Project 37: ways of dramatising landscape

 In answering this project I have looked through my images to find examples of each of the suggested methods of dramatising an image and have have also attempted to find examples of others.

Inherently Spectacular Subjects.

Here I have chosen a dramatic cliff taken on a walk last December along Derwent Edge in Derbyshire.  The cliff in the foreground is The Wheelstones; in the background is White Edge.

This is dramatic cliff and stack scenery in Mallorca taken in the last of the evening light.

Extreme Wide Angle

Many images are dramatic for more than one reason.  Here we have a very wide angle shot (20mm) as well as dramatic cliff scenery on Mallorca's Formentor Peninsular.

Closer to home here.  A dramatic wide angle shot (17mm) of some washed up driftwood and a dramatic sky over Tetney Marsh near to Grimsby.

Rich Colours at Sunrise or Sunset.

Cleethorpes Pier at sunrise in February 2010

A dramatic sunrise taken aty Worlaby Carrs in January 2013. I was out photographing short-eared owls and could see that it was going to be a good sunset so I decided to photograph it with the 500mm lens I was using for the owls.  So, also an example of a dramatic landscape using extreme telephoto..

Sunrise produces dramatic colours in the  Hope Valley of Derbyshire.  Taken from Higgar Tor in October 2011

Back Lighting

The drama of these cliffs on Mallorca's Formentor Peninsular is enhanced by the  backlighting.

Here backlighting adds to dram to this winter scene on Derbyshire's Derwent Edge.

Taken on a walk from Hartington at New Year 2013.  As we returned  along the side of the valley we were walking into the light and I noticed the sunbeams moving at right angles across the valley as the strong breeze kept the clouds moving.  I used an ND Grad to balance the light in the sky.

Unusual Composition

I moved in extremely closely for this shot of the Formentor Lighthouse on Mallorca.

Dramatic Skies

Dramatic  sky over Tetney Marshes, Lincolnshire

Towering cumulonimbus clouds persuaded me to make the sky the subject of this image.

Storm clouds over the Humber Estuary at sunset.

Dramatic Lighting

Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time.  This is a walk in upper  Dovedale from Hartington that we have done many times and I photograph the view regularly.  It looks up Dovedale  passed Pilsbury Castle to Chrome Hill in the far distance.  On this particular occasion (New Year's Day 2013) the weather was very cold and showery with a strong breeze keeping the clouds constantly on the move.  When the sun came out the light was fabulous.  I could see this patch of sunlight moving down the valley towards me and prepared for the shot whilst trying to protect the camera from the rain.  As the sun lit up Pilsbury Castle I pressed the shutter.  This much I had visualised as the light came down the valley, but the bonus was the rainbow picking out Pilsbury Castle itself.

 Isolated Subject and Simplicity of Image.

Again, taken in Derbyshire this New Year.  This is a tree I have photographed on previous occasions as it  always makes a pleasing subject.  On this occasion wonderful light and a black sky add drama to the simple image of a tree on the skyline.

Another simple image of a tree on the skyline, this time a rare Elm.  As  the ground was snow covered and the sky was grey and featureless I saw this as an opportunity for a high key image.  in Lightroom I converted the almost monotone image to Black and white and then increased the exposure of the highlights and also increased the contrast to produce this simple but dramatic high key image.