Riding into the Storm, a photo from Highland, Scotland

Photographer's Note

As many have discovered, the Isle of Skye is noted for its dramatic landscapes and mountain ranges, but it is also renowned for its wildly changeable weather and visitors should be prepared for any eventuality.

Here, travelling south from Sligachan to Broadford in glorious warm early autumn sunshine, we were suddenly faced not only by the sight of the dark and threatening Cuillin mountain range but also by heavy dark storm clouds gathering over them. Just a couple of miles farther on, the Heavens opened with a deluge of heavy rain - I just hope those two cyclists were prepared and managed to find some shelter.

ISO 100, 1/250 sec atf/8, focal length 70mm.

Please click here for a larger version of this photograph on "beta" TE.

alvaraalto, ourania, daddo, mehrdad-t, CLODO, snunney, ikeharel, Royaldevon, lucasgalodoido, carlo62, delpeoples, macjake, ktanska, kordinator has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (121125) 2016-10-29 11:10

Hi John,when the sun kiss the ground and there are dark clouds in the sky,the pic is always fantastic! And this is a great example of this theory,a lovely landscape with the special bonus of the cyclists,impressive view and the usual top quality. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

holmertz (83424) 2016-10-29 11:31

Hello John,
What an absolutely fascinating photo.The sun never shines more beautifully than just before a storm, with black clouds covering most of the sky. In this case the steep dark mountain increases the dramatic effect of the approaching storm. The curving road, the golden fields and of course the two bright cyclists (moments before they were possibly half drenched) make a wonderful and stunning contrast to the dark upper half of the picture. It was really a photo snapped at the right moment.
Kind regards,
Gert

GyurMaster (16686) 2016-10-29 13:11

Dear John,

This photo is truly amazing. The lights are beautiful and the two cyclist is just in the right spot. The only thinkI could m
note is the title. Did you considered riders on the storm instead? :)

Joke apart: really beautiful work.
I wish you a nice weekend!
Gy.

alvaraalto (38742) 2016-10-29 13:37

Hello John
Fantastic picture with a good story. I do hope indeed that the two brave cyclist have been prepared. They do have a bag on their back so p[possibly they do have some protecting cloth with them.
This scene is very spectacular and I think they could better take pictures than cycling.
Excellent presentation
Have a nice weekend.
Groet Rob

ourania (51103) 2016-10-29 14:07

Hello John,
I've been keeping on my desktop a picture with a cyclist riding down a mountain overlooking Athens under a very ominous black sky, towards a bright background, the opposite lighting conditions:) You did a marvellous work on the light and retained superb detail and colours on both sides of the "story". The contrasts and the texture of the clouds make the scene dramatic and mesmerizing. (At least "my" cyclist decided to turn around and ride towards the light -and downhill:)) I also like very much the way you set the pesrpective, placed the distant hill in the middle and made the shadows echo the mood of the background. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a good night,
Ourania

emka (139340) 2016-10-29 14:38

Hi John, when I went today to do shopping, there was a light like this - almost black sky and beautifully lit the buildings with the sun from other direction. unfortunately, these nicely lit buildings were uninteresting shops, not wonderful landscape of Skye. And when I went home after shopping, it became very cold and was small hail. I do not like such a weather. But in your picture it is OK, two bikers are enjoying their ride or they are looking for a shelter. and what about the photographers? Fantastic composition with the fabulous light.

WArm regrad s Malgo

daddo (28698) 2016-10-29 15:20

Hi John. Beautiful moment when the sunshine illuminates the countryside set against a foreboding sky. The title is most apt as we follow the cyclists along the winding road. Regards. Klaudio.

mehrdad-t (4696) 2016-10-29 21:05

Hello,
Great Capture, and Very nice Picture.
Wonderful Colors and lights,
Best regards,
Mehrdad

jemaflor (125811) 2016-10-30 0:55

Hi John,
Well managed your photo with a good depth effect with the road and the curve, well too these two bikers and so beautiful contrast of light and colors, The light is perfectly captured, tfs.

Nicou (188578) 2016-10-30 1:50

Hlelo

quelle belle route et compo superbe vue ce gris avec les deux cyclistes et quelle v馮騁ai ton tout en dor� et quel rendu et forme de la montagne avec les nuage qui la voile superbe.
Bravo t amiti�
Nciou

CLODO (42455) 2016-10-30 2:09

Hi John

This is really Scotland where you have sunshine 4 times a day between rainfalls and windy moments.
The 2 lonely bikers in colored cloth don't care, they are prepared for it and take the best of the sunshine.
Superb light well caught.

Cheers
CLODO

snunney (130965) 2016-10-30 3:20

Hello John,
Lights and colours are quite sublime. The two intrepid cyclists are well placed in the frame closing on the bend in the road. The approaching storm is beautifully evoked. Delightful to view from a warm dry room!

jhm (191483) 2016-10-30 5:18

Hello John,

What a imminent sky with the heavy clouds and the dark silhouettes of the mountain.
But the foreground is nice clear and lovely with the two bikers.
Colours and composition are pleasant.
Perfect perspective and depth picture.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John.

Silvio1953 (191367) 2016-10-30 6:20

Ciao caro John, fascinating landscape, superb sky, wonderful colors and fantastic light, lovely composition with couple of bike men, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

No_One (4) 2016-10-30 10:55

Hi John
That's add much like Mordor add it is Skye!! The sense of that from the weather is brilliantly captured and you've led into the view with the curving road so well. The two cyclists add a great splash of colour, and considering their direction, splash is possibly the right word!
Cheers
Noel

Royaldevon (64434) 2016-10-30 13:37

Hello John,

Oh, I have heard about the changeable weather on Skye!
Sunny one moment and bucketing down the next!

You have found a lovely compositional point, which uses the road for guidance and the mountains for drama.
You have captured the weather contrasts extremely well.
The f/g is golden with sunshine on the grasses and bracken, whilst the mountains are blackened with shadows and threat!
The clouds are amazing, low, swirling and exposing ominous shades of grey!

The cyclists are a lovely addition, giving both colours and scale.
There doesn't appear to be much in the way of shelter from this approaching storm!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

lucasgalodoido (26140) 2016-10-30 14:20

Hi John,
very nice view of this road and mountain. I like of the deep view and the high light constrast in your capture. Great job, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas

carlo62 (81031) 2016-10-30 15:15

Ciao John
la prospettiva della strada � seducente, incuriosisce con la sua curva nascosta e porta lo sguardo dalla luce al cielo tempestoso.
Bella composizione.
Saluti
Carlo

dta (95580) 2016-10-31 4:31

Hello John ,
The most wonderful light and sky conditions for this amazing capture of the sunny road with the dark cloudy mountains in the BG . The presence of the two riders was a great bonus .
As usual , an exceptional quality in term of shrapness and fine details . The camra is good ;) , no doubt , but I suppose that your lense is an excelent one (I'm not a specialist) .
Regards

delpeoples (60326) 2016-10-31 5:12

Caro Giovanni

That is one helluva photo. it's absolutely magnificent, that golden light and the brooding grey skies make a formidable combination. Do you remember me talking about taking refuge in a pub when the rain got horizontal? Well that was Sligachan. Funny how you also were the victim of the elements here in Sligachan too. I think the place is haunted. And I hope you ended up in the pub there that has 450 varieties of Scotch Whisky. An exquisite piece of photography Giovanni, congratulations.

Un abbraccio e bella giornata a te
Lisa

macjake (92637) 2016-10-31 14:49

Hi John
I see you pulled the car over on the WRONG side of the road!
haha, I still find it strange driving on the left.

in your scene, its great how the silver colour of the pavement comes through so brightly, it shines like a beacon. and of course how can we not enjoy the atmosphere you captured, its brooding and dangerous looking for sure. but as you mentioned, thats also part of the allure of this area, or any area in Scotland for that matter lol

wonderful pic
cheers
craig

Tue (72006) 2016-10-31 14:53

Hello John,
Wow, what a landscape and I really love the contrast between the bright sunlit colours of the foreground and the cloudy and dark mountain landscape further away. The contrast couldn't have been bigger, it seems. The small cyclists are a great addition to this great landscape.
Lars

ktanska (36445) 2016-11-01 11:43

Hi John,
Contrast between sunlit foreground and stormy clouds in not so far distance looks great. Autumn colours look lovely, even without tree foliage around. Those cyclist are nice extra details.
Kari

mkamionka (53864) 2016-11-02 12:28

Hi John,
indeed I have never been there but its fame reached me. I hope to visit this region someday. But I am not in rush. I think I will stick to warmer destinations for a while.
Fantastic well thought through composition. I like very much the aspect of the road making a lovely turn in the frame. The two bikers add pleasant colors and contribute to the feeling of depth.
Great light with so well lit foreground scene. There is a nice contrast of the foreground and the darker, covered with clouds centre of the image.
Very impressive! Highest quality of work!
M

kordinator (15775) 2016-11-08 1:36

Hello John
An very nice landscape with very dramatic clods.
This photo is truly amazing.
The lights are beautiful and the two cyclist is just in the right spot.
Nice part of this road and wonderful nature all around.
Excellent photo parameters.
Great photo job.
Kind regards
Sa啾