Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: MartinSpence on January 03, 2014, 07:08:08 am

Title: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: MartinSpence on January 03, 2014, 07:08:08 am
This was taken in colour and converted to B&W

(http://www.martinspencephotography.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Bloody-Bridge-Landscape-Photography-Northern-Ireland-4.jpg)

Any thoughts?

Or does the second one in the previous post work better?
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=85700.0
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: luxborealis on January 07, 2014, 06:35:14 pm
Typically, I prefer B&Ws of subjects like this one, but this time, the colour version is my preferred option. Perhaps if you raise the shadow values to allow more detail to show...
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 07, 2014, 08:05:02 pm
I prefer the color version, too. And I agree that opening up the shadows in the BW version would improve it.
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: MartinSpence on January 09, 2014, 07:13:52 am
Thanks guys

I'll try and open up the shadows a bit - I like high contrasting B&W images, however this is maybe too much.
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: slothead on January 10, 2014, 12:21:03 pm
Nice image.  I guess I didn't see the "second one in the previous post" you are referring to, but if it is in color, I would be curious to see why they call it "Bloody River."  Well done regardless.
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: john beardsworth on January 10, 2014, 01:48:55 pm
Pretty sure it's from the 1641 massacre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portadown_Massacre) of Protestant settlers by the native Irish at Portadown. If it wasn't that one, it'll be another.
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: MartinSpence on January 11, 2014, 03:25:25 pm
Nice image.  I guess I didn't see the "second one in the previous post" you are referring to, but if it is in color, I would be curious to see why they call it "Bloody River."  Well done regardless.

This was it:
(http://www.martinspencephotography.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Bloody-Bridge-Landscape-Photography-Northern-Ireland-2.jpg)

With regard to the name of Bloody Bridge, legend has it as follows:
History at Bloody Bridge
The bridge dervies its name from a massacre in 1641 at the instigation of the Irish chieftain Sir Conn Magennis. Tradition holds that a number of Protestant prisoners, taken by the Irish at Newry, were being brought under escort to Newcastle in exchange for Irish prisoners. The Irish commander, hearing that he was to be attacked at Newcastle (or learning that the Irish prisoners held there had been hanged), executed and drove over the rocks at Bloody Bridge as many as 50 of his captives.

During the 18th and early 19th century, the coastline between Glassdrumman and Bloody Bridge became infamous for another illicit activity: smuggling. Despite its difficult shoreline, the Mourne coast was a favourite haunt of smugglers and had the advantage of isolated beaches where goods could be moved quickly into the shelter of the hills. Both British and foreign vessels took part in illegal trading, but it was the proximity to the Isle of Man which gave Mourne its best chance of receiving contraband. In addition to wines, spirits and tobacco, smuggled goods include silks and spices, tea,coffee, sugar, leather and soap.    

Most of the smuggling was done by small boats which landed their cargoes on open beaches. The goods were either dumped in hiding holes or carried through the mountains on the backs of small ponies. Perhaps the most notorious smuggler's route is the Brandy Pad which climbs steeply from the sea at Bloody Bridge. Having crossed into the sanctuary of the hills, it winds discreetly on an even contour towards the head of the Annalong Valley, on to the Hare's Gap and down the Trassey River towards Hilltown.
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: batmura on January 13, 2014, 09:42:53 am
Hi Martin!

I also prefer the colour version. The monochrome is not bad, though.
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: slothead on January 14, 2014, 11:30:34 am
There are elements of the color version I like and there are elements of the B&W version I like.  Interestingly, one of the more pronounced elements of the color version that I like is the sky (which is primarily monochromatic!).  I guess cropped that out of the B&W version.  What I like most about the B&W is the blurring of the water in parts of the stream.
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: MartinSpence on January 17, 2014, 04:48:55 am
There are elements of the color version I like and there are elements of the B&W version I like.  Interestingly, one of the more pronounced elements of the color version that I like is the sky (which is primarily monochromatic!).  I guess cropped that out of the B&W version.  What I like most about the B&W is the blurring of the water in parts of the stream.

Thanks - I see what you're saying :-)
Title: Re: Bloody River, Newcastle in B&W
Post by: francois on January 17, 2014, 05:26:02 am
Hi Martin!

I also prefer the colour version. The monochrome is not bad, though.

Me too. In fact, I thought it was a different image.