Loch Lomond in half-light: The north end of Loch Lomond. Not quite the gloaming, not quite daylight. (A bit dark in the thumbnail

R.G. Loc: Scotland

The north end of Loch Lomond. Not quite the gloaming, not quite daylight.

(A bit dark in the thumbnail - it needs the download).
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(Download)

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Nicely done. I like the composition. The two mountains meeting in the middle to form a V just draws my eye to it. Thank Mother Nature for the small yellow cloud in the right place. It Just adds a little icing on the cake

R.G. Loc: Scotland

NJFrank wrote:

Nicely done. I like the composition. The two mountains meeting in the middle to form a V just draws my eye to it. Thank Mother Nature for the small yellow cloud in the right place. It Just adds a little icing on the cake

Thank you NJ. Yes, I was lucky with the clouds lining up the way they did. And glens are natural eye channelers. Thanks for commenting.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Same problem with dark thumbnails. Clouds can make or break so many photos. I don't think you could have done any better if you had custom ordered them. On the whole work of yours, you could be an agent for a Scotland travel agency.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

neilds37 wrote:

Same problem with dark thumbnails. Clouds can make or break so many photos. I don't think you could have done any better if you had custom ordered them. On the whole work of yours, you could be an agent for a Scotland travel agency.

Thank you Neil. If you ever hear of any vacancies like that, let me know

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

I know you generally present on the subdued side R.G. There seems to be some very nice color left on the pallet in the hillsides I'd like to see brought out....of course if gloaming was your intent.....A well framed image with depth drawing you in.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I really like this image. It's so serene. The twilight is beautiful and the reflection of those perfect clouds is really nice.

StevenG Loc: Long Island, NY

R.G. wrote:

The north end of Loch Lomond. Not quite the gloaming, not quite daylight.

(A bit dark in the thumbnail - it needs the download).
-

This is a beautiful shot! Great composition, very nicely processed. It has a soft, inviting appeal.
Steve

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Frank2013 wrote:

I know you generally present on the subdued side R.G. There seems to be some very nice color left on the pallet in the hillsides I'd like to see brought out....of course if gloaming was your intent.....A well framed image with depth drawing you in.

Thank you Frank. End-of-day is what I shot, so end-of day is what I got, and I'm happy to go with that. Bringing out more colour from the hillsides would include lightening them, which would not only be contrary to the overall look, it would also be a tricky one to pull off convincingly, especially since there was a fair amount of haze that would come out when you lightened.

I don't deliberately pursue a subdued look in PP, but I do prefer it when the result looks like a real photograph. My preconceptions have been influenced predominantly by the pre-digital film era - you know, those heady days when saturation was a possibility but was seen as evidence of over-development. Sometimes I think I should post the original along with my processed shots to show just how much boosting I give them

. My starting point is usually on the flat, grey, misty side. But I'm gradually learning to accept as normal what most people would see as "average" post processing (which I would rate as "generous").

R.G. Loc: Scotland

jaymatt wrote:

Thanks for looking, John.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

AzPicLady wrote:

I really like this image. It's so serene. The twilight is beautiful and the reflection of those perfect clouds is really nice.

Glad you enjoyed, AzPicLady. I think it's the sky (plus reflections) that makes the shot.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

StevenG wrote:

This is a beautiful shot! Great composition, very nicely processed. It has a soft, inviting appeal.
Steve

Thank you Steve. I'm glad there are those that don't see moderate processing as a missed opportunity

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neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

R.G. wrote:

Thank you Frank. End-of-day is what I shot, so en... (show quote)

I think the reason that enhanced saturation occurs so often is precisely to make it stand out from reality. The gaze flows over the entire area, noting all, but also noting nothing special to stop and examine in more detail. Give a deserving area a little enhancement in any of several areas, lighting, contrast, saturation, anything that says "here I am, look at me", and the gaze will stop and actually see what is there. The photographer, sitting down for a little PP does it either subconsciously or with deliberate intent. Just some thoughts on an interesting topic you presented, R.G.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

neilds37 wrote:

I think the reason that enhanced saturation occurs so often is precisely to make it stand out from reality......

I agree with what you're saying about enhancing areas of interest to make them more eye-catching. I think the trouble starts when it extends from areas of interest to include the whole image. Then you end up with a whole image that shouts "Look at me!", and the attention-focusing effect is lost.

What you describe is pretty much what I did to the whole sky in generous amounts, but if I'd done it in equal measure to the hillsides, the reflections and the foreground I'd have ended up with an image that was doing way too much shouting. Then I would have lost the soft, peaceful look that others have commented on. Softness and understated processing have their place - you just wouldn't want every image that you PP to turn out that way. Regardless of our personal preferences, we should learn to always do what's appropriate for the image.