Shaft of Hope, a photo from Highland, Scotland

Photographer's Note

Another shot from my trip to Scotland last year. The late sun was just about to set in a cloud filled sky. A small gap in the clouds allowed this beam of light to shine horizontally on the horizon. I have never seen anything like it and I was lucky to capture a few shots of it. A difficult thing to capture correctly in an otherwise quite dark shot. I used ND Grads to expose the beam accurately as well as the foreground etc. Due to this, it was inevitable that the already dark sky would be darkened further by the filter. But I like the result. It helps to convey the mood.

F18, 1.6 secs, ISO 100

Tezic, yogi32 heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

ckuhn55 (2670) 2006-03-11 8:35

I can't believe that you have NO comments or points here. Adam you have a remarkable and beautiful photo here...TFS

managua (902) 2006-03-11 8:37

Hi Adam,

wonderful!
Unreal view, because of the yellow/red light stripe it looks like something about the hell island!? The sea is super captured!
Regards,
Andrea.

Tezic (17867) 2006-03-11 8:58

superb technique... fantastic wiev.... very good shot.. congratulations / coskun

KiltedArab (0) 2006-03-11 9:09

A lovely image of the most beautiful country on the planet! :-)

The technical aspects of this shot are exactly the techniques I would love to be able to learn and replicate so many thanks for both the image and the note. Top quality.

blue-velvet30 (6524) 2006-03-11 9:31

Hello Adam!
WOW! Excellent colors, perfect details and shot. Wonderfull composition! Great work!
TFS;-)
regards
Dorota

sencer (240) 2006-03-11 9:37

Hi Adam,
What a great scene you captured! You really have good job here. Sea water adds dynamism to your photo and beatiful orange sun ray adds a nice effect to your photo. By the way, I cannot skip the sight of the hills. Congrats...

SMD

deud (1920) 2006-03-11 9:43

excellent and beautiful shot. great pov and dof. magnificent colors, light and monements of water. well done. tfs

poulinp (4528) 2006-03-11 12:39

Excellent shot. We seem to be on another planet! I like the orange light frome the left. Superb!!!

JanArie (657) 2006-03-11 15:21

Hello Adam
What a great photo with that small beam of light. Your a lucky man!
Very well done!
Greetings Jan-Arie

beardedsnapper (249) 2006-03-11 16:18

Hi Adam
I am planning a couple of trips to Scotland myself later this year. If I can shoot anything half as good as your shot I will be over the moon. Absolutely fantastic, brilliant shot.
Trevor

vts_ch (2624) 2006-03-11 18:34

It is briliant. I just got my ND's, and you'll inspire my first shot, I love what you are doing, great job
vince

TBW (50) 2006-03-12 8:52

WOW, thats all i can say! Inspiring both as a fantasic image and also for me as a photographer. It is truly amazing to see such aperfect picture when it comes to sharpness, focus, detail, light, colour, composition etc etc etc.
Im utterly impressed!

regis (2058) 2006-03-12 11:58

Simply amazing !!!

Cormac (26565) 2006-03-12 12:03

Great mood and feeling in this shot Adam! I remember those earlier shots from Scotland, and while this isn't quite as strong a composition there is still some magic in it. Great use of the ND grad filter, to catch the sky and the foreground so well. Excellent!

Wahclellaspirit (4125) 2006-03-12 22:25

Hello Adam,

A beautiful shot with the light and mountains. I like the foreground golden sandstone, if that is what it is? Perfect exposure and use of ND's...

Ann75 (0) 2006-03-13 14:21

Hi Adam,

Wonderful shot with amazing colours. The rocky foreground always works so well and creates so much depth. The sky creates an amazing mood for this photo and I love how the movement of the water was captured. Great composition, amazing details and great light!

Greetings,
Ann

emmari (235) 2006-05-13 8:25

An awesome picture! Light is fantastic, and the composition too. Congratulations.
Regards.
Emmanuel

guillaumejm (0) 2006-10-08 4:13

Hello adam,
Looking back to your gallery, I find this one which is a pure beauty. The dark sky is great and this horizontal sunbeam is gorgeous. There is a such great depth of field and your time exposure transforms the see in an emotional way.
Really a great picture.
Kind regards