Leather Tor From Sharpitor - Spot the Walker: It's a fairly easy walk up to Sharpitor from the carpark below. Just have to mind you don't break your ankle on the last bit of...

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

It's a fairly easy walk up to Sharpitor from the carpark below. Just have to mind you don't break your ankle on the last bit of rock-strewn approach. Once you're there, Leather Tor reveals itself. Dartmoor never ceases to please, all weathers. You stand bracing yourself against a rock trying to steady the camera (because the wind is rather brisk) and out comes the sun, just at the right moment. And so often you think you were totally alone, only to find somebody plainly in sight when you look at your shot on the computer. I hadn't noticed this guy at all!

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ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

magnetoman wrote:

It's a fairly easy walk up to Sharpitor from the c... (show quote)

Another interesting shot. My wife bought a DVD that chronicled people living for a year on a Victorian Farm. I remember that the woman in the video wandered to Dartmoor to gather gorse for her animals. From the video, I thought it was a local highland area; but your photos demonstrate how large the area is. One fine day we are just going to have to pack a few bags and head across the pond. There are so many things that I would like to see there.
Erich

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

and nobody else would have either if you'd of kept quiet.....wonderful photo magnetoman.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

ebrunner wrote:

Another interesting shot. My wife bought a DVD that chronicled people living for a year on a Victorian Farm. I remember that the woman in the video wandered to Dartmoor to gather gorse for her animals. From the video, I thought it was a local highland area; but your photos demonstrate how large the area is. One fine day we are just going to have to pack a few bags and head across the pond. There are so many things that I would like to see there.
Erich

More vast than I've depicted Erich, and well worth a visit. There is a huge area covering some of the northwest and central parts that is given over to military training. There are few roads there and access is limited by the red flags - if they're flying you'd better keep clear! Plenty of walkers use it though and the wildness is beautiful. There you really do feel alone and it's wonderful to suddenly come across a bunch of wild Dartmoor ponies, like those you can see in the pic. Gorse can be a problem - having lost our way a little recently, it was necessary to carry our terrier, she'd have shredded herself struggling through. Can't say the lurcher was too impressed either. Hope to get back for another 'fix' next year.
Photographically, I find it a challenge to do the place justice.
Thanks for commenting - hope you decide to take a look sometime.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Frank2013 wrote:

and nobody else would have either if you'd of kept quiet.....wonderful photo magnetoman.

Thanks Frank - I don't expect you'd have missed him!
Thought you might pick me up on the stitching, its not perfect.

Chefneil

Indeed the walker is hard to find. He does not really detract from the image, but if you feel the need, he should be easily cloned out. That is of ourse depending on how much of a purest you are.

firtree Loc: Florida, USA

I would have never noticed him either, but that ram sure did. Great shot by the way! Love the lighting.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Chefneil wrote:

Indeed the walker is had to find. He does not really detract from the image, but if you feel the need, he should be easily cloned out. That is of ourse depending on how much of a purest you are.

No purist me! But he can stay, its Dartmoor, where no matter who owns the land, you're free to roam.
Thanks for looking Chefneil. What ya cooking'?

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

firtree wrote:

I would have never noticed him either, but that ram sure did. Great shot by the way! Love the lighting.

Thanks firtree, that lighting is typical Dartmoor, forever changing.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

One of the things that makes the shot is the way the sun lights up the foreground and the tor, in contrast to the background. If you tried to simulate that in PP it would be difficult to do it convincingly. One of the things that makes your shot look real is the fact that the background light isn't even - it has patches and graduations. It's quite often the case that adjustments need irregularities like that to look convincingly real. Flat or totally uniform adjustments can look noticeably fake. I think that's one of the reasons why split toning can look convincing if done properly - it produces graduations of tint.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

R.G. wrote:

One of the things that makes the shot is the way t... (show quote)

Neatly explained RG, I agree.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Dave,
Fantastically fortuitous lighting crucial to impact!
Super composition:
great foreground detail with rocks and sheep
Middle ground extends to brown ridge edge dividing it from the multiple depth background.
The wee man provides a reference that put a whole new perspective on the depths in the background.
Withal, an exceptional image!

And it works exceeding well as a 3D conversion:(...and I learned yet another “”tweak” to a basic scalene transformation with this image...the possibilities for refinements of technique seem not to end!!)

Thanks for posting,

Dave

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magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Uuglypher wrote:

Dave, br Fantastically fortuitous lighting crucial... (show quote)

Hi Dave,
Wondered if you’d have a go with this one!
The colours must help a lot, but I still can’t quite get it - I’ve never been able to go cross-eyed (at least, while sober!) - maybe that’s part of the problem?
Be interesting to hear how others do.
Dave