Golden Light On Loch Awe
Warm spring light on Kilchurn Castle and Loch Awe, Scotland
Warm spring light on Kilchurn Castle and Loch Awe, Scotland
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May, 2019Views
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RuwanFonseka
May 22, 2019
Excellent composition of a wonderful landscape with perfect tones and lighting.
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on the shore of Loch Awe overlooking the derelict Kilchurn Castle in the Argyll & Bute area of Scotland.. Kilchurn Castle was once the home of Clan Campbell in Scotland but has lain derelict for many years. This was an early morning shoot. We had travelled up in the dark to be at the loch as dawn light lifted across the sky. The clouds were heavy and snow and sleet showers weren't far away but a break in the clouds for a short while as sun rose, gave this fantastic light across the loch onto the castleTime
This was taken early morning in March. In Scotland, to get a sunrise, sometimes you have to wait a while, and because of the surrounding mountains and hills, although the dawn sun may have broken the horizon, it can sometimes then take a bit longer before it breaks over the surrounding hills. This creates lovely warm light before the harshness of the full morning sun invades the image. With Scotland, If you don't like the weather, wait for 20 minutes and it will likely have changed again.Lighting
This is a well photographed spot and is a favourite location for landscape photographers. Along with other Scottish castles at Eilean Donan, Stirling and Edinburgh, Kilchurn is one of the most photgraphed castles in Scotland. Being by the side of the loch, adds to the composition possibilities and opportunities. With the hills behind and the loch in front it presents a perfect location to enjoy the light. There are many different points around the shore of the loch which give differing light at differing times of the year and dawn light works best at this location. Sunsets are not so easydue to the mountain ranges to the north and west of the lochEquipment
This was shot on a Canon 40D, using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. Mounted on a Manfrotto tripod with a geared head. A Neutral Density filter and a polariser on the lens. Due to the location being on the side of a Scottish Loch, the most important equipment is waterproofs, Warm gloves and Wellies to keep the feet dry.Inspiration
I am a member of a local camera club and had seen many pictures taken of this castle. I have tried on a number of occassions over the years to get a successful photograph of the loch and the castle, but sometimes you get lucky with the weather and all the elements coming together at the right time, but as landscape photographers know, we cannot control the light or the weather and more often than not, we come away from a landscape shoot empty handed. Try, try again is the motto and perseverance pays off in the end. The Argyll & Bute area of Scotland is one of my favourite areas to visit and photograph and is the go to area when needing a landscape chill out session of photography.Editing
RAW image processed in Camera Raw then into Photoshop, Boosted the contrast, and saturation slightly. Used luminosity masks to locally tweak the contrast across the skies and the hills and the castle walls and lifted the mid tones slightly across the foregroundIn my camera bag
It might, somewhat be easier to say what's not in the bag. The bag seems to get heavier every time it goes out but typically in the bag, my Canon 40 & 50D bodies. I am now using a Canon 24-105L. Also in the bag usually will be a 70-300, my favourite go-to lens 150-600, a Tele-converter, Lee Filter kit comprising of a selection of ND Grads, Big stopper, Polariser. A selection of Cokin filters to fit the 70-300. Flashgun, Remote shutter release, spare Canon batteries, Lens duster, Manfrotto tripod, Gorillapod, Bean-bag,head torch, sunglasses, waterproof cover for camera and lens, multi-tool, spare tripod plate, gloves, assortment of lens cleaner cloths and fluid, water bottle, couple of heavy duty pvc bin bags - make excellent ground sheets for sitting on, lying on to get low landscape shots, or to provide additional weather protection when the rain starts. Not the first time one has been cut and wrapped over equipment and myself to keep warm and dry. And there are probably things in there that I thought I had lost but can't find now.Feedback
You won't get the image sitting in the house. A talk presented at our local camera club was titled 'F8 and be there, is all you need'. And in many ways they are correct. You won't get an image sitting in the house, you have to be prepared to get out, go early to get the best morning light. Landscape photography is all about the light, and weather over which we have no control, however the 5 P's always help. Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Plan you trip, work out your location. Use the features in Google Earth or similar if you are unfamiliar with the area. There are a plethora of apps available now to help plan a photography trip. Photographers Ephemeris is a particularly useful one. This gives you the time, location, angles of sunrise and sunset (and also for moon if you want night photography) and the topographical land layout so you can work out what time the sun will appear over the horizon, or over the surrounding hills. There are weather apps available for Mountain climbers which are very handy for photgraphers and can give localised weather forecasts for a location. Work out a route, leave enough time to get to location and get set up and be ready. Be prepared to wait for that fleeting glimpse of light. Be prepared to face the weather in all elements. Be prepared to be disappointed. Although the Mountains and Lochs will still be there another day, those weather conditions will always change. Be prepared to try again. Have a plan B if plan A isn't doing it for you but mostly 'F8 and be there' is all you'll need.
