[iGiDK]

Well, what a year it has been!

In Dec 2007 I decided that landscape was the route I wanted to take. Kit-wise this meant bye bye to the flash and portrait/macro lenses and I invested (heavily!) in a set of Lee Filters.

Looking back this was probably the best thing I could have done. I began to think differently when photographing a scene, being more meticulous about the composition, focusing, exposure, and actually taking less shots than before.

Today I have been looking through my images from the last 12 months and I have put together a selection of my personal favourites. They may not be my 'best' work, and they may not be perceived as being any good at all! They do however hold a sentimental attachment, mainly due to the emotional experience behind the shot itself. And it is experiences like these that have me completely hooked on this pastime.

The year didn't exactly start off with much momentum, January was a very quiet month however I did manage a few sunrises. One morning in February I found myself in Dysart. This small beach is a fantastic location for taking photos. There is a good selection of unusual rock shapes with some fantastic colours. I used a ND110 filter to completely smooth the small waves that were coming in and the long exposure really brought out the colours of the sunrise. Composition-wise this one does break quite a few rules but I tend to do that a lot! I like how this one looks when cropped to 4x5 as well.

#1 Dysart

f/8 | 12mm | 112sec | ISO-100 | ND110


One morning in March I hooked up with onefivenine in Edinburgh for a wander round Portobello and Leith. The shore on Portobello has a number of groynes that are rather photogenic. The weather was really overcast so when I took this one I had mono in mind and I stacked up a few grads to get a longish exposure.

#2 Portobello

f/22 | 23mm | 4sec | ISO-100


At the end of March Ally, Tobers, Gordon@ and myself braved the elements and thoroughly enjoyed several days on the Isle of Skye making the most of what we could. For me it was a fantastic trip, we all seemed to feed from each other's unique styles and all came home with a satisying collection of diverse images. Naturally the weather didn't play ball but this did not dampen our spirits! I look forward to another annual pilgrimage to Skye in 2009.

This image was taken at Neist Point which is the most Westerly tip of the island. The lighthouse tower is 60 feet high and stands 140 feet above sea-level. The spot where I took this from was about 400ft high and on the very edge of a sheer cliff face going straight down to the sea. The wind was very severe, and on later reflection being so close to the edge was probably not a good idea in these conditions! I was on my knees with my tripod low to the ground and clinging on trying to keep the camera steady. I used a CPL to subtly bring out the texture of the water (by slightly reducing the reflections), and a grad to control the sky. After I had taken my shots here, the adrenaline was really pumping - a brilliant experience!

#3 Neist Point

f/8 | 23mm | 1/80sec | ISO-2oo | CPL + ND Grad

For the complete set of pictures from Ally, Gordon and Andy please check this thread


In April, and shortly after the Skye meet, I ventured up to Rannoch Moor for sunrise and on this frosty morning I took a photograph of Lochan na h-Achlaise which is my personal favourite of the year. There was still a bit of snow on the peaks which was a welcome bonus, the emotional attachment I have with this image is that it was one of the most peaceful experiences I've had out here, such a quiet shoot and not a soul to be seen. This is in complete contrast to the winter months where this little part of Scotland becomes a scrum of landscape togs at dawn! The water was completely still and I composed the scene so that the reflection of the peaks would feature in the photograph. I used a grad to control the sky (things were beginning to brighten up as this was taken about an hour after sunrise).

#4 Lochan na h-Achlaise

f/11 | 22mm | 1/10sec | ISO-100 | ND Grad


At the end of May I attended a workshop at the Blair Drummond safari park. It was an excellent day out (and a good excuse to use the 300mm!) - the weather was absolutely scorching and afterwards I decided I'd take a drive up to the Rannoch Moor area and try to get a shot of Lochan Urr which is in Glen Etive. When I arrived at Lochan Urr the orientation of the sun meant that the scene I had in mind was not going to happen, therefore I thought I'd head further down the road to Loch Etive. At the bottom of the road is a rather photogenic crumbling jetty, I already have a few shots from here so I figured I'd get the boots on and take a hike down the shores of the Loch to see if I could find anything interesting. I walked for about a mile and spotted these three large boulders leading to the peak which at this point was being lit by the evening sun. The attachment I have with this image was that I experienced probably the worst midge attack I have ever had! I was totally sunburnt and dehydrated from the safari day, however this was absolutely excrutiating! (I had no repellent, or net etc. therefore I had to just endure it and intermittently run away from my tripod then run back) Again, this one breaks a few rules and I do like how it looks as an alternative crop when it is brought down to 4x5

#5 Loch Etive looking to Stob na Broige

f/11 | 19mm | 0.3sec | ISO-100 | ND Grad


Moving on now to September, and another early rise! This time I headed past Edinburgh down to Dunbar to get a few shots of the lighthouse at Barns Ness. As the sun was coming up I thought I'd take some tighter images from the shore using my 70-200 (the shore itself is rather flat and uninspiring so no need for an UWA). This is the image I came up with and I like this one's abstract qualities. I remember stopping down quite far and inverting a couple of grads stacked to lengthen the exposure a tad.

Sunrise at Barns Ness, Dunbar

f/16 | 81mm | 3.2sec | ISO-100


In November, I found myself in the Scottish Borders taking photographs at Scott's View in Bemersyde (which is a brilliant location). Later on in the day we visited Dryburgh Abbey, again a rather photogenic spot coupled with some really interesting history. From these two places I got a couple of images that I was really pleased with, however I've got another image from here that has a slightly more unusual feel to it.

A Picture Within

f/11 | 35mm | 1/4sec | ISO-100 | CPL


Still in November, and as the early rises became slightly more sociable - I found myself on the banks of Loch Tulla where there are many photogenic Scots Pine trees dotted around. The shore is also abundant with ferns and I was hoping to catch some really deep colours, unfortunately I reckon I was a few weeks too late as the winter chill had finished them off for the season. Although the ferns were gone the remaining vegetation had a beautiful dry golden colour. With the unusual shape of the Scots pine and the varied colours of the trees on the little island I feel this one has a certain savannah-like feel to it, and the golden vegetation contrasts nicely with the sky. A lovely quiet spot and an excellent location that I shall revisit in 2009.

Loch Tulla

f/11 | 28mm | 1/13sec | ISO-100 | ND Grad


Earlier this month, we had a good snowfall and plummeting temperatures for a short spell. I opted to brave the temperatures (and potentially scary icy drive north!) to hope for something special at one of my favourite spots, Lochan na h-Achlaise on Rannoch Moor. When I got there it was minus 8 degrees and there was about a foot of snow on Rannoch Moor (this area is about 1000ft above sea level and it is very exposed to the elements). As the golden hour approached I felt that something special could happen and I was shortly rewarded with a glorious pink sky. This, coupled with the snowy peaks and the intriguing patterns on the frozen lochan gives my other Lochan na h-Achlaise shot a run for its money in terms of my personal favourite of the year. If I had been really lucky the scene would have been completed with a little mist rising from the ice, but in this game you can't have anything and I am always grateful for what I see, regardless if the conditions are 'perfect' or not. I will always have fond memories of the shoot as my tripod became completely frozen and I had to battle with ice crystals forming on my camera and filters!

Lochan na h-Achlaise in winter

f/11 | 29mm | 0.6sec | ISO-100 | ND Grad


So this is my selection from 2008, this time last year I wouldn't have thought any of this would be possible for me to achieve, and I am really looking forward to pushing things onwards in 2009.


Why have I put this together? Well I look and take inspiration from this forum every day and have done since I first picked up a bridge camera in April 2006, and this is my own way of saying thank you to you all.

Happy new year and all the best for 2009

Thank you for looking

David K

[johnaalex]

Fantastic work - you should produce a calendar.

[ryanyboy]

David - these are seriously superb. If you're not pro already you should at least be thinking about it.

As John said a calendar would be a great idea.

Excellent stuff and a great read.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

What a good year!

[philoz]

Hi there, first time in the photography forum.
I am blown away by your pictures, absolutly superb
You live in a great part of the country.
All the best phil

[electrolyte]

I agree with all the others - superb work.

[iGiDK]

Many thanks guys!

I did actually make a few calendars just for family and friends this year. Need to find a more affordable solution though as photobox were quite expensive and I had issues with their quality control as well. Something I may consider producing in bulk for 2010

Re Ryan's comment about going pro, many thanks mate I am very flattered - still feel I have quite a long way to go yet though!

All the best

[jenufa]

A great body of work

[booyaka]

superb as always - look forward to learning some tips from you when you head down my way sometime!!

[iGiDK]

Thanks mate, yup will definitely be in touch

[Holowlegs]

Hello there


Meant to comment on this before.

First off what a great read.

For someone who only picked up a bridge camera in 2006, and really only took up landscape a year ago, you have produced some lovely pictures.


Some lovely pictures there Dave and hopefully will see more from you in 2009.


All the best Holo

[TarMoo]

Some great stuff here.

[philofcas]

top quality, very nice indeed, credit where it's due

[denno75uk]

Some stunningly beautiful and dramatic photos in your selection.
I personally love the one of Neist Point. Great composition and balance of the sky with the foreground.

[allymac123]

Keep trying Dave. Maybe this new year you'll take a worthwhile shot eh?



On a serious note you've progressed massive amounts this year from your last so keep that up and you wont have a choice about turning pro in a few years!!!

[DrWise]

Excellent
Amazing
Outstanding

[jonnypb]

some seriously stunning landscape pics

looking forward to seeing more in 2009

[onefivenine]

Dave you've produced some amazing images over the last year. Your commitment and the work you've put into these really makes them stand out.
You'll be a top Pro in no time I reckon. A few landscape books, maybe photography shooting guides, calendars, who knows!
There is a lot of potential in your work!

[vulkan75]

Brill

Love them all but that 3 boulders one is ace..interesting read too....you've come a long way it seems.

[SPRINGERS]

Love them all, just wonderful to look at..........magic!