The last 2 images were just lovely Stuart. I don't think you failed at all, in fact, this video was another success, as are all your video's in my book.
I am sure we can all relate to things not going our way, when we get out there. It's always good to show a little reality and the frustrations we all have and no one is immune! The monochrome edit works!!
It's never a complete failure if you are out in beautiful nature and sharing it with those of us who can't be there. There is something to be learned from every outing I think! Your standards as a professional are high, which is as it should be, but I enjoyed how you saw what would work or not work and the reasons why. And the contrast sure worked for the B&W!
I think learning when and why things don’t work out in photography is as useful as learning when and why they do Stuart so I am happy to see and learn from the process and effort regardless of the perceived success of the outcome. In this case I would have been very happy with the results!
Whilst the day didn't pan out as planned Stuart, the video definitely is a good reminder as you said that the majority of days will not yield the intended results but as you images shown, there is still something to take away from the day. In terms of the preference at the end, whilst as you know, the majority of my work is B&W, I really do like the colour as it shows off the relationship between the land and the light nicely
I was watching and the portrait shot of mountain was screaming Black and White , fab image and would be happy to have in my house lad. Make sure you do the lottery after that bird , maybe good luck 😂😂😂
The one thing I've learnt about you, Stu and moreover your photography, is that you can usually pull something out of the bag when it's not looking particularly promising. You have finely honed that skill of being able to adapt your plans to the ambient conditions at the time, when you're original plan is clearly not going to work, because the various elements did not align. Once again, you ably demonstrated this skill in this video and many of the others that you've previously shot and put out on your channel. I actually appreciate both the colour and the black and white versions of the image you captured. They each have things going for them. I recently traded in my D750 and lenses for a Z6III with the Z Series 14-30mm and 28-400mm lenses. They're forecasting foggy/misty conditions for Wednesday morning, so I'm hoping to go out to a couple of new locations to see how they perform, one very local to me and the other about a 25 minute drive away. Here's hoping we both have better luck this week!
Yep! Really quite like the black and white one, well suited to the conditions. Even having too much light is better than the no light I had up on High Spy on Saturday, superb snow conditions, but nothing in the way of light.
Cheers yeah I had similar yesterday up Carl Side, and a few days before this vid - couldn’t time a shoot when it was ideal but I’m just glad we’ve had something resembling winter!
I would go colour Stuart as you said using the 3stop and the CPL brings more detail to the image especially under the water, coupled with that golden light and the ice on the boulders too it’s a very good image and I don’t think you can tell too much that’s it’s ice in the BW variant, but the cooler tones in the colour image you can see the winter. The shadow at the base of GG also pulls the eye into the ridge leading up to the summit so I found that helped too.
Hi Stuart, I hope you are well. The start of your story was amusing. I have a few unpublished videos like that on my hard drive. So I feel with you. With the blue sky, I immediately tend towards black and white developments. I also think your black and white version is better, even very good. best regards from Germany, Holger
Thanks Stuart, the black and white image for me. There is more drama and it brings focus on the moving water and the foreground rocks, but then seamlessly takes you up the stream to the snow covered mountain in the background. The sky is less distracting. My problem with the coloured image (don't get me wrong, it is a nice image) is my eyes can't quite settle on anything nor am I pulled through the image as I am in the black and white version.
Hi Stuart, to say "it all went wrong" there's a couple of corker images there. As to which I like best, its hard to choose, both images have something different to say to me. btw I really liked your imprompu Z6iii review ... perfectly adequate thanks, the images tell me all I need .. in the hands of a master craftsman, super images are possible ;-) Thanks for another grand day out.
I guess you might not have liked releasing this one because things didn't come together, but for those somewhere earlier in our photography journey its nice to see (in some respects), so thanks for being honest and sharing that it still doesn't always work out when you're at your level - appreciate the authenticity. Really like the B&W image.
10/10 for effort Stuart I'm sure you've had other challenging days but you know you gotta be in it to win it. Wishing you all the best in 2025, despite the clear Blue sky I'll vote colour on the Gable image 👍
Nice one Stuart. I really liked those images. I preferred the colour to B&W at the end due to the nice glow on the rocks. It’s strange how I used to crave blue sky days before I picked up a camera and purely went out hiking. Totally the opposite now as I’d rather go out in mixed weather if I’ve got the camera with me!
I liked the colour photo but then because of the contrast preferred the b&w. A video about trying to take photos in the LD will never be a failure, may 2025 be a better year for you and the fam
Interesting that you use a 24mp camera. I always assumed you would shoot at higher mp as you may need to print large for your gallery. I don't print so have no real understanding of the mp to print size :) Both images are nice - I prefer the colour one. Interesting shutter speed - I normally favour around 1/3rd of a second for running water but I know that is personal taste :)
Cheers Dave, no i predominantly use a Z7ii (45mp) I’ve bought this as a back up camera and mainly for video projects I have planned, but it’ll certainly be coming out a bit as well
I really like the colour photograph; I think you’re beating yourself up here. The plain blue sky really works for me, because it’s not competing with the wonderful foreground, and it also provides a lovely colour contrast with the foreground warm hues on the rocks and on the mountain. I like the black and white but, in this case, it’s not as striking as the colour.
Hello Stuart, life is hard and you show it in your video. I prefer the colored version of the image. A video based on your experience and explaining what you like and what you dislike on your camera would be nice. Greetings from Germany from Bernd
how do you feel about your tripod shadow being in the foreground? I loke a bit of front lit some time when I manage to get outside and have spent ages trying to Photoshop out a shadow when I probably should have just spent the time repositioning or waiting till the light moved. on the first photo that is.
How you finding the dji mics? Considering getting a set. There's some scenarios where i'd prefer something like that over what i usually use (radio mics).
This morning as I sat pondering a voice came to me out of the gloom which said, “cheer up, things could be worse”. So I cheered up Nd sure enough, things got worse. The forecast was for no precipitation and 40 degrees f: It’s snowed all day. Gloomy skies, miserable.
I prefer the b&w version though I think you've slightly overcone the dark sky. The warm tones are too saturated for my tastes in the colour version, nice composition though.
....Takes deep breath. Stuart, (more deep breaths) You are standing in the most incredible landscape(s) and you say 'There is nothing to take here' because the skies are Blue. What! What!!! What!!!!! Deep envy here from Cornwall, whereas on the one and only snowy day of 2025 I bust a gut to get somewhere with similar conditions, albeit with more interesting clouds, but somehow you can't find a composition. Uh... I am actually a huge fan, love your work and feel you are the most 'real' of the RUclipsrs I follow, but on this occasion. Seriously 😳 Hopefully, I can explain my thoughts to you in a person to person context, rather than on this fantasy land that is RUclips. Sorry, don't hit me ☹
Appreciate your comment though I get quite a few comments like this from time to time so please take this in the vein it’s intended (not criticism): 1) Please accept that standards differ between photographers. What I find acceptable is entirely for me, no one else, I’ve little interest in what others think of how good or bad the image is. I did indeed ‘find’ a composition which I stated ended up not being a bad image, but it was lacking certain elements. This is no problem, this is the reality most of the time. I didn’t get to where I am now by accepting images like this as great, or even good, because they’re aren’t. Again, it’s no problem, I think people are too used to being told on this platform everything is great when it isn’t, or worse, genuinely have no idea what great even looks like. 2) It’s a lovely scene, no one will debate that, it’s also OK for it to be that, but not a great picture. I can’t help that I live close to scenes like this, similarly I could say you have equally spectacular (but very different) landscapes like the Cornish and Devon coastlines which we don’t up here. It is what it is, but it doesn’t change the fact that you have to set your own standards, and no amount of comments from well-meaning photographers claiming ‘they’d be happy with that’ or such like would ever change my mindset, nor should it. You set your own standards. I know what a great image looks like, and if I genuinely think I’ve shot one then I’d say so, but this happens very rarely, which is why it keeps us coming back time and again and keeps it fun.
Interesting comments on the images in terms of colour vs black and white - seems about 50/50
Wonderful twist on “glass half full”…. Very enjoyable Stuart!…. Keep ‘em coming!! Black and white looks terrific….
Great location, conditions & light! Not a bad photo either 😉
Team colour!
The last 2 images were just lovely Stuart. I don't think you failed at all, in fact, this video was another success, as are all your video's in my book.
The colour image works best for me. The golden light on the rocks is lovely.
I am sure we can all relate to things not going our way, when we get out there. It's always good to show a little reality and the frustrations we all have and no one is immune! The monochrome edit works!!
Lovely images Stuart for me the coloured one great video in difficult conditions 😊
It's never a complete failure if you are out in beautiful nature and sharing it with those of us who can't be there. There is something to be learned from every outing I think! Your standards as a professional are high, which is as it should be, but I enjoyed how you saw what would work or not work and the reasons why. And the contrast sure worked for the B&W!
The B&W is a smart solution to the sky problem. Looks great!
Cheers 👍
I like the colour picture very much but I would say that I love blue skies! Thank you for taking us up there and sharing your time with us!
The B&W is the better choice for me. Looks great !!!
Cheers 👍
I think learning when and why things don’t work out in photography is as useful as learning when and why they do Stuart so I am happy to see and learn from the process and effort regardless of the perceived success of the outcome. In this case I would have been very happy with the results!
Great shots. I prefer the colour but both great photos.
Cracked it in the end Stuart with abeauty, S---t happens but we just rise above it. Well done ,colour for me.
Cheers Colin
Mr decisive as usual I like them both!
👍
Whilst the day didn't pan out as planned Stuart, the video definitely is a good reminder as you said that the majority of days will not yield the intended results but as you images shown, there is still something to take away from the day. In terms of the preference at the end, whilst as you know, the majority of my work is B&W, I really do like the colour as it shows off the relationship between the land and the light nicely
Thanks Jim
Nice video Stuart! Always good to see the failures too. Your image was still nice!
Colour, without a doubt. The rich colours, and the orange blue combo is lost in B&W
I was watching and the portrait shot of mountain was screaming Black and White , fab image and would be happy to have in my house lad. Make sure you do the lottery after that bird , maybe good luck 😂😂😂
It works quite well. Blue and Orange palette? Lovely.
Yep the Black and white works for me Stuart.
Great video. I think both versions are great. Maybe colour. Beautiful
Thanks 🙏
Excellent video life’s about trial and error, gonna get one of these for wildlife. Thanks
Cheers 👍
The one thing I've learnt about you, Stu and moreover your photography, is that you can usually pull something out of the bag when it's not looking particularly promising. You have finely honed that skill of being able to adapt your plans to the ambient conditions at the time, when you're original plan is clearly not going to work, because the various elements did not align. Once again, you ably demonstrated this skill in this video and many of the others that you've previously shot and put out on your channel.
I actually appreciate both the colour and the black and white versions of the image you captured. They each have things going for them.
I recently traded in my D750 and lenses for a Z6III with the Z Series 14-30mm and 28-400mm lenses. They're forecasting foggy/misty conditions for Wednesday morning, so I'm hoping to go out to a couple of new locations to see how they perform, one very local to me and the other about a 25 minute drive away.
Here's hoping we both have better luck this week!
Like both images. I just got the z6iii, a few weeks ago. Think I'm going to like it
The B&W has more punch somehow - more drama about it. Lovely image Stuart.
Yep! Really quite like the black and white one, well suited to the conditions. Even having too much light is better than the no light I had up on High Spy on Saturday, superb snow conditions, but nothing in the way of light.
Cheers yeah I had similar yesterday up Carl Side, and a few days before this vid - couldn’t time a shoot when it was ideal but I’m just glad we’ve had something resembling winter!
Even though things get difficult you where able to find a good composition and location, I like the colorful image the way the eye sees it. Cheers.
Nicely reflected on Stuart. I hope the Robin had a good trip with you. I rather like the mono one at the end
Nice video! I like all the shots but the B&W were the best! Slainte!
Thanks 👍
I would go colour Stuart as you said using the 3stop and the CPL brings more detail to the image especially under the water, coupled with that golden light and the ice on the boulders too it’s a very good image and I don’t think you can tell too much that’s it’s ice in the BW variant, but the cooler tones in the colour image you can see the winter. The shadow at the base of GG also pulls the eye into the ridge leading up to the summit so I found that helped too.
B&W for sure!
👍
Hi Stuart, I hope you are well. The start of your story was amusing. I have a few unpublished videos like that on my hard drive. So I feel with you. With the blue sky, I immediately tend towards black and white developments. I also think your black and white version is better, even very good. best regards from Germany, Holger
Hi Holger, yeah I just thought it would be a shame to waste the footage given it’s tried three times!
Like them both, my preference is for colour though. Well done good that you could get out in the snow,we just had sharp frosts down here.
Thanks Stuart, the black and white image for me. There is more drama and it brings focus on the moving water and the foreground rocks, but then seamlessly takes you up the stream to the snow covered mountain in the background. The sky is less distracting. My problem with the coloured image (don't get me wrong, it is a nice image) is my eyes can't quite settle on anything nor am I pulled through the image as I am in the black and white version.
Thank you, from Germany.
👍
I actually think the blue sky works really well with the orange tones permeating the image. It's pretty clean and highlights the mountain a bit more.
Hi Stuart, to say "it all went wrong" there's a couple of corker images there. As to which I like best, its hard to choose, both images have something different to say to me. btw I really liked your imprompu Z6iii review ... perfectly adequate thanks, the images tell me all I need .. in the hands of a master craftsman, super images are possible ;-) Thanks for another grand day out.
Thanks for watching Steve
Black and white but both very good 🙂
I guess you might not have liked releasing this one because things didn't come together, but for those somewhere earlier in our photography journey its nice to see (in some respects), so thanks for being honest and sharing that it still doesn't always work out when you're at your level - appreciate the authenticity. Really like the B&W image.
Cheers Tom, it would be no fun if it was easy 😂
Black and white for me and all of my days seem like that😀
Thanks Malcolm
B&W for me Stuart, but if you hadn't shown that it takes nothing away from the colour shot, along with a great composition too. cheers, Ray.
10/10 for effort Stuart I'm sure you've had other challenging days but you know you gotta be in it to win it. Wishing you all the best in 2025, despite the clear Blue sky I'll vote colour on the Gable image 👍
Thanks very much 👍
For me the colour image as the light on the foreground rocks is just lovely. Did you make any videos whilst on Harris?
Thanks, no I don’t film when I’m teaching people
Nice one Stuart. I really liked those images. I preferred the colour to B&W at the end due to the nice glow on the rocks. It’s strange how I used to crave blue sky days before I picked up a camera and purely went out hiking. Totally the opposite now as I’d rather go out in mixed weather if I’ve got the camera with me!
Cheers Anthony, we’re never happy are we!
Like both versions.
I've had lots of snow to at least get some images, just not the time to go out and get any. Sometimes it was far too cold as well
Thanks Ian 👍
Thanks Stuart. It's a toss, normally it is an easy choice for me but I like the color and bw
👍
I liked the colour photo but then because of the contrast preferred the b&w. A video about trying to take photos in the LD will never be a failure, may 2025 be a better year for you and the fam
Colour I think it works wish I could take pics like that Stuart I will keep trying lol
Thanks Stephen
Mono image has it for me, touch of the Ansel Adams ...
Interesting that you use a 24mp camera. I always assumed you would shoot at higher mp as you may need to print large for your gallery. I don't print so have no real understanding of the mp to print size :) Both images are nice - I prefer the colour one. Interesting shutter speed - I normally favour around 1/3rd of a second for running water but I know that is personal taste :)
Cheers Dave, no i predominantly use a Z7ii (45mp) I’ve bought this as a back up camera and mainly for video projects I have planned, but it’ll certainly be coming out a bit as well
I really like the colour photograph; I think you’re beating yourself up here. The plain blue sky really works for me, because it’s not competing with the wonderful foreground, and it also provides a lovely colour contrast with the foreground warm hues on the rocks and on the mountain. I like the black and white but, in this case, it’s not as striking as the colour.
Hello Stuart, life is hard and you show it in your video. I prefer the colored version of the image. A video based on your experience and explaining what you like and what you dislike on your camera would be nice. Greetings from Germany from Bernd
I think both images are good but for me I think that the B&W edges it just because of the blue sky in the colour image.
Top third I like the B/W, for the rest I prefer the color version, because the colors are really pretty and the image looks more 3D. Cheers.
Cheers for watching 👍
I'd agree with this opinion. The rocks under the water in the foreground are much better in colour.
I like the b&w but what I really really like is you didn't do a sky replacement. Strength and Honour 😂
Haha I wouldn’t dream of it 😂
I love blue sky and snow 😊 obvs no taste 😂
Haha cheers
how do you feel about your tripod shadow being in the foreground? I loke a bit of front lit some time when I manage to get outside and have spent ages trying to Photoshop out a shadow when I probably should have just spent the time repositioning or waiting till the light moved. on the first photo that is.
In the rush to get the video out I’d actually missed that which is unusual for me though I’ll get rid of it if I decide to print it.
How you finding the dji mics? Considering getting a set. There's some scenarios where i'd prefer something like that over what i usually use (radio mics).
Think I prefer the B & W over the colour actually!
Both great, bravo🎉🎉 Thanks! I dislike your negativity but this means you are hard on yourself which results in better images...
This morning as I sat pondering a voice came to me out of the gloom which said, “cheer up, things could be worse”. So I cheered up Nd sure enough, things got worse. The forecast was for no precipitation and 40 degrees f: It’s snowed all day. Gloomy skies, miserable.
For me , personally , the black and white version is THE one. It has more class , character and style, not as obvious as the coloured one.
I think the B&W is a more striking image, but I'd rather have the colour image if one was on y wall every day.
I prefer the b&w version though I think you've slightly overcone the dark sky. The warm tones are too saturated for my tastes in the colour version, nice composition though.
I’m happy with the colour accuracy, that’s pretty typical of the light there in winter
Aye,fair enough. Didn't say the colour was inaccurate though, just not to my taste. Only trying to explain why I prefer the b&w.
Color.
Both nice shots but the black and white has more ‘depth’ and atmosphere.
b/w
what in the world did you do to piss off a robin?!? 🤣🤣🤣
....Takes deep breath. Stuart, (more deep breaths) You are standing in the most incredible landscape(s) and you say 'There is nothing to take here' because the skies are Blue. What! What!!! What!!!!! Deep envy here from Cornwall, whereas on the one and only snowy day of 2025 I bust a gut to get somewhere with similar conditions, albeit with more interesting clouds, but somehow you can't find a composition. Uh... I am actually a huge fan, love your work and feel you are the most 'real' of the RUclipsrs I follow, but on this occasion. Seriously 😳 Hopefully, I can explain my thoughts to you in a person to person context, rather than on this fantasy land that is RUclips. Sorry, don't hit me ☹
Appreciate your comment though I get quite a few comments like this from time to time so please take this in the vein it’s intended (not criticism):
1) Please accept that standards differ between photographers. What I find acceptable is entirely for me, no one else, I’ve little interest in what others think of how good or bad the image is. I did indeed ‘find’ a composition which I stated ended up not being a bad image, but it was lacking certain elements. This is no problem, this is the reality most of the time. I didn’t get to where I am now by accepting images like this as great, or even good, because they’re aren’t. Again, it’s no problem, I think people are too used to being told on this platform everything is great when it isn’t, or worse, genuinely have no idea what great even looks like.
2) It’s a lovely scene, no one will debate that, it’s also OK for it to be that, but not a great picture. I can’t help that I live close to scenes like this, similarly I could say you have equally spectacular (but very different) landscapes like the Cornish and Devon coastlines which we don’t up here. It is what it is, but it doesn’t change the fact that you have to set your own standards, and no amount of comments from well-meaning photographers claiming ‘they’d be happy with that’ or such like would ever change my mindset, nor should it. You set your own standards. I know what a great image looks like, and if I genuinely think I’ve shot one then I’d say so, but this happens very rarely, which is why it keeps us coming back time and again and keeps it fun.
Top Drawer .....
Landscapes photography can be a real...crapshoot sometimes. In this case, literally.
Haha yes
bw for me.
Thanks.