Billowing, Travelling Clouds, a photo from Northumberland, England

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

Please click here for a bigger, sharper Beta version.

Sometimes, the sky is the most striking feature of a scene.

I felt that this was the case when we were walking on the beach at Lower Newton. The weather forecast had been quite poor for the day, yet the wind blew all the clouds inland and we had beautiful weather.

My photograph shows the view inland from Lower Newton beach, with a holiday chalet on the horizon and the cloud display, billowing and stretching, beyond the high dunes.

It reminded me of painting of a seascape, where all that was visible was cloudy sky, a turbulent sea and a tiny boat being buffeted around.

I will post the colour version as a w/s.
This b&w was my favourite.
Maybe, your opinion will be different.

Here, in N.W. England it is grey and overcast with drizzle in the air. Yuk!! I wish you all a better day, Bev :-)

papagolf21, snunney, Gigidusud, jean113, PiotrF, ChrisJ, tatadalou has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

papagolf21 (152607) 2015-07-08 2:42

Bonjour, chиre Bev,
Trиs jolie proposition artistique en noir et blanc. J'aime ce ciel gonflй de nuages emplis d'importance.
Tout est bien cadrй et prйsentй. Une rйalisation poйtique.
Amitiйs.
Philippe

snunney (130967) 2015-07-08 2:51

Hello Bev,
Black and white is perfect for this composition accentuating the drama of those magnificent clouds. Fine composition with the chalet ideally placed in the frame. Excellent conversion to black and white; the image has a pleasing range of tones and great clarity. Some lovely foreground textural detail.

I am not sure what you mean by the 'newspaper' effect, but I am assuming you are referring to the grain effect, which can seem excessive in some lights. This is a function of the high ISO (2500) that was needed to ensure a high f stop and good depth of field. Like many things in photography - swings and roundabouts!

holmertz (103732) 2015-07-08 5:54

Hello Bev,
If you had shown us only the color version I would not have wanted anything else. It's a good photo. But there is no doubt that B&W brings out the windy and rugged atmosphere and the beauty of the clouds in a way that is somehow lost among the colours. I can see your vision of the sea and the boat struggling in the winds. Cropping a bit of the less dramatic top could have been an option, but not necessary.
Kind regards,
Gert

Sergiom (117241) 2015-07-08 6:31

BOnjour Beverly

Ils devait bouger trиs rapidement ces nuages pour donner l'impression de glisser dans le ciel mкme avec une vitesse de 1/1600 de seconde..L'utilisation du noir et blanc donne tout un spectacle quoique j'aurais bien aimй la voir en couleurs.

Amicalement

Serge

ikeharel (114751) 2015-07-08 8:57

Beautiful sky and clouds, Beverly, and frankly, to my humble opinion - the WS in colors version should be posted / Or I'd do, as maine photo.
The sky was amazing blue and there is good contrast from the grey/white developed clouds. Light was not of any disturbance, and again this would be my taste.
Both are nice POV uphill's and fine clear photo.
Best regards,
Ike

Gigidusud (21679) 2015-07-08 13:31

Hello Beverley,
Impressive this storm sky, the B & W accentuates the dramatic effect. I love the color version of the WS, but hey, everybody know I'm Mrs. colors ;) The two versions are pretty!
Best regards.
Gigi

PiotrF (56188) 2015-07-08 16:35

Hello Beverly,
Sky and clouds created the atmosphere of this photo.
Very good composition and quality, fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

dkmurphys (79209) 2015-07-08 23:49

Hi Bev,
The black and white choice makes the contrasts stronger and the clouds even more impressive. Very fine artistic scene, well done!

Daniel

Nicou (193814) 2015-07-09 0:46

Hlelo

quelle compo NB mervielleux et ces formes dans ce ciel ce douce formes blanches avec du mouvement sur l'herbe il y a du vent quel ensemble.
Bravo et amitiй
Nicou

Matyas (0) 2015-07-09 1:01

Hello Beverley! Superb minimalistic composition. Amazing Black and White work. Wonderful clouds. Mysterious wooden house. Good cut and frame. Well done!

Silvio1953 (223103) 2015-07-09 6:01

Ciao Cara Bev, lovely B&W with superb sky, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ChrisJ (172442) 2015-07-10 14:39

Hello Bev,

Good tonal range and sharpness in this superb b&w image with excellent framing and composition. I like the upward pov. The house at right makes a fine focal point. Superb textural details in the fg vegetated dunes. Tfs.

Didi (61591) 2015-07-12 9:53

Hi Bev
Very nice sky view in B&W
Very good contrast of the grey scale
Well done
Kind regards

batalay (41261) 2015-07-12 11:58

Hello Bev,

You once described the clouds above one of my photos (I believe of the mountains in Moorea as "frothy.") That is an appropriate description of these clouds also. Regarding the B&W vs Color renditions, I think I prefer the color version. The grass here resembles goose feathers piled endlessly, whereas the green is necessary to recognize the grass. The sky is the star of this image, however.

Warm regards,

Bulent

macjake (98544) 2015-07-19 16:02

HI Bev
I have said it many many times how the sky and clouds are often the best features of a scene, and here we have another example of that.

the little house looks beautiful, in a creepy sort of way :)

the scene, or perhaps the way you captured it has a Hollywood vibe to it.

but yes, the clouds are the beast here!
wonderful shot from this vantage point
cheers
craig

willperrett (14215) 2015-07-23 12:54

Hello Bev

Don't know how I missed this one. Monochrome at that! I love the unusual low viewpoint, and as you say, the clouds really make a super show. But perhaps it's the little chalet peeking shyly over the crest of the dunes that makes the image for me. And it very sensibly placed itself in the strong thirds position! I agree with you: the b/w version is my favourite. Sorry we won't see you on the 9th.

Regards

Will

tatadalou (7459) 2015-07-26 8:46

Hi Beverley,
For sure, the sky is the main striking element in your photo. But you've find a nice element and foreground (that made me think of savage western USA !). I'm surprised there is not more contrast in the sky with the clouds whereas you used a polarizing filter. Otherwise, the B&W conversion was a nice idea. It fits well with the subject.
Regards,
Delphine
Delphine

Karolina999 (0) 2015-08-26 4:22