History on my door step

[thegman]

Today I spent sometime shooting around my local area, so much history and we take it for granted. All c&c appreciated.

#1. Crossraguel Abbey, Ayrshire, Scotland.


#2. Crossraguel Abbey main building


#3. West wing.

[deetheturk]

Nice shots Gerry!

[ShaneS]

We often do take our own surrounding for granted Gerry and this series of yours is a great example of why we shouldn't

The first image feels a bit cramped at the top to me and I think that a bit more sky in the composition would have given the tower a bit more room to breathe.

On the third I think that you are losing a bit of focus on the great stone wall by leaving the far right upward sloping bit in the frame. Crop it out and see what you think?

Overall you did a nice job in the bright midday light by the looks of things and I wonder how the scene would look in the early morning or at sunset? It seems like there is a lot to explore

Thanks for sharing!

[IzzieK]

I like #3 very much Gerry...the stone walls appeals to me against the green backdrop. Are you allowed to go up the building in #1? Just asking. I am wondering what it looks like looking at the scenery from there...

[thegman]

Shane, thanks for you comments , every piece of advice is great for me as I'm still trying to tune me eye to what I want to see in my photographs.

I agree 100% about the cropped sky in #1, I'll visit again and try again,

As you say shot in bright sunshine, not good, but in Scotland the sunshine is a rarity.

[thegman]

Hi Izzie, thanks for your comments, these photo's were taken from the car park. It is normally possible to access the site, however until yesterday I didn't even know the place existed and I was returning from lunch with my wife and couldn't resist stopping to have I look. I will visit the abbey again and spend more time to take some shots.

[Marie Hass]

Dear Gerry,

What beautiful images you have created!!! How fortunate you are to have access to this beautiful place!!!! Old ruins make me wonder what life was like back then-What the buildings looked like in all its splendor.

[Donald]

I passed that there building on Friday on my way to the ferry at Cairnryan and again on Sunday on my way home from having visited my dear old aunt in Ireland and was thinking it was very photogenic. Now someone's beaten me to it!

Keep a close eye on the sky, Gerry. You don't want to blow that and gets lot of washed out white.

[Shadowman]

Nice, are there excursions to this site or something you can visit on your own?

[FrankMi]

Nice set Gerry! It is interesting to see how many different colours there are in the stonework!

It is smart to learn about the photo-ops in your local area as these are the ones most easily returned to for a reshoot under better lighting and weather conditions. In fact, it is well worth our while to become a 'tourist', plan a 'vacation' to our local surroundings, and use the internet and Google Earth to pick out the most interesting attractions to shoot.

You may be quite amazed at what you could find in your own geographical back yard!

[thegman]

Thanks Donald, unfortunately this must have been the sunniest day I've had at home in long time, no doubt there will be plenty of days when the light is better for shooting, I'll just need to leave the wife at home, so my attention is undivided.

[thegman]

Nice, are there excursions to this site or something you can visit on your own?

The abbey is opened to the general public, until yesterday I didn't even know it existed, I've probably driven passed it a few times but never realy noticed it until I bought my camera.

[chauncey]

I spent sometime shooting around my local area, so much history and we take it for granted

You have some history that is so rare, go and reshoot during the early evening for superior light.