Rare view

C&C very welcome on the two shots below. Really like the first one, but not too sure about the second one so any tips on that one especially.




This is a view that is rarely taken in from Bo'ness looking north east towards the Knock Hill in Fife. Most people look north west towards the Trossachs and Ochil Hills, and i had gone out that night to take in the sunset and get a few pics. I turned round and saw the low clouds illuminated by the very low sun, set up the tripod and hey presto...





This is the view south that i see every morning on the way to work. Taken looking south towards the Pentland Hills from just outside Bo'ness. Very early morning with the sun just starting to settle upon the fields and burn the light mist away.

Both shots are nice, but the second one gets my vote for its mood, atmosphere and composition, nice one.

Seconded.

I too like the second one - a lovely layered composition.

I like elements of the first but not the end result. Have you combined exposures, or done HDR, or used strong grads, because (dramatic as it is) IMHO that sky with what's in the foreground just looks plain wrong.

Both lovely, but I vote for number one. Superb 3-D quality, magnificent light, and tremendous cloud. You really did pick the right moment. And viewpoint.

G

Second image for me. Subtler and more moody.
I'd have that on my wall.

I cannot decide....they are both stunning.

#1 for me. So sunny and peaceful place, not fully aware of the dark clouds coming (yes, I know, I listen too much of dark and grim music).

They're both excellent. The second one has, as Dr Mhuni (a medical doctor, I presume) mentioned, a beautifully layered effect that captures the scene. My vote goes for No.1, though, because of the tension between the ominous sky and the ancient, redoubtable village below. I would have been delighted to have taken either.

Al

Nope, nothing so useful: a Ph.D. in history - I can't do so much as first aid!

That sky still looks wrong to me - but I'm clearly in a minority.

On the other hand, the second one gets better each time I look at it.

Both lovely shots, the second one wins for me (if only just).

Prieni

Very pleasing both of them, love the lit in the first, the clouds and the way the cemetery is light also like the second but in a different way. A personal matter I know but in the second I find the boarder distracting, now I like frames but this one does not work for me.

thanks for all your comments. much appreciated.

dr mhuni, the clouds were adjusted slightly in photoshop, but not too much... it's pretty close to how i saw it. Just very surreal light that night.

Good tip about the border... I thought it would help with the tones in the image, but i guess looking at it, the solid black line is perhaps a bit strong.

Being honest about the second one, it's not even the shot i went out to get. I wanted the sunrise coming up 90º to this shot, but i slept in and missed it by about 10 mins so set up the tripod looking south instead to avoid shooting directly into the fast rising sun. It was a bit lucky

That's amazing - it looks like a sky you'd see in some Hollywood biblical epic.

As for the second, Jackie's right about the border - it is a bit thick.

Both are stunning. The second one would be improved by a different frame though as the dark area at the bottom of the image merges with the frame. Not sure what colour I would replace it with though, might be one of those to "suck and see".

Lovely shots all the same.

Best wishes, Kris.