Fogey

Thank you Geoff. This was taken at Beddgelert, some seven miles from Porthmadog. It's well worth a visit as it is a very picturesque place.

I'm slowly getting to grips with this software. This was done with a mouse with some difficulty - methinks I will need a graphics tablet if I'm going to go any further with this genre.

I like it - very much!

Still on the theme of digital painting/drawing this image lent itself to a coloured pencil sketch in Fotosketcher, taken into photoshop to deal with colour and chiaroscuro and finally a sandstone texture applied.

I do know I was staying at the Lochailort Inn when I took the image. It was in those mountains, glens and lochs where I got lost. I do know I ended up in Ullapool, somehow. Other than that my recollection was of one stunning vista after another until I got sick of them.

I was shooting with a Nikon D601 when I was in Scotland, but now I've progressed to a Nikon D750.

Yes I have posted this image on here before, Polly and no, I have no idea where the loch is or what it's called - I was totally and completely lost. I pulled into a sortt of rest area as I was sick of driving and when I got out of the car I was met with a vista on all points of the compass, so I just got the camera out and started photography-ing. I do have Photoshop and I did take this image into it for further editing, selecting different textures for the sky, background, mid and foreground and blended them in with layers and masking. This is the original image.

Following on from Polly's excellent rendition of turning a photograph into an oil painting, and as I simply don't have the skills to do the same as Polly in Photoshop, I cheated! I looked on T'Internet for some free software to do this task and came up with this. Fotosketcher. I had to read the instuctions and watch the video to fathom out how the software worked and found I could manage it without too much trouble, although my computer had a bit of a job to keep up. I was able ro produce drawn sketches, coloured sketches, water colours, oils, crayons and a plethora of other effects. This is my second attempt - a scottish scene in oils.

Excellent.

Excellent rendition - I really like it.

I know what you mean Polly. I have developed a virtual F***k it-bucket where any image that gives me bother ends up in.

I prefer the colour version, Polly. The autumnal colours really emphasise the tunnel. I take what you mean about the tree's branches - Maybe a linear gradient mask to emphasise the filigree. I've taken the liberty to do a mod to show what I mean.

Three amazing shots, Geoff. Three steam trains at the same time???? - Where exactly is this? Google maps puts Bury South in the middle of a football field.

Congratulations Cheryl - a cool image indeed.

Congratulations Vanguard. I have no problems at all being runner-up to an image as stunning as yours. Top marks Polly - you made the right choice.

There's now't wrong with that, Polly. I love it.

Absolutely stunning, Polly. Whatever post processing you've done certainly works.

Thank you Polly. Yes I am pleased with this image, especially given the really poor light on the day. The clouds really encapsulated the term 'interesting photography'.

A typical scene from this iconic area.

I can see this type of photography leading to a punch in the ear.

One of the reasons I took the shot Polly. Bet you'd have a job to walk Snowden nowadays - maybe the train and the last bit on foot? I'll get me coat.................

No it doesn't Polly. What I love about this place you can look at a scene and see the mood change as the clouds pass over. Lighting is always a challenge as it changes so quickly.

North Wales, in Snowdonia mountain range.

Some more from my visit to Wales.

Thaank you Polly and Mark. These were taken the day after a monumental storm hit Wales with thunder, lightning and gale force winds. Shooting conditions were appalling with the light so dark, it could have been twighlight at 11.am. The louring skies were a prelude to a biblical downpour just as we left for home.