Poulnabrone Dolmen Co. Clare

[Overbeyond]

Another from my visit to Clare. This monument dates back to C. 2500 BC and during more recent excavations up to forty uncremated remains were found in the chamber beneath the monument. Lots of these monuments in Co Clare.
The shot was taken not long before semi-darkness set in.
Pulled a lot more from the sky and the foreground and the stone itself were the subjects of some selective levels adjustments.
I hope I've done the monument some justice.
Any advice and critique welcome.
Tom

[gahspidy]

Tom, this is a very strong image. Great tones in the b&w. Your point of view here lends to a strong composition with the monument standing out up into the ominous looking sky. Also, I like the placement of the subject in the right portion of the frame. You say you have pulled more out of the foreground and the monument, and while it looks very good as it is now I feel that i would not mind the fg being darker and the vertical stones of the monument being darker as well. Perhaps I might find that the original was very strong as it came about. Nevertheless, this is a fine image and worthy of a place in your gallery. Good work

[Young Shooter]

I really do not see anything i would change with this picture
I really like how the ground below almost pops out from the sky
i like the fact that its b/w
i see some good dodging in the sky around the stone and to the left

did u take this digitally and convert or u took it with a film camera
Keep Shooting

[swmdrayfan]

Tom, I think Gary has a good suggestion. OTOH, this image works very well as is. I don't think you can really go wrong either way. The tonality is very good, as is the composition and framing.
John

[jar_e]

Tom,

Great shot. The tones are perfect and the composition is strong. Great shot and well done.

Jared

[Overbeyond]

Thanks to you all for your positive comments on this. Gary, I take on board what you are saying and I can see it as another good alternative to be sure. You are right; the original is more on the lines you are describing.
Tom

[Kaelastreet]

Did you bounce a flash for the underside lighting?
You got what I call a 'book cover', terrific image. well done.

(I had a remote flash once, it was incredible.)

Kizz

[Overbeyond]

Did you bounce a flash for the underside lighting?
You got what I call a 'book cover', terrific image. well done.

(I had a remote flash once, it was incredible.)

Kizz

Hello Kaelastreet
No flash used on this but I did give the underside a bit of a lift in post processing.
Thanks for your nice comments on the shot.
Tom

[srobb]

Hmmm, I love this image, Tom. Of course I love b&w, but this image speaks to me. I can feel the oldness to this place and that it is a place of mystery. I like the suggestion Gary gave you for the monument and fg maybe being a little darker, but I like this one a lot. It would be interesting to see the original and see the differences.

[Overbeyond]

Hmmm, I love this image, Tom. Of course I love b&w, but this image speaks to me. I can feel the oldness to this place and that it is a place of mystery. I like the suggestion Gary gave you for the monument and fg maybe being a little darker, but I like this one a lot. It would be interesting to see the original and see the differences.

Here's the untouched original.
Thanks Srobb; I'm glad you have the feeling for this place.
Tom

[srobb]

Here's the untouched original.
Thanks Srobb; I'm glad you have the feeling for this place.
Tom

My pleasure, Tom. I love the original just as much. That grayish sky is what really makes it for me. Just the way I would picture the sky for a place like that. Must be my English, Welsh, Irish roots coming through.

[gahspidy]

Tom, I do like the untouched original very much. It's silhouettesque (that can't be a word, I know) appearance and yet still some shadow detail is powerful. I do like a bit of the enhancement you did on the upper horizontal portion of the monument and what you did with the sky. So perhaps working just those two areas of the image would lead to the best compromise . . .it's your call, either way you go you have a winner here.

[Overbeyond]

Hello Gary
Nothing pleases me more than when someone says the original is best. Because that is what I strive for; to get an image from the camera that will not need to be modified in any way. But in this case the b/w conversion edges it for me.
What pleases me also is that else where my image of Poulnabrone has been dissected and modified to many different versions and ideas and I have to say the old Dolmen has stood up to it all vey well.
Very many thanks
Tom

[readingr]

I think B&W for this. This photo just makes me want to grab the camera and take pictures of old things.

Excellent. Now if you just did a straight B&W conversion of the original you get 2 for the price of one.

I was talking to a chap about the Gallway 'Oyster Festival' It may be called something else but its to do with shell fish and guiness. I must come back for a visit.

Roger

[mpreslar]

I am going to be the contrarian here and say I like the version with more detail in the stone better than the original, darker version. I might even go further and take the stone out onto its own layer and darken the background sky a bit and up the contrast in the clouds to get an even more imposing looking sky behind these imposing stones. I don't think you need to lighten the stones at all, just darken the sky a bit. Not that is isn't fantastic the way it is in both the B&W and the original! It speaks to me in all forms. Words of ritual and history played on a harp. (I've long felt there must have been a Bard somewhere in the family tree.... )

[Overbeyond]

Roger and Mpreslar
Thanks for you responses. The old stone has had a lot of manipulations done to it and it stood up to it all very we..
The Galway Oyster Festival indeed.
Tom

[CLKunst]

Tom,

This is a very powerful image. The details are just incredible and so is the tonal range. I think you've done a terrific job at the post processing. Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus on this one. ;)

Cheers!

[Tuna]

Very impressive - great sky to accentuate your monumental tones and comp.

Tuna