Tip for the Queen, a photo from Cumbria, England

Photographer's Note

We had recently few weeks of a great weather in England with temperatures quite often reaching even 26 degrees. I have heard there was no summer like this since 17th century here. It is back to normal now but obviously I tried to make a good use of this weather and visited numerous beautiful places. One of them was Lake District. Although Lake District is said to be one the most beautiful places in England I have quite struggled to plan my trip there. Lonely Planet, very useful in the past, tries to be so original that it often focuses on lesser known places so sometimes I wonder if in the new edition of Paris they will still mention Eiffel Tower or not. Their photos are good illustration: they show some people in the park, glasses full of wine, pictures one can take anywhere. DK guidebooks are my favourite recently but they are great for cities and culture, usually poorly presenting nature. AA guidebook dedicated to this region mentions all towns in the Lake District regardless if they are worth visiting or not. It gives “useful” info like: sixth wife of Henry VIII was born here, etc. When searching for photos in internet you are getting photos from Lake District in Argentina or other countries.
In the same week which I picked for the visit to Lake District this national park was also visited by British Queen. I bet she had a similar problem which guidebook to follow. I remember when she visited Dublin, they have demolished part of the Dublin Castle to build an elevator for her. Because I do attempt to travel with a little baby it would have been a good idea to follow the footsteps of the queen who obviously requires an easy access. I realized that too late but I checked the schedule of queen’s visit afterwards and it seems that we followed roughly the same route: among others we did same boat tour on Windermere (lake). That was quite a pleasant experience, however we enjoyed more the boat tour on Ullswater (lake) which in my opinion is much more beautiful and which the queen didn't do (this is the tip for the future in case Her Majesty reads this). Now my wife told me that NOBODY will read to the end of this note...

This picture was taken from the boat during a tour on Ullswater (lake).

Royaldevon, timecapturer, Graal, nikkitta, tyro, adramad, Sonata11, ikeharel, Angshu ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

jurek1951 (42198) 2013-07-25 1:08

Witaj Mariusz
typ na dzisiejszy zapowiadany upa,piekna wakacyjna fotka,ladny krajobraz z naturalna kolorystyka,pozdrawiam
Jurek

[2]

lousat (121003) 2013-07-25 1:23

Hi Mariusz,a beautiful sunny day to take a boat trip in this pecaeful place,i wish to be there me too..eheh...very nice composition,whit all the juice of vacation inside,i like it!Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

[2]

Royaldevon (64322) 2013-07-25 1:59

Ha, ha, Mariusz, now you will be able to tell your wife she was wrong! I did get to the end!.

I have to agree with you about Ullswater, it is more remote and more beautiful. You can even see golden eagles circling in the sky, there.
A beautifully composed shot, with all the elements strongly positioned and using a good dof. The relaxed mood shines through.

I just have to say, there is a slight tilt, the yacht is sailing downhill!

Have a great day,
Bev :-)

fds (9945) 2013-07-25 2:20

dear friend very beautiful picture with the lake and the mountain in the foreground and the boat very very nice
the colors are very beautiful and the super scharpnees
great worck

MJR (3360) 2013-07-25 3:03

Maruisz,
Another yellow click - congratulations ! You have joined the east-west coasts, now to do the north south connection !

My tip - don't waste time with HM, team up with Wills and Catherine, now you both have babes in arms, you could really sort out travel arrangements... ( I did read right to the end ! )

The very subdued colours at first sight disappoint, but are of course quite real for the weather and time of day, so full marks for avoiding any temptation to jazz 'em up. Likewise, the apparent angle of the picture causes a second look, but is probably true too, despite appearances. I ask myself sometimes in these cases, should it be true, and awkward looking, or adjusted slightly to allow the viewer some peace of mind.. Never an easy one.

( Your note was so entertaining, reading to the end was easy btw. )

kind regards
Martin

timecapturer (49288) 2013-07-25 3:14

Hi Mariusz
a super shot of this English haven of beauty. Never had decent weather when I have visited so this is a delight. A glorious mix of everything that typifies the region and captured so beautifully. Love it!

Brian.
Not seen any shot on here from her Maj!............yet.

[2]

Sergiom (115636) 2013-07-25 4:53

Bonjour Mariusz,

Quel beau moment tu as saisi. Le petit voilier est parfaitement placé dans le cadrage . Tu as laissé beaucoup d'espace à la nature environnante qui est très belle.

Amicalement

Serge

Fis2 (142643) 2013-07-25 7:44

Witaj Mariusz!
Krajobraz jakby znajomy...
Spokoj, cisza i sloneczko, jak na Solinie :)
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof

[2]

holmertz (83300) 2013-07-25 7:55

Hello Mariusz,
I read your amusing note right to the end, just to find out about he tip :-).
The view is maybe not spectacular, and perhaps that's why it wasn't regarded as good enough for the Queen, but it is truly beautiful with the fields and forested hill and a well placed boat. The colours and light are lovely.
Kind regards,
Gert

chrisvek (7003) 2013-07-25 7:57

Hello Mariusz

Splendid composition here with amazing colors and great details.Nice lightning usage and POV.Very good atmosphere.So peaceful.TFS

All the best
Chris

Graal (103038) 2013-07-25 12:49

Czesc,
nawet swojsko to wyglada, jakby przeniesione miejsce z Mazur do Anglii. Ladny kadr. A Anglia ma juz ksiecia Jerzego, wszystko wiadomo.
Milego wieczoru.
Aleksander

abmdsudi (81564) 2013-07-25 12:54

Hi Mariusz
A scenic lake view interesting enough to draw attentions from fg to further distance hills with the white boat helps to counter balance the scene. You are certainly getting to grips with the exposure bringing out the detail nicely, the patch of brownish land renders the extra visual effect nicely. Congrats.
Best regards

limielski (0) 2013-07-25 13:41

Cześć!
Gdyby nie te górki, mozna by pomysleć, że to Mazury.
Choc krajobraz troche podobny do bieszczadzkiego w okolicy Soliny :-)
Fajny wakacyjny klimat. Teraz dopiero przeczytałem Fisa - wiec nie sugerowałem sie jego wpisem.

Pozdrawiam, Leszek

nikkitta (17070) 2013-07-25 14:19

Hola Mariusz

I beat you know I read ALL your notes, as did with it, more I also read your answer to Martin

So funny to compensate a good title for what you believe a dull capture
Not an imposing building at the blue hour but a landscape with a touch of white (sailboat)

Hope the Queen follow your steps and you hers with the baby
Maria

emka (139176) 2013-07-25 23:29

cześć Mariusz,

Mam straszne zaległości w krytykach, jakos ostatnio nie chce mi sie pisać. Zwłaszcza wtedy, kiedy chcę napisac cos wiecej.
Jesli chodzi o przewodniki, to nie ma idealnego. W jednym sa informacje praktyczne, częsciowo nieprzydatne lub przestarzałe, jak w LP, w i nnych z kolei sa obrazki, ale mniej praktycznych. Ja zwykle mam kilka i potem targam te kilogramy w plecaku. (W Australii 6 kg - książki, notebook, ładowarki, kable i aparat). W czasie przygotowań najlepszym przewodnikiem jest Internet. Bardzo pomocny jest na przykład Trip Advisor i Things to do in.... I tam jest ranking atrakcji w danym miejscu, wiec możesz ocenić, co Ciebie w danej sytuacji najbardziej interesuje. Kiedys lubiłam przewodniki Michelina, gdzie najciekawsze były miejsca z ***, te zwiedzalismy w pierwszej kolejnosci. Właśnie wczoraj nieoczekiwanie znalazłam na półce taki zielony przewodnik po Francji. bardzo mi sie przyda przed planowana podróżą! Ale też są tam miejsca w ogole nie uwzglednione, a juz zobaczyłam gdzie indziej, ze chce je zobaczyc. Ale od czego jest TE! Chcesz jechac do Lake District, patrzysz, kto tam był i co widział, i zasiegasz informacji z pierwszego źródła. Martin mieszka niedaleko i podróżuje z dwójka małych dzieci. Najlepiej Ci mógł doradzić. A jeszcze jest John, i Ann, i Rich, no i moja skromna osoba :). No i nie przymierzaj sie do prababci. Bierzesz Nadię na barana i możesz dotrzec wszędzie.
Ładne lasy i pagórki.

Pozdrawiam M.

No_One (4) 2013-07-26 0:54

Hi Mariusz
Beautiful view over the lake, and funny that despite this being such a tourist haven in the UK, its the first shot Ive ever seen of it here on TE! The colors are rich and really appealing.
Interesting note on the guides too, to be honest Ive never used guides when travelling, but I do have the DK book on the UK at home which I enjoy reading for my one day trip to see some of the amazing sights there. I did not know that Lonely Planet tried so hard to be hip and cool that they could end up defeating the purpose of the books!

I'm sure if the Queen does read this (I wonder does she Google herself??) she'll enjoy your note, of which I read right to the very end :)

Happy weekend.
Noel

tyro (29026) 2013-07-26 8:12

Hello Mariusz,

I did! Yes, I did! I definitely read to the very end of your note! In fact, before I comment on any picture, I always read the note fully - that is often the most interesting bit. Even if the note is written in German, French or Polish, I will "Google" translate it and read it all before I write a critique. And I hate it when people make crazy critiques about my pictures and have never read the note I have written!

Yes, guide books can be good - but why did you not use TE? Just search for "Cumbria" pictures on TE and find nice places to visit. Better still, meet up with someone from Cumbria - like Martin (MJR) - and he will show you! We had a wonderful weekend TE meeting based in Keswick two years ago and Martin showed us some wonderful places to take photographs.

I like this picture because of its simplicity of composition. As with all your photographs, the details, clarity and sharpness are exquisite and the colours are true and not over saturated.

I have read several comments here that it is not level but I'm not sure. The more I look at it, the more I believe that it is, in fact, perfectly level. With seascapes, the horizon is usually obvious so it's easy to get the picture perfectly level. With lakes it is difficult though if there is a reflection of a pole or tree, then that makes it easier. There are no real reflections here so I think one just has to "judge" it. There is a tall pole on the left and that looks perfectly straight. I think it is the distant shoreline which makes this appear tilted. The boat is actually perfectly level.

So, yes, Mariusz, I believe that it is straight!!

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

P.S. No photographs in Scotland today - dark, thunder, lightning and hailstorms!

adramad (62672) 2013-07-26 10:16

Hello Mariusz.
A beautiful view of this beautiful coastline, is a delight to see the sea with all this vegetation almost to the water's edge. The small boat is a lovely touch on the composition.
It is a very nice and loving it.
Very good also the brightness and sharpness.
Enjoy a happy weekend.
Best wishes.
Luis.

jemaflor (125717) 2013-07-27 10:01

Hi Mariusz,
Well composed your photo with water, landscape and the focal point with the sailboat, nice light and colors with this sunnt day, perfectly captured.

Urs (14082) 2013-07-27 20:00

Hi Mariusz

What a peaceful setting with the lake and the sailing boat and in the BG forested hills. No person in sight either as I can see, a very idyllic place. Well done

Warm regards
urs

Sonata11 (34119) 2013-07-27 21:26

Witaj Mariusz,
co za cudowne miejsce! az zaprasza na wakacje, na odpoczynek ale w pelnym tego slowa znaczeniu. Co za blogi spokoj. Cudowna pocztowka pieknie wykonane zdjecie. Cudowna podoga dopisala. Slicznie wykonane zdjecie. Bardzo mi sie podoba. Gratulacje.
Setrdecznie pozdrawiam I zycze milej niedzieli,
Barbara

alpi1500 (1520) 2013-07-28 7:40

Hi
Great lonely boat.I like natural colors.Very nice landscape
Have a great week.

fabbs99 (17179) 2013-07-28 9:11

Hi Mariusz,

The sea look so peaceful and serene with the sailing boat.Great shot with nice sharpness and clarity.Excellent pov and wonderful composition.Very well done.TFS.

Cheers
Farhat

ikeharel (98802) 2013-07-29 2:43

Hello mariusz,
I red till the end of the note.
I know only the Windermere area in the lake district, when visted in 8/1993, most charming area.
Yet, I can see this lake as a more remote and not on the usual tourists route over there.
Lovely pic., how typically divided forest and field's, contrast with the blue.
Cheers,
Ike

Angshu (56760) 2013-08-05 3:42

Hello Mariusz
At first glance, this cannot be conceived to have been taken from England! The light, the sun, the sail boat...its kind of different from our perception. Nice work with layers, with 4 distinct ones there in the frame. The sail boat pivots the picture well
Best Regards
Angshu