John Buchan Country in Snow, a photo from Scottish Borders, Scotland

Photographer's Note

A view taken last month from near to the six mile road which runs between the village of Broughton and that of Biggar. The valley had endured a fairly light snowfall which also covered Kilbucho Hill which you can see on the left. To the right you can see the remains of a disused railway and its accompanying trench disappearing into the distance towards Biggar.

This area and the hills around Broughton were dear to the heart of the famous novelist, John Buchan. Buchan is probably best known for his novel "The Thirty-Nine Steps" as well as others such as "Huntingtower" and "Prester John" but he was also an important and influential individual politically, eventually ending up with the title John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir PC GCMG GCVO CH.

Born in 1875, the son of a Free Church of Scotland minister in Perth, John Buchan was brought up in Kirkcaldy in Fife, and spent many summer holidays with his grandparents in Broughton where he developed a love of walking, as well as of the local scenery and wildlife, which often featured in his later novels.

At Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow, Buchan was awarded a scholarship to the University of Glasgow at the age of 17 and studied classics, wrote poetry, and became a published author. In 1895 he won a further scolarship and moved to Brasenose College, Oxford where he studied classics and won literary prizes as well as becoming elected president of the Oxford Union.

After Oxford, as well as continuing his writing, Buchan became more and more involved in the political scene, serving as a private secretary to the colonial administrator of various colonies in southern Africa. Buchan was in 1927 elected Member of Parliament for the Combined Scottish Universities, but he spent most of his time on his writing career, notably writing "The Thirty-Nine Steps" and other adventure fiction. In 1935 he was appointed Governor General of Canada by King George V, on the recommendation of Prime Minister of Canada R. B. Bennett, to replace the Earl of Bessborough. He occupied the post until his death in 1940. He received a state funeral in Canada before his ashes were returned to the United Kingdom.

You can see a larger version of this photograph on "beta" TE here.

annjackman, holmertz, Royaldevon, macjake, asajernigan, jean113, kordinator, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

npecanhuk (79329) 2015-02-15 3:43

Hi John!
Attractive winter picture!
Special regards to the exposure, horizontal format, chosen pov and composition!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

SNOOP_Chan (4377) 2015-02-15 5:57

Hello John, very nice image here. It seems that snow is hard to encounter these days in Europe. You got the landscape very well here. I love the light tones of the sky. Good take.
Regards!

annjackman (23019) 2015-02-15 6:22

Hello John.
An interesting note and lovely snowscape too. I have always enjoyed John Buchan's books, especially the 39 steps which has been made into film more than once.
The scene you show us is simple with flowing landscape lines and a well placed lines of trees. The sun has caught the top of the distant mountain which is a welcome bit of brighness.
Super image.
Kind Regards, Ann

holmertz (103564) 2015-02-15 6:30

Hello John,
The scenery may not be breathtaking but the gentle hills are quite attractive and there is a fine graphic effect of the dark trees and lines in the white surroundings. I like the pastel colours of mainly blueish and grayish tones. And as happens often at TE I have learned from your note something I didn't know I needed to know ;-). Very unfortunately I will never be allowed to add PC GCMG GCVO CH to my name.
Kind regards,
Gert

Nicou (193814) 2015-02-15 7:21

Hlelo

fantastique compo et vue quelle neige et йtendue sueprbe avec ces arbre tout est blanc quelle immensitй et vue.
Bravo et amitiй
Nicou

No_One (4) 2015-02-15 9:01

Hi John
You made the most of the snow to capture this lovely scene, which seems to stretch on forever. THe way the light is hitting the furthest hill is particularly brilliant. I get a chill looking at this image, and feel the urge to drink coffee by a roaring fire, a beautiful feeling to have! Very nicely done.
cheers
Noel

siudzi (34141) 2015-02-15 10:28

Hello John,
What a beautiful winter landscape post this! Well seen and composed from a well selected POV to get almost minimal presentation. Like it! Well executed image.
Best,
Gosia

Royaldevon (86392) 2015-02-15 11:05

Hello John,

I remember those books that you mention well. In fact 'Prester John' was a set book at school.

This is a lovely winter's scene, with cool skies to match the mood of the landscape. The silhouetted trees and the line of the road are welcome details in the cool, white landscape, whilst the hint of sunlight on the hilltop and its neighbouring cloud, creates a focal highlight.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

mesutilgim (0) 2015-02-15 13:08

Hello dear John,
Another topclass Te entry in your gallery ; both photographycally and informative, at it's best. Specially your notes are allways a perfect evidence of the fact how serious you take TE !
Here the pictorial geometry is a perfect lecture for a good layout.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

carlo62 (81265) 2015-02-15 14:20

Ciao John
mi piace la tua composizione, la linea del canale e quelle degli alberi interrompono il paesaggio piacevolmente.
Saluti
Carlo

macjake (98544) 2015-02-15 15:32

Hi John
always a pleasure.
this is one of those scenes where the longer I look at it the more and more I enjoy it.

you know what is the key for me in this scene? two things, the beige strip on the far right, and the hint of the tall hill in the lower bg to the left.

splendid light and exposure as always, I like that its a dit on the dark side, it would have been easy to over-brighten it in post processing. fine photo my friend
see you around
Craig

asajernigan (21427) 2015-02-15 18:07

Hello John,
This is a very nice snow scene. You have used the trench and old railway to lead the eye across the frame and through the scene perfectly. Your light management is fine bringing out nice details is low light.
TFS,
Asa

Didi (61589) 2015-02-16 2:10

Hi John
Very nice winter view with a good lights balance with sky
No snow in my place yet
Best regards

jean113 (28251) 2015-02-16 4:45

Hello John,the gentle landscape covered in snow with trees dotted throughout the scene,well composed.
The glimmer of sunlight on the distant hilltop is very pleasing, and came along at just the right time for you! My eyes keep returning to it.
Regards Jean.

willperrett (14215) 2015-02-16 10:19

Hello John

Gorgeous. As I may have said in my last critique, we've had no snow down here, and I'm feeling left out. In the Bleak Midwinter is something you've captured precisely. I'm particularly taken with the far mountain catching the last rays of a cold sun.

Regards

Will

CLODO (45118) 2015-02-19 0:09

Hello John

the snow transforms this landscape, the sun starts to light the snowy summit and the white cloud, giving some relief to picture
Cheers
CLODO

emka (158710) 2015-02-19 15:10

Hi John, beautiful winter scenery. Nice panoramic format, the leafless trees look great with the white background.
I almost haven't seen winter this winter :). We had only a few days of snow between Christmas and New Year, later it was relatively warm. And I had great summer on the South Hemisphere. Two weeks of all days with about forty degrees. I miss these warm days. But everything ends.

WArm regrads MAlgo

rbassin (27472) 2015-02-20 3:58

Hello John.
un trиs beau paysage enneigй, d'une belle simplicitй.
Bonne journйe
Roland

kordinator (8738) 2015-02-21 0:35

Dear John
Nice snowy scene you captured.
Wonderful landscape composition.
Also, it's nice and minimalist work.
Beautiful shapes and lines from nature.
Wonderful colors, excellent clarity, sharpness and lighting.
Excellent photography.
Perfect composed image.
Kind regards
Saљa

delpeoples (60342) 2015-05-01 4:09

Ciao caro Giovanni

Ahh look at those tiny trees dwarfed by the white covered mountains. This snow blanket is delightful and such a foreign sight to me. The undulating hills are another compelling element and you achieved an exquisite sharpness and contrast.

Warmest wishes
Lisa