Wrath of the Gods

[Pete Askew]

Inspired by Tim's shot of the summer storm approaching, here is a shot taken on Thursday at Stonehenge. A storm had been gradually approaching and for a few seconds the sun broke through and lit the stones against the dark sky - the heavens opened shortly after. I will edit this image further but thought I'd post this version anyway (for one, the frame is rubbish).

I had taken another forum member (Blanka Kolinke from the Czech Republic) to Stonehenge while she was in the UK. She also took quite a few pictures during the day and I will chase her to actually posting something. I'll try to blackmail her into posting with an image of her in action with more to follow if she doesn't!

Leica M9 + 35mm f 1/1.4. 1/250 at f 1/8.0, ISO 160 PP and border in LR

 

[Darren Turner]

Awesome shot of Stonehenge.........really like it. As for that moody sky........wow.

errrrrr your friend seems to be might flexible...........lol

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Darren.

She certainly is.

Here's a monochrome version of the image (my original intention but now I am wavering).

PP in Nik SilverFX 2 (with minor adjustments in LR). Border in PS.

 

[Paul Lange]

Thats a very nice shot Pete and just so different from the sunset / dawn shots that I've seen, and AHA! is that a border that is not equal on all sides?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I actually prefer the colour version Pete - that storm contrasted against the green is very dramatic!

Think I'd photoshop out the tourists though.

Is it me or is it sloping slightly to the left? Difficult to tell with the sloping ground, but the stones all look to be leaning a little (to me anyway) - could just be a druid thing...

Had Blanka eaten British fast food, and doubled up in pain on the ground?

 

[Rudi Venter]

WOW Pete, I love the photo! It really is special with the clouds and the light you captured, well done! I like the mono version but still prefer the color version.

Thanks for sharing this image of such a special place,
Rudi

 

[Pete Askew]

I agree Chris, the colour one is the better. This was a quick conversion and I was toying with the idea of cloning the people out in a final one. The stones do indeed lean (in fact even a spot more). When I do the final version I will play with the orientation so it looks right even if it does end up not quite as they really are. I really was lucky to gt the shot. The sun came through for just a second and I got one shot and it was so brief it was gone by the second (the first was grabbed at the focus I had just used on the M9 and the second was adjusted a tiny fraction - but at f 1/8.0 it made no practical difference). Blanka just missed it with the D3.

 

[Vic Shaw]

Pete,

I don't believe this, I was at the Stones on Wednesday and there was pretty much the same sky then. I have a friend over from the US and we had gone down to the Small Arms School in Warminster on the way there we past the Stones so after spending the day playing with guns we made a trip to the Glastonbury Tor and then onto the Stones for Sunset I had actually considered posting a shot or two from the day.

I like the sky and the fact that the people in the shot are small enough not to be that noticeable, It's such a shame that you cannot get in amongst the Stones like you used to be able to. I got talking to one of the guards there after I saw some people go into the Stones and they were allowed because they had paid extra.

Vic

 

[Hamish Gill]

Superb shot mate!
The b&w seems to loose the stones a little too much, not sure why ... Could there be some sort of local adjust that might help?
Take a look at this website ... Chap I know, has a 50ft mast on the top of a landy ... It's ace! Anyway... Have a look at the header photo! The joys of a 50ft pole!
http://www.aerial-cam.co.uk/

 

[Pete Askew]

Now that's the way to do it. Park outside, turn up before it's open and stick the camera on a 50' pole!! Nice.

 

[Pete Askew]

I agree that the B&W version is not as strong. I did apply light coffee tone to it but I think it is too subtle and so, as Hamish says, the stones get lost somehow. Here is a strong and semi-selectively toned version.

I think I still prefer the colour one though.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Pete, the colour shot is amazing!! it really is a cracking shot! Right place at the right time with that sun coming out! I do prefer the coloured one although I know your the man for B+W. I've stepped foot into many countries for my age and have been to a few places in the U.K, BUT...... I haven't been to Stonehenge!!!!! got to but that on the visit list. lol. judging on the photo with the 'flexible character' is that a 'keep out' rope??

I'm off to the new forest next week, so hopefully i can get some good shots.......

 

[Pete Askew]

And lo, the people were wiped from the face of the image by the great god Photoshop (he also sorted out the frame and got rid of the boundary rope while he was at it - omnipotent or what!!).

 

[Dan Cattermole]

That is what I'm talking about!!!! yes!! there's nothing wrong with people in a photogrpah, but I think it has to be the right photograph for it.... cracking edit on this ! Nice one!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Very nice mate!
I think thats the right version to go with for the final image!

 

[Pete Askew]

I agree. Might even print it!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Must be a bugger having to shin up that pole to make changes to the camera settings though!

What a stunning idea - you got to give him props for that one - aerial photography without flying.

 

[Paul Lange]

Yeah, that last ones a goer Pete and I see you you removed the dust specs as well

 

[Paul Lange]

I have to add that although I'm a fan of interesting borders I think the border works better on the last shot too.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Stunning job Pete - you could visit the stones every day for a lifetime, and not get another moment like that - well worth a print I'd say.