Late Light at Buttermere, a photo from Cumbria, England

Photographer's Note

We went across country to the Lake District National Park for a couple of days, staying overnight at Cockermouth. The weather was glorious so we had an early dinner and went out to catch the last of the light.

This is Buttermere, 9 miles (15km) from Cockermouth on the narrow windy road B5289, which winds past nearby Crummock Water before passing Buttermere. You can see the road on the left. At only 1ｽ miles long, ｾ mile wide and 75 feet deep, Buttermere is one of the smaller lakes but no less beautiful. It attracts thousands of visitors each year for the many walks in the vicinity. If you池e not into climbing hills you can walk around the perimeter.

This is a fairly classic view but difficult to resist. The mountain in the background is called Haystacks.

FL18mm, ISO100

Edit People (understandably) think the structure bottom left is a bench. It is however a rickety bridge with a handrail. There's a gully there with water flowing through into the lake, so it's put there to prevent walkers getting their feet wet!

JCG, saxo042, macondo, cbrman, jwmunro, jlbrthnn, Gerrit, shevchenko, dareco, bakes888, papagolf21, alvaraalto, UlfE, Graal, danos, Cricri, Sistercosmo, stego, avene, pablominto, Kielia, Urs, xuaxo, subhendu_bagchi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

JCG (35153) 2009-06-28 6:06

Hello Kath,

The bench it is not turned on the bad side !!! We sat contrary to this splendid panorama� Light of the evening which gives almost autumnal colors. A wild place which must be very pleasant for the resting walks. I like much the atmosphere of calm which emerges from the image, thank you Kath.

With all my friendships and very good Sunday,

Jean-Charles

npecanhuk (79329) 2009-06-28 6:10

Hello Kath!
Lights and, consequently, colors are so wonderful in this image, dear friend!
Sharpness is suitable to the picture too! Exposure is totally correct, depth of field is excellent, the pov was very well chosen and the composition is superb!
The reflection on the water surface is very nice too!
It's attractive, it's beautiful and pleasant!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

dkeus31 (27739) 2009-06-28 7:19

Hi Kath
great image!
the light on these trees and their reflection is really great!
composition is nice with the lake making a strong curve and with some flowers as nice foreground.
only the bench and the reddish clouds bother me, but that's almost negligible.
great shot!
didier

PratimKar (58) 2009-06-28 7:28

Hi Kath,

You have taken an amazing shot, excellent colours with perfect light and depth of field. I liked the reflection of trees on water and great POV too.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Pratim

saxo042 (38078) 2009-06-28 9:14

Hi Kath,
Beautiful weather, you were indeed lucky! I was here in 1958 and it was raining... I really like the light and the magnificient colours here. This is the way I would have liked to see this famous scenery. Your photo gives a very good idea of what it could have looked that rainy day in 1958...
Kind regards
Gunnar

darek1978 (13361) 2009-06-28 9:33

Hi Kath,
Absolutely wonderful view with a great atmosphere and a beautiful light. This is a well composed shot with the reflection creating nice depth and balance. It is a pleasure looking at this picture. Well done!
Best regards,
Darek

Pablo25 (3186) 2009-06-28 9:55

hello Kath,
very nice scenery indeed, I must admit this is a landscape I would love to go and photograph. Very well taken.
regards
Pawel

macondo (20449) 2009-06-28 10:30

Hello Kath.
A lovely light, indeed. And the scene is given extra depth as the well-lit point of land is set against the shadow of the Haystacks. The slightest tinges of pink add warmth and I also like the reflection of the dark mountains, and preservation of the detail in the foreground. A beautiful evening scene.
Regards,
Andrew

Bartleby (13552) 2009-06-28 10:50

Wonderful view Kath. The evening light casts some glorious tones over this superb landscape. LIke it a lot.

Philippe

ophelcia (0) 2009-06-28 10:55

What can I add?
Marvellous management of afternoon light, unbelievable postcard,
TFS, Gosia

mesutilgim (0) 2009-06-28 11:47

Hello Kath,
Perfect pov, perfect light and perfect capture.
Amazing the refelections on the water surface and light balance.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

cbrman (21685) 2009-06-28 11:52

Hello Kath,

Une tr鑚 belle atmosph鑽e pleine de chaudes couleurs.
J'aime bien cette vue de ce d馗or qui a l'air vraiment tr鑚 calme. Un paysage paradisiaque.
Bravo !

A+

Dominique

jwmunro (286) 2009-06-28 13:40

Hello Kath -

The place names are a real mouth full and sometime humorous to us Yank's. This is a glorious image I can not see anything that might even require a critique. It has reflections, beautiful but strong side light, excellent colors, and a beautiful sky. From this image the post dinner walk must of have been enjoyable. A keeper for sure, well done!

Thank you for sharing.

John

Dyerco (10185) 2009-06-28 13:52

Hi Kath
You waited for the right time as the light is touching the tops of the trees in the FG as well as the Haystacks. Beautifully done.
Phil

trippeek (229) 2009-06-28 14:19

Hello Kath,
Excellent shot: it's like a sword of light between mountains and their reflection

jlbrthnn (76043) 2009-06-28 14:26

Good evening Kath,
Light and colors are the first things which one looks at. One discovers then a pleasant framing of a sumptuous landscape. congratulations.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Jo�l

Gerrit (62042) 2009-06-28 17:09

Hi Kath,
the wonderful warm light is giving the spring colours a fine boost,
Excellent composition,
Regards, Gerrit

shevchenko (20560) 2009-06-28 19:44

Hello Kath,
The golden sunlight make the scene more colorful and attractive, good pov to show the wide landscape, lovely natural environment, full in relaxing feel, just like an advertising poster, distinct photo, well done.
Ally

delkoo (68) 2009-06-28 23:28

hi kath,
You captured fantastic light in a really good composition. I am impressed by the details and colours of your photo
really good one
didier

danyy (0) 2009-06-28 23:49

Bonjour Kath,
beaucoup de naturel et des couleurs chaudes dues � des lumi鑽es d'un moemnt privil馮i� de la journ馥.
Excellent POV et une exposition parfaite.
J'aime beaucoup cet endroit que tu nous donne envie de visiter.
Amiti�.
Daniel.

emka (158128) 2009-06-28 23:52

Hi Kath, Splendid view. In this evening light it looks like an autumn photo. Fantastic colours. And the landscape is so lovely. Wow, I would like to sit on this bench to admire the view. But why it is so backwards?

Regards

Malgorzata

dareco (17136) 2009-06-28 23:57

This lighting is spectacular!!! I love the colors!! and a lovely mood!! Beautiful scene!! TFS

bakes888 (18499) 2009-06-29 1:46

Hi Kath. You timed your visit well, great light and colours. I love the rippled water, I feel it adds a little movement to the scene. Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Have a good week, Paul.

Bluejeans (64251) 2009-06-29 5:26

Hello Kath ,
Que beleza de paisagem , tem umas cores de outono , gostei muito dos reflexos , boas cores e luz, belo ponto de vis縊 ,parab駭s!!
Um abra輟 Gon軋lo

chawax (20764) 2009-06-29 6:32

Hi Kath,
Wonderful sunset light, it gives very nice golden tones to the landscape. I am sure it was a very pleasant moment (except maybe the midges ? are there some midges in Lake District ?). You composed very well your photo, with the babnks of the lake guiding us to the trees under the sun and the nice mountains in the background.
Regards,
Olivier

papagolf21 (152607) 2009-06-29 14:06

Bonsoir, ch鑽e Kath,
Mais o� vas-tu trouver de telles merveilles. La lumi鑽e est splendide et valorise magnifiquement le paysage. Une image de grande beaut�. Grand coup de coeur (une fois de plus pour cette excellente prise de vue).
Mes respects ! le talent est bien pr駸ent !
Amiti駸.
Philippe

alvaraalto (42804) 2009-06-29 14:26

Dag Kath,

Beautiful light in this attractive composition.
I special like the tall trees which seems to be standing in the water.

Groet Rob

gneufeld (15890) 2009-06-29 18:11

Hi Heather,
A very pleasing image with awesome low evening light. I like the composition and the reflections are irresistable. Didn't know you were a user of the Nikon 18x200? TFs. Gerald

UlfE (14641) 2009-06-29 21:27

Hi Kath,

What a perfect lighting. I do not think it could be better than this. I really confirms what I said in my commment to your previous post. Even if it is a classic view I am pretty sure that there are few pictures better than this, if any at all. Excellent work. TFS and have a nice day!

Cheers,

Ulf

Graal (103040) 2009-06-29 23:45

Hi Kath,
colours and light like during the autumn season. Very nice lake and nature. Good quality of photo. An interesting presentation from N. Park.
Gr., Aleksander

coco (30439) 2009-06-30 0:21

Hi Kath.

Without this light this one would be another landscape. But the light of the photo makes this very photo very very special.

Well done.

danos (110407) 2009-06-30 8:48

Hi Kath,
great the view from this point of Buttermere,with the warm afternoon light to be the specific characteristic of the scene that completed with the beauty of the region. Informative your note too.

Have a nice afternoon,Danos

Cricri (176) 2009-06-30 11:25

Hi Kath
Un vrai plaisir de regadrer cette image, pour son paysage en plus prise a un moment particulier de la journ馥 qui donne de merveilleuse teinte chaudes, des reflets, excellent POV
Friendship
cricri

leonorkuhn (16237) 2009-06-30 12:41

Hi Kath,

Great panorama! I like very much the golden light that covers the trees. Stunning colors and reflections. Good job!

Well done
Leonor

gilou530 (34) 2009-07-01 7:16

salut kath
quelle belle lumi鑽e rasante du soir qui donne c'est teintes chaudes sur un paysage grandiose, calme et tranquilit� dans cette photo, beau travail
amiti駸
gilbert

Sistercosmo (242) 2009-07-01 13:03

Hi Kath,

wow, what wonderful light you got here! Really great composition with a beautiful reflection and a terrific sky. Great shot!

Have a great evening!
Linda

jmcl (14535) 2009-07-01 13:14

Hi Kath,

Beautiful light .. nice control of the difficult dark areas .. the way the light plays through the near plants is wonderful .. I love the sense of stillness under the powerful background landscape .. beautiful image. rugged tranquility.
take care,

John

Angshu (56760) 2009-07-01 21:12

Hello Kath
The end of day light is delicious as it falls from the right. Like the small bit of sunlight which hits the cap of the peak. Good POV here with the curve of the lake. What i also like is how the small yellow flowers seem to glow against the dark part of the shadows on the lake water. Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

stego (24132) 2009-07-02 10:39

Hi Kath,
Indeed irresistible, specially with the light that you registered so well, that gives it a bit of an Autumn atmosphere. I like every detail - the compo, the reflections, etc., but I find that the yellow flowers on the dark FG give a special touch. Very, very beautiful.
Hey, there are no WS's... :-)
Regards,
Jos�

avene (12675) 2009-07-02 20:56

now THIS is the light I always pray for :) love the warm golden tones, and the way your composition focuses attention on the light - the curve of the shore leads the eye from the darker foreground right into light, while the mirror perfect reflection doubles the effect. great shot, Kath, my compliments.

regards,
Kristine

pablominto (53746) 2009-07-02 23:01

Hello Kath,

I had to look twice at the "date taken", as I was pretty sure this is autumn!
Then it is the warmth in the sunrays from a low angle creating this nice effect...
A well framed view lovely coloured, a balanced composition with good details!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Kielia (24077) 2009-07-03 10:39

Hi Kath,
it is really amazing how the low light and the golden colors are giving the impression of autumn. I have seen here a lot of images from this fascinating place, but this is really very attractive. Excellent POV! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

Urs (14082) 2009-08-20 8:12

Oh Kath, this sunlight is amazing, and you captured it perfectly, congrats. It's your excellent light management what makes the difference. The color hues and contrasts are vibrant. And the lake boost DOF tremendously. Well done

Best regards
Urs

xuaxo (6854) 2009-08-27 7:35

Hi Kath,
Another pretty view of "the lake by the dairy pastures".
The light here is great, but anyway I prefer your recent view with Fleetwith Pike.
Greetings,
F.

pajaran (115861) 2009-09-19 11:53

Pozdrav.
Divna priroda ...
Lepo ste preneli ovom fotografijom lepote nacionalnog parka, odlicnim bojama , ostrinom i trenutkom snimka.
Prijatan vikend, puno pozdrava Paja.

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2009-09-21 4:28

Namaste Kath,
beautiful lake to watch. Nice looks due to late soft light. Vivid colours. The reflection of the colourful branches in water is marvellous. Your composition is perfect here with an ideal point of view. Tfs.
Have a nice week.
Subhendu