Rust, a photo from Hertfordshire, England

Photographer's Note

For the reason that this photo seems to capture a tranquil mood, I chose it to return to some ordinary activity of uploading photos and writing critiques. I haven't uploaded a photo for nearly three months; during this period, life, with numerous upheavals, has frequently seemed to pass even more quickly than the speed of time. Or it has stood still. Too many things to both distract and concentrate the mind, but the way seems clear again and there's more time to do this kind of thing. It seems a good time, as Autumn leaves crowd around our trees and doorways here in Melbourne, to look back through some old photos.

I remember uploading a photo - this one- a couple of years ago, taken very close to this position near Rickmansworth. It's a 'spur' or off-shoot of the Grand Union Canal. This time the very rusty old barge - probably one that would have been towed down the canal as a freight vessel, maybe carrying grain or coal - made what I thought was a good counterpoint to the gently rippling water and the swans. It's quite likely that someone actually lives on the yellow launch nestled in beside the reeds on the far bank.

Rickmansworth is about 31km north-west of the centre of London. It's an outer suburb that feels just like a village.

I must have had a steady hand that day - I just realised it was taken at 1/10 of a second. Must have been the subdued light, aperture and the CPL filter which produced the slow speed. Perhaps time stood still, after all.

daddo, mirosu, jlbrthnn, holmertz, Royaldevon, tyro, bukitgolfb301, gildasjan, Kielia, jhm has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

danos (110407) 2012-05-03 5:21

Hello Andrew,
welcome back in the site with this nice and tranquil place as making the area unique.I like the existence of the swimming white swans as the yellow construction on the far end the creates a good contrast with the others of the scene.

Regards,Danos

daddo (28748) 2012-05-03 5:34

Hi Andrew. Autumn leaves, rain and cold weather do stir the creative spirit and retrospective tendencies. Rust in peace is an appropriate allusion all things considered. In the land of the black swans these two white cousins look most appealing, especially in this green and tranquil setting. Glad to see you are back. I have posted a few before your return having warmed up to the idea slowly, particularly since I cannot work outside with all the rain. Regards. Klaudio.

GREGG (7888) 2012-05-03 5:51

Andrew,
nice pic, nostalgic scenery, beautiful nature and proudly floating pair of swans on the river
Greg

lousat (138609) 2012-05-03 6:04

Hi Andrew,a perfect pic for treknature too,beautiful couple of white swans and very nice composition too,it looks like my Ticino river.Great light managements,sharpness and colors,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

jlbrthnn (76043) 2012-05-03 6:22

Hi Andrew,
It's good to be back with us.
The English landscape is similar to the landscapes of the Marais Poitevin in France, with greenery, water and swans, the calm and peace. Light and very natural colors are very pleasant to see. The composition is balanced and skillful. Sharpness is excellent. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joлl

holmertz (101988) 2012-05-03 9:02

Hello Andrew,
This is a pleasant and harmonious composition that caught my immediate attention among the thumbnails. Swans have a way of adding beauty to any picture and along with the yellow boat these create a fine triangular focus. I imagine this to be a fairly typical view from the English countryside.
Kind regards,
Gert

J_Burke (1285) 2012-05-03 11:34

Hi Andrew,

I think you've successfully conveyed the tranquility of this scene, it seems very peaceful and still. Image quality is excellent, very sharp and clear throughout with nice depth and the swans caught at just the right moment in the frame. Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

James

m (0) 2012-05-03 13:13

Fantastic picture, so full of charm and peace! A well thought-out composition, good sharpness and clarity. That old tyre is such a great element of the scene. Love it.
Thanks for sharing and all the best
Marina

Royaldevon (85606) 2012-05-04 2:19

Good Morning Andrew,

It is so good to see you posting again. I wondered what had happened to you. But, last year, I went several months without posting, sometimes, it is inevitable.

A lovely piece of English tranquility to celebrate your return. The stilness of the water gives the impression of sleepiness, as the swans glide gracefully by. There is a good balance between the f/g and b/g crafts, also giving a nice sense of depth. The enclosing greenery is so typical of the environment of canals.

Hope to see you more often.

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

ChrisJ (171222) 2012-05-04 7:57

Hello Andrew

Good symmetry between the 2 white swans bookending the shot both ends. Excellent sharpness & reflections. The protective tyre at the dock & the bg yellow boat connect, even though the boat is too small we can judge there are bigger boats about. Tfs!

Nicou (193806) 2012-05-04 11:19

Hello

fantastique cpatage et compo ces deux beaux cygnes dans cet ensemble verdoyante et le bвteau splendide ensemble.

Bravo et amitiй

Nicou

tyro (30513) 2012-05-04 12:21

Hello Andrew,

It is lovely to see you back and I am really looking forward to seeing more of your photographs.

And how time really does fly! - I remember very well seeing and critiquing your picture of the "Grand Union Backwater" but it is difficult to believe that that was actually over two years ago!

And this is an equally lovely photograph: the composition is excellent, the left swan placed bang on the lower left crossing point of thirds and the "horizon" at the junction of upper and middle thirds. The rusty barge on the left "anchors" the composition beautifully.

Gorgeous soft colours, perfect exposure and lighting and stunning sharpness - you must have a rock-steady grip to get sharpness like this hand-held at 1/10 second!

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

Gigidusud (21679) 2012-05-04 14:11

Hello Andrew,
Beautiful relaxing composition with nice colors and reflections.
Thanks for sharing.
Ghislaine

ifege (46951) 2012-05-04 14:30

Hi Andrew
Thought you must have disappeared overseas for an extended period. Good to see you back on TE. A peaceful English scene from your archives.
cheers
Ian

chrislo (4099) 2012-05-05 3:00

Hi Andrew,
The elegance of the swans gliding gracefully on calm waters and the wonderfully landscaped greenery make it a relaxing and beautiful picture. The old rusty barge adds to the feeling of time standing still.
A nice composition and a pleasant picture to look at.
Kind regards,
Christian

Glint (6171) 2012-05-05 12:20

hello Andrew,
nice to see you posting. Haven't been doing much myself recently. This is very much England -a green a pleasant land (well, okay, in some places).Nicely composed with the rusty thing and its shadow taking up one third.Nice natural colours.
best regards,
Bev

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2012-05-06 16:42

Hello my dear Andrew

Very very tasteful and peaceful image.
So well considered framework and composition.
Allocation of each component, specially the balance of two swans, is very nice.
Thanks for your sharing with your good job and have a good start of week, best regards,

Takero from Tokyo

Tigerlily (3381) 2012-05-09 9:30

A very tranquil scene, beautiful indeed. Excellent composition. Yeah, sometimes it seems that time stops especially when one is in front of this scene...1/10sec? You did superblly well:-D

gildasjan (43826) 2012-05-10 1:34

Bonjour Andrew
Un joli petit coin calme de verdure dans lequel il doit faire bon vivre.De belles choses simples de la nature.
Bonne journйe
Amicalement
gildas

williewhistler (16606) 2012-05-10 2:24

Hello Andrew,
there is a lovely feeling of tranquility,I think it must have something to do with the patterns created by the swans along with their serene presence.
The light also has a nice subdued look that is well used.
Best regards Les.

MJR (3360) 2012-05-10 15:31

Andrew
I think this was probably a typical English summer's day, no sun !

Lovely, nay typical, verdant scene. The swans provide a highlight to an otherwise slightly sombre acene, caused by the strong colours in a nonsunny light. The two boats are typical of many a canal scene, moored up, and not likely to be going anyway soon, if ever.

I remember coming across your other scene from here, on one of my jaunts through your gallery; this provides a good companion to it.

You will be familiar I am sure with all the canal scenes from 'Ricx' and his stretch of the Oxford Canal ?

kind regards
Martin

Kielia (24077) 2012-05-11 4:00

Hi Andrew,
a very fascinating image with a fantastic mood - and a wonderful impression of the canal, very thoroughly composed with an excellent management of the light. My compliments also for the nice note!
Warm regards
Harriet

jhm (211734) 2012-05-14 3:49

Hello Andrew,

A picture of three year old but exactly a picture of yesterday.
Splendid quiet image with the two geese as real eye catchers against the soft background.
Excellent light management and good reflections too.
Composition and colors are perfect made.
Excellent perspective and depth picture. TFS.

Have a nice Monday,
John

batalay (41261) 2012-06-17 7:46

Greetings Andrew,

There really is a sense of tranquility, but then Swans specially on undisturbed water seem to create that feeling. The only way this could be improved is with an early morning fog over the water, and the accompaniment by Tchaikovsky Swan Lake.

Warm regards,

Bulent

wolf38 (30) 2012-07-17 10:51

Hi Andrew. Water, swans, boats, lots of fresh greenery. This lovely area seems to be a real idyll. Everything is very peaceful and relaxing. That would be the ideal place for a holiday. I like this moody image. Rgds, Wolfgang.

mohammad_H (10178) 2012-09-01 3:08

سلام دوست عزیز
منظره بسیار قشنگ با دو قوی سفید و رودخانه زیبا
ترکیب دوست داشتنی از عناصر و جزئیات طبیعت
عاشق مناظر" طبیعت "هستم
وضوح بسیار خوب .با نگاه خوب شما
روز خوبی همراه با ایده های جدید در عکاسی
Hello dear friend
Very nice and beautiful river landscape with towering white
A lovely combination of natural elements and details
Love scenes "nature" I am
Very good resolution. Looked good with you
Great Day With New Ideas in Photography

COSTANTINO (115539) 2012-10-05 23:23

Hello
amazing capture and according to your useful
notes you captured a tranquil mood,
peaceful atmosphere necessary for
our difficult days,beautiful nature
and nostalgic moments,
I love shots of this kind,nice pov
great lightness and sharpness
have a niceweekend
Costantino

elenimavrandoni (0) 2012-10-27 20:06

Andrew, very good enhancement of the tranquility of the peaceful setting. I like the reflection of the green color in the water, beautiful shades and great light balance. A very beautiful shot!

Photo Information

Copyright: Andrew McRae (macondo) (20449)
Genre: МЕСТА
Medium: ЦВЕТНОЙ
Date Taken: 2009-06-05
Categories: ПРИРОДА, ТРАНСПОРТ
Camera: Pentax K200D, Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DiII, Cokin 62mm Circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/11, 1/10 секунд
More Photo Info: view
Версия: Оригинальная версия
Date Submitted: 2012-05-03 5:04