at the gates of dawn, a photo from Down, Northern Ireland

Photographer's Note

this is the coastline on dundrum bay, near the point where the bloody bridge river enters the irish sea. this is also the start of the track know as 'the brandy pad', an old smugglers� route which led inland to small towns such as hilltown. brandy and other spirits, wine, spices, tobacco, tea, coffee, sugar and silk made their way to this secluded cove of the mourne coast via the isle of man, which was outside the control of customs and excise at that time.

i took this picture just moments before the sun appeared on the horizon. the rocks in the foreground are shale which line the coast and lie below the granites which form the mourne mountains that overlook this coastline.

rigoletto, Schnappilic, photoray, SnapRJW, Romano46, timecapturer, siudzi, marabu61, No_One, ChrisJ, delpeoples, delpeoples, Graal, kabel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

rigoletto (34279) 2013-11-09 11:42

nature is the greatest artist, period!
and we are humble creatures to discover, imitate or record its galleries full of pieces of art.
the shales, the granites, the pinks and tungsten blues... lovely hues...

Schnappilic (9692) 2013-11-09 11:46

Hello Brian,

Superb designed and made this picture. Splendid light and colors. My Congratulations!

Best regards,

Ovidiu

cargus (13954) 2013-11-09 13:03

Interesting image, good balance between light and color,.. well done..!!
Regards,
Adrian

photoray (13981) 2013-11-09 15:48

Howdy Brian,

I am attracted to Nature's deposit of rounded boulders atop the eroded shore lines, and enhanced by low level blue tones.

Good job,
Cheers,
Ray

emka (158204) 2013-11-09 23:23

Hi brian, What a landscape shot! Is it real?? The blue rocks and round stones and first pink traces of sun look gorgeous. Splendid, I like it very much.

Warm regrads MAlgo

jemaflor (147204) 2013-11-10 0:13

Hi Brian,
Interesting result with the composition well made with Fg ad these particular light and colors, I like these blue and pink tones.

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-11-10 0:38

Your title made me think of Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn album Brian and your shot carries with it the feel of some of their music. Beautiful composition which celebrates the wonder of nature. Warm regards Rosemary

Romano46 (18472) 2013-11-10 2:12

Ciao Brian
davanti alle tue fotografie rimango sempre incantato per come riesci a interpretare la realt� del paesaggio che ti circonda creando delle composizioni di grandissimo effetto.
Questa non � da meno e si propone anche per la particolare colorazione che dona un aspetto magico al paesaggio.
Una splendida postproduzione che aumenta la magia dello scatto.
Complimenti
Ciao e buona domenica
Romano

timecapturer (49288) 2013-11-10 2:49

Hi Brian
well what can I say about this masterpiece! It is just stunning and executed in your own inimitable style. I love the fg pebbles and the blue-ish hues that contrast so exquisitely with the colours of the breaking dawn. A quality image and just magnificent presentation. Keep them coming - inspiring work!

Enjoy your Sunday - Brian.

siudzi (34141) 2013-11-10 4:43

Hello Brian,
Wow! What a fantastic shot! Your technique of post processing the light and colors is really great and the final visual effect looks extremely outstanding. Amazing image! Love it!

Have a nice day!
Gosia

marabu61 (11587) 2013-11-10 5:44

Hello Brian
Superb colors and a sublime light makes this view on the old smugglers route very attractive. Gorgeous and moody atmosphere.
have a great sunday
Daniel

No_One (4) 2013-11-10 7:19

Hi Brian,
A beautifully dramatic picture, and equally dramatic title, really nicely done. The grey tones of the foreground look absolutely stunning set against the color creeping into the sky from the rising sun. Really nicely done, an almost mythical image.
Cheers
Noel

npecanhuk (79329) 2013-11-10 18:00

Hi Brian!
Magnificent picture!
That sky is wonderful!
The details of that rocky seashore are also so beautiful and attractive!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

willperrett (14215) 2013-11-11 5:47

Hello Brian
OK, so where's the piper?
Interesting colour cast from the pre-dawn light, and the long shutter speed has done its usual magic to the waves. Beautiful.
Regards
Will

ChrisJ (171878) 2013-11-11 7:13

Hello Brian,

I like the textural and shape contrasts in the fg between the rounded pebbles and the oblique rock strata, as well as the superb sharpness and the marvellous warm cold colour contrast between the icy blue rock and the fiery sunset skies of yellow orange. Good composition using the rule of thirds and the low shooting angle works well here. Tfs!

macjake (98456) 2013-11-11 13:45

Hi Brian
Dundrum Bay, Bloody Bridge, Brandy Pad, Smugllers route......cool names there!

another fantastic landscape photo to include into your gallery. the blue tones are everywhere here, very noticeable for sure. is the white balance setting on normal?

nice to see a hint of orange and yellow on the right too.
love the way the shale gives a false sense of movement.
cool shot
cheers
craig

delpeoples (60342) 2013-11-13 1:53

Gidday Brian

An simply exhilarating shot over the McCready Coastline. I love those crispy blue tones in the foreground, turning those stones and all that slate into bits of ice. What an atmosphere this creates, and in combination with the pastel tones on the horizon, it makes me shiver at the cold climate you set. This really is no-man's land. So untouched and so wild. What an amazing place and an amazing photo.

Best regards
Lisa

sevy (58) 2013-12-09 1:40

Hello Brian,

Nice and efficient seascape. I like a lot the composition putting in opposite diagonale line the pieces of stones and the first orange light of the Sun.
I would have pushed a bit the contrast in post processing, but we are entering in my own taste: I am just proposing.

Yves.

yquem46 (38752) 2013-12-09 12:44

Back to you
This is another one
Splendid cold blue and pink colors, excellent impact of the long exposure, well composed with the pack of round little rocks at FG
Bravo, have a nice evening
patrick

Graal (103040) 2014-01-11 0:31

Hello Brian,
your landscapes in series are amazing and beautiful. Unusual hues here. Good composition and excellent quality of photo. I like it a lot.
Have a nice WE.
Aleksander

kabel (1930) 2014-01-28 8:28

Hello, gorgeous colors that glow with luminance. Excellent pov with the round rocks in the foreground. I love the patience and the wait until that moment when the sun peaks through the clouds just up from the horizon.
TFS,
Karen

kathryn_weir (2056) 2014-04-07 20:18

HI Brian,
Wow, this is a striking shot. I love that splash of colour on the otherwise blue/grey palette. You have made superb use of those boulders in the foreground and their shaw contrasting with the linear nature of the rocky coastline is a great contradiction. I like the long exposure giving a silky finish to the water
Thanks for sharing and have a great Tuesday
Kathryn