Clouds, one day I'll maybe get it right.

[ucci]

I dropped by and was intimidated by this ominous message below. Scared me a bit. Thought if I didn't do as was ordered Donald might send an angry rabid haggis to attack me. I believe they have trained attack haggises, (or is the plural of it haggi?) which are used to guard the illicit whiskey stills in the outback regions of the highlands. I am led to believe that they can be particularly savage.

Hello ucci, it appears that you have not posted on our forums in several weeks. Why not take a few moments to ask a question, help provide a solution, or just engage in a conversation with another member?


Okay, so what do? Hmm... How about some cloud shots I took yesterday? They should be good for some incisive CC which should help me. The problem is I see all these magnificent cloud formations around here which just don't capture well. Always seem so flat and lose their broad sweeping majesty when downloaded; such that when I put them up on the monitor I ask myself, " what did I see in that and why did I bother."

I have done as demanded Mr Donald. So please don't unleash the haggises/ haggi and set them upon me!

Thanks for viewing and for any comments you may wish to post I will be most grateful. Especially if anyone knows the correct first aid for treating a haggis bite. I have read somewhere that the liberal application of whiskey to the injury, if taken internally, can sometimes help.

[chauncey]

Ken, I haven't gotten around to it yet but...would be no reason that you couldn't treat clouds as I do smoke.

[Shadowman]

Nice cloud formations you've captured.

[Ziggy]

You have nice cloud formations in Oz.

[bnnrcn]

Nice clouds

[Geoff F]

From my experience, Ken, if you are ever faced with a wild haggis the best defence is to offer it a glass of whisky then slowly back away. Some people recommend playing the bagpipes to soothe its temperament; but the trouble with that is it encourages them to follow you and when you eventually stop playing; they don't understand why you have stopped.

The clouds look fine but just a couple of thoughts.

#1 is OK as a general scene but a slight crop from the bottom will concentrate more on the clouds.

#2 has a fraction too little at the bottom. Also, I would clone out the birds.

And the third one . . . yes that's correct, it looks just right.

[joebranko]

Very nice cloud formations! I agree with Geoff on #2. I would clone out the birds. They are too small to have a positive effect on the shot.

[Urbanflyer]

Your clouds are wonderful formations. Might consider resetting the white point for brighter white--check your histogram and I think you will find there is more available than you are showing. When the white is brighter, then the shadows may reflect more of the feeling that attracted you in the first place. Agree with comments on the crop options.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Ken,

My understanding, which may be flawed and perhaps Donald can set us straight, is that Whiskey is Irish, so giving that to a Haggis, or pouring it on a wound would likely inflame the situation - literally!

However, Geoff's advice; to give it (Scotch) Whisky, is more likely to meet with success


Now to the pictures:
#1 I can live with the crop as it is, but losing the foreground grassy area does concentrate one's attention to the clouds more.
#2 Is about a stop under exposed, yes I'd also lose the birds and it would be nice to see ground in to the right corner, rather than just tree tops.
#3 I'd take a slither off the right hand side to just lose that sunlit van. This is about half a stop under exposed.

Not a lot new there; Geoff, Judith and Joe have mentioned many of my suggestions already.

On the whole though, I think they're better than some cloud shots.

G'day, Dave

[ucci]

Thank you all for your feed back. It all made excellent sense and when applied improved the shots accordingly, as suggested it would, by those who posted. So thank you all once again for your help and advice.

The birds were magpies and they are heavily protected here. There is a hefty $10,000.00 max fine for knocking them off. Don't know if the penalty applies to cloning them out of a pix.

Okay Dave. Once again I am indebited to your extensive knowledge to put me on the right track. I knew there was whiskey and whisky. Just couldn't remember which was Irish and which was Scottish. But not being into the vagaries of fire water I was unsure of the fine nuances in its nomenclature of origin. To paraphrase the old song, " You say Whiskey and I say whisky, let's knock the whole bottle off!"
Is the difference in spelling of some significance or does it just mean a difference in educational levels in spelling between the two countries? Most of those whom I know who have an inkling for it don't seem to care either way as well, as long as they can get their gums around it.
old ucci

[IzzieK]

You have nice cloud formations in Oz.

I had always thought so...been telling the folks around here they are wrong but they do not believe it nor even admit the clouds here are just that -- clouds. Many excuses why. Well, Americans has to be better I suppose...just keep my trap shut for peace.

[Wavelength]

WOW; great....

[xpatUSA]

Okay Dave. Once again I am indebted to your extensive knowledge to put me on the right track. I knew there was whiskey and whisky. Just couldn't remember which was Irish and which was Scottish. But not being into the vagaries of fire water I was unsure of the fine nuances in its nomenclature of origin. To paraphrase the old song, " You say Whiskey and I say whisky, let's knock the whole bottle off!"
Is the difference in spelling of some significance or does it just mean a difference in educational levels in spelling between the two countries? Most of those whom I know who have an inkling for it don't seem to care either way as well, as long as they can get their gums around it.
old ucci

Over here, it's "whiskey" no matter where it's from.

I have a standing joke with my American wife about a hypothetical "Act of Congress (1825)" where it was decided that every English word that could mis-spelt and mis-pronounced would so be. Hence "KerRIBian" - a popular holiday area. And "Catarrh" - the island where Doha is.

Texas went one better where every word is mis-pronounced regardless of origin