When I stumble across a scene like this, I get pretty excited:
ISO 800 50mm f/11 1/250
This is one of the scenes that await visitors of Fountains Abbey in York. It’s a beautiful place. There is something about a view like this that I find very relaxing. I spent the day here, looking around. I took the walking tour to get a better feel for the history of the place. But really I was just there for the beauty.
The photo above started like this:
ISO 800 50mm f/11 1/250
I had my camera set to take a bracketed exposure because I was pretty sure I was going to want to make an HDR version in Photoshop. HDR in this case because I knew it would give detail and a bit of pop to the ruins. I then used my Analog Pro plug in as a starting point to make the photo look more like a photograph and less digital. I chose to keep the cool tones of the original since it was shot in December. I’ve also cropped this photo a bit with the thought of keeping the focus on the ruins.
I’ve added this to my Picfair portfolio, because I was pleased with the outcome. How do you like this edit, does it seem relaxing and peaceful to you? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Cheers!
Photography Journal Blog 
Definitely feels more moody, which I love
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Thanks, it’s funny how a scene like this, even though it seems kind of “dark” can be relaxing.
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Yeah I agree!
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Definitely worth shooting a HDR version. I love the contrasts you pulled from the ruins, it really gives such a sense of depth and texture. And I can’t get over what you achieved with the sky. You made so many great choices with your editing!
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Thank you very much. HDR really is about contrast in my opinion, I tend to really like what it does to stone and brick.
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Lovely; great shot/edit and I really like reading about your work processes.
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Thank you, and I am glad you enjoy reading about what I have done. I find it helpful to write it out.
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Great HDR… I do agree with you in terms of contrast HDR is the one! Am fortunate, my camera shoots HDR direct
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My phone shoots HDR but not my bigger cameras. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
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Personally as I seldom edit my photos, the HDR direct from my camera can be adjusted by changing f or Iso settings… I think it’s fun!
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And honestly, that is what is important, that your photography makes you happy and that your equipment does what you would like it to 🙂
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As Sarah said, it feels more moody, and also a bit more haunting. Love how you made the light in the sky pop – it almost looks like it is going to open up. It feels like the calm before the storm 🙂
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I do love that moment before a storm.
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I like the HDR version! Love the colors and sky. I usually avoid using HDR. 🙂
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Yes, and I would say that the type of photography you do doesn’t immediately lend itself to HDR. 🙂
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Yes with the edit the scene has a gentle magic. I like how the clouds and trees have been accentuated.
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Thank you.
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I would get pretty excited as well – looks like it is taken directly out of a fairytale!
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I agree!
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I love the edit – and what you did with the sky is my fav part…..
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Thanks, I like the sky in this version too, although I might eventually do another version where I handle the sky in a different way.
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Ok / now I am curious …..
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I know right? it’s like “how about this?”
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I would be excited. Your photo editing is always on point!
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Yes, based on what I have seen on your blog, you would like this place and bring back some excellent photos from there.
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Your post-processing really works here. It adds depth to the clouds and contributes to a great “moody” atmosphere.
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Thank you, I do love a moody sky 🙂
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I would be very excited too! Wow what a vista. The editing worked beautifully in sharpening the details and yes the castle really pops out for me. Beautifully done.
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We took a tour of the grounds for an hour, given by a volunteer guide. She was very engaged with this space, and with life, in a way that I think you are as well.
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So kind of you to make that comparison Amy.
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🙂
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Oh, Lord, I can’t relax here as it invites me to explore, to get up and walk over and check it out! 🙂
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Ha, that’s a good point, we did walk quite a bit, trying to take it all in. The space just seemed so open and relaxed though. It probably helped that it was a cold day and there was not a huge crowd there.
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What a lovely scene, and yes it is very relaxing.
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Thanks!
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Very moody shot PJB, it could have been made in Scotland which is what it reminds me of. Like both the original and the edited version.
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Interesting that you should say that, another of my friends said that it reminded her of Ireland 🙂
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Nicely edited. The detail in the sky improves the shot.
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Thank you.
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Well done. Very lovely and peaceful scenery.
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Thank you very much!
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This is a remarkable image. It reminds me that my daughter (22 years old) was in Ireland last summer as part of a student archaeology project (near Galway). They were “excavating a castle” – the castle was not buried per se, but it was old enough that its age was not known – Vikings? Medievel? She said a focus of the project was to explore how the nearby community, Ballintober, wanted to relate to the castle. Did they see it as part of their heritage, something to bring in tourism, etc. – And, I love that you always generously discuss how you took and processed the photo. Others learn from this! 🙂
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Hmm, that sounds like an interesting project, not normally what you would associate with archaeology.
My photo processing is the reason for the blog. I wanted a place that I could keep track of what I have tried, how the results went, that sort of thing. When I started I thought of it as a resource for myself. What I hadn’t realized was what I was going to gain from the community. I love to look through other blogs and see what people are creating and thinking about.
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Amy, I like that you are guided by what you want from your blog. I have found it is sometimes easy to be drawn into trying to write for popularity on a social media-style site like this. I remind myself, what is my purpose, how can I learn, what can I do to develop my art or craft, and at the same time, have that connection with the community. Kudos!
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Thank you very much. I do also find that there is a tension between writing just for myself and writing to be “popular”. It’s nice when the two things collide. I do think though, that I would eventually just quit if it was just about be popular, that ultimately is not a strong enough motivator for me.
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