk to the shore. I especially like the drawings on the sand in the foreground and the light.

Registered on August 24, 2016, 43 Posts, 254 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on October 16, 2017 at 11:34 AM

Ian, this is very nice. I love the grass along the bottom, it adds a great resting place for the rest of the composition. I also think you got the shutter speed just perfect to convey the blowing wind. You have just enough blur to soften the ends of the grass, but not so much that it becomes very abstract. The color palette is subtly wonderful.

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 18, 2017 at 1:16 PM

Ian,

I too love this type of diffused light. Interesting too, that I think this kind of light is wonderful for more intimates, but you've make this work with a broader landscape. For me, the little bit of angry ocean, and the implied breeze gives me a chilly impression. This looks cold!

The larger view really brings home the showcasing of the blowing grasses and the mini dunes. This is wonderful.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments