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Pennan


Pennan
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1204 W: 117 N: 1025] (5398)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-10
Categories: Nature, Architecture, Mood
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 DC EX HSM, Cokin P121S
Exposure: f/16, 1/25 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Summer vacation 2007: Scotland
Theme(s): 50-59 points part 12 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-21 9:55
Viewed: 780
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sorry that I have been so silent the last week. I´ve been ill and am actually still a bit ill.

I want to continue my mini series of the three towns called Gardenstown, Crovie and Pennan. This is the last one of the three. Taken again from an rocky outcrop during low tide.

Some information about Pennan

If you're a film buff, then Pennan may look a little familiar. In 1983, parts of the film Local Hero were shot here: though not the beach scenes, which were filmed on the other side of the country near Arisaig.

The film gave Pennan one of the best known red telephone boxes in the world, sitting on the quayside opposite the Pennan Inn and attracting a steady stream of visitors over the years since.

It is tempting to describe Pennan as unique, though in fact it has a lot in common with nearby Gardenstown and Crovie. It sits at the base of a north-facing cliff looking out to sometimes stormy seas. There is just enough space between the bottom of the cliffs and the sea for a single row of dwellings, many placed gable end on to the sea to reduce their exposure to the elements.

Access is down a narrow and steep road that emerges onto the village's single street at a tight junction next to the Pennan Inn. There is a small car park at the western end of the village.

Visit Pennan on day with blue skies and blue seas setting off the white cottages and brightly coloured boats, and it can seem an idyllic place. Visit it on a day with an arctic gale howling straight into Pennan Bay from the north, with the visibility obscured by salt spray, and with the sea crashing into the pebble beach and sea defences, and it can feel altogether different.

At the east end of Pennan lies its harbour. These days it is still used by a couple of fishing vessels, but otherwise its life revolves around leisure craft. Today's harbour is the latest in a succession over the years. The first was built here in 1704, but it had fallen into disuse by the end of the century and a replacement was built in 1799.

By 1840 this harbour, too, was no longer usable, and a bigger and better one was built in 1845. This third harbour lasted until a storm one night in the winter of 1889/1890 destroyed the west pier, which was replaced in 1903. The harbour was further improved in 1909 and again in 1981.

Pennan was also famous during the nineteenth century for the millstones that were quarried to the east of the village, and which were shipped out from the harbour, or simply rolled on their edge to more local destinations. Rolling a millstone up the hill behind the village must have been a challenge.

With the exception of the Pennan Inn there is little to do in the village other than stroll the main street and the harbour, skim stones, or just watch the sea rolling in. But Pennan is worth a visit simply because it has a unique atmosphere and character: and film buffs will find a particular attraction in using that very special phone box.

And, speaking of the Pennan Inn, after a period when it began to look rather down-at-heel, a refurbishment in 2002 included a badly-needed new coat of paint for the exterior. This turned the hotel blue and resulted in considerable local controversy. A colour scheme that would have seemed positively conservative in Tobermory or Portree did not go down well in some eyes, and in 2004 the owners were forced to return it to its previous white.
dsunflower, Ejtaan, pdp, pablominto, go2stones, Fleury, wenqing, Janone, NellyD, GreenBaron, Refugee, chrisJ, eyesthetix, kbeall, evelynn, PlayPhotography has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Another great shot Niek, love the low angle and those houses look great lined up their in the B/G, good exposure of the sky also. TFS


Dean.

Hi Niek,
eventhough You are ill You've managed to creat such a lovely shot.Amazing colurs,lovely compo and such a mood it's got.
TFS
Regards,
Daniel

Hi Niek,
Great shot, I like the rock in the FG leading into the shot, good colour and exposure,
I hope your well soon
Tfs Andy

  • Great 
  • jawa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1648 W: 0 N: 1] (10579)
  • [2007-08-21 10:10]

Hallo Niek
Prachtige comp and heel mooi licht.
Gr Jos

Hello Niek

I really like this pOV alot well composed and captured photo excllent detail svery crisp well done

TFS Kyle

Hi Niek,

Lovely shot of a well loved area, you will be sad to learn that they had a major landslide
a few weeks ago causing a lot of damage to the village. Hope you a feeling better.

Douglas

hi Niek:
There are so many things most wornderful in this capture...
but I just want nto point out your superb composition that has made this capture so alive for me:)
and yes! details are all the way with very good exposures!
David

Hi Niek,
a lost place - but with a great atmosphere, cold but fresh, alone but peaceful, I like it so much, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Niek!
First of all I wanna say that I hope you will feel better soon!

Don't you just love these English rocky coasts?
I sure do! I absolutely adore this image Niek. It has great colors and a wonderful sky. Nice and dramatic, which fits this environment.
I love the low angle and the composition...
Lovely image Niek! just great!

Take care!
:-) Anneke

  •      
  • pdp Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 33 N: 118] (512)
  • [2007-08-21 15:26]

Hi Niek, sorry you are feeling unwell.

Nice composition here. It's a shame you didn't have better weather to make this sing. I think you've done the best you couls here. Well done.

Hello Niek,
A very interesting point of view on the village!
Strong foreground interest in the rocky beach, but to me it still is the village that is main subject...
An attractive composition, a landscape image out of the ordinary!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

Great depiction of the rough rocks and terrain with the row of buildings standing defiantly against them. A philosophy of life that's hard for us to understand. Well done.

TFS!
Reid

Hello Niek!
This photo have great colors!
Well done!

Hazta La Vista!

this is a beautiful landscape photo niek :)
i like this POV, i like how small and neat the house look in the distance
interesting perspective :)

koh

  •      
  • Janone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3261 W: 79 N: 2538] (17231)
  • [2007-08-22 12:12]
  • [+]

Hallo Niek.
Reall Aberdeen coast view, with good composition. Well captured
Hope you feel much better by now ?
Its was not becourse of the Large glasses of beer without foam, they serve you there ? Dit you taste them with lemon in it too.? Fanny Scotties, but very nice people they are.
Beste wensen.
Jan

Nice but lets be honest, the houses in the back would have given this photo much more power if more and stronger present.
These rocks give such a strong domination!
The village is your subject !

Pitty

Rob

Hi Niek. I disagree with Rob, the village is only one element to the shot, not the subject. This shot places the village nicely in its context - on the coast and amongst the rocka and cliffs. It's a well composed shot.

  • Great 
  • ralph Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 13 N: 252] (3619)
  • [2007-08-23 4:46]

Pennan looks very surreal in your photo Niek.The dark rock in the foreground,the dark clouds and your composition adds to this effect.It's great.
Nico

hi Niek
heb je weer goed gedaan. mooie diepte en scherpe
persoonlijk zou ik iets meer van de huisjes willen zien
maar technisch is er weer niet veel op af te dingen
gr
M

Hoi Niek,

Het Schotse landschap is prachtig, heb er zelf wat van mogen zien in 2005, maar deze plek kon ik nog niet, en te zien aan jouw foto is het zeker aan bezoek waard. Je lage standpunt werkt heel goed hier, ik vind de diepte echt schitterend.
Mooie groene heuvels op de achtergrond, het uitzicht op de huisjes ook erg goed en een interessante lucht.
Bedankt voor deze mooie foto en ik wens je beterschap!

Groetjes, Nel

hi niek, neat shot, great composition , i love the position of the building, horizon might be a little off?? still great shot, my whole family is from scotland, my uncle was in the movie, "local hero" he is a scottish actor and musician, his name is david v. anderson, have you heard of him?
thanks scott

Hoi Niek,
Top job! Light and contrast are superb, the houses are a nice detail, but not the main object as far as I'm concerned. Overall a perfect well balanced and strong composition!

Those coastline views in the United Kingdom are great ;-)

TFS
Hans

:) Later...

BTW how are you feeling today?

Hi Niek, superb shot, splendid colors, perfect exposure, I Love your composition,
thanks and cheer,
Pat

Nice low POV Niek and a great composition.

Regards Mark :)

  • Great 
  • cycle Gold Star Critiquer [C: 164 W: 0 N: 1] (968)
  • [2007-08-25 1:02]

great atmosphere.
excellent capture and composition.
bravo

Hi Niek, excellent POV. The rocks seem to be guarding the village beyond. Lovely detail and good colour. TFS,
David

Many thanks for your comment on ‘Foggy Days VI’

Niek nice work , but I am a little disapointed by your strange ittitated reaction to Viking!

As for your self: I often see you critiquing others with remarks that are yours only. ( not talkig for myself!!!!)

You have posted here a photo with a FAR to dominant !! foreground compaired to the whole!!

The houses in the back are pushed out of site,A pitty! than when Rob points this oout to you .. you answer him irritated: .**Over de foto. Nee, het dorp (de huisjes) is niet alleen het onderwerp. Anders was ik er wel met m'n neus boven op gaan staan**

Very childish remark Niek!

Again.. read between the lines what also Pablo has to say .. its in other words the same as ROB!
Niek I did read you have been il .. lets hope for everything you recover soon.

John

  • Great 
  • chrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4066 W: 207 N: 3507] (26615)
  • [2007-08-26 6:30]

Hi Niek

I like the muted colours, which add mood & atmosphere. Good repetition of the bg cottages along the seashore, with excellent sharpness & pov. Congratulations!

Hi Niek,
I find the POV here engaging indeed. Great atmospheric autheticity - the colours and lighting look very typical of the British Isles !

Well done.
Best regards, Daniel

Hello Niek,
Great POV, emphasizing the rocks that protect the beach and serve as a counterpoint to the bluffs. The grey skies highlight the bright row of houses, and camouflage the building at the upper right corner.
Very pleasing!
Best regards,
Karen

Having noticed that there is a bit of controversy brewing over this image and critiques I'll try to "walk gingerly" as they say. The "translate" feature is good, but not good enough for me to get the full essence of the comments.

I like the unusual composition that really emphasizes the incongruity of that little row of buildings lined up there between the sea and the hills. They look so vulnerable. I think man has always wanted to tempt fate! The substantial foreground rocks have stood the test of time and seem to say that those frail buildings could be turned to toothpicks at the whim of Mother Nature. There are a couple of issues I have. The rocks and headland seem so dark. Also the verticals of the buildings are a bit skewed to the right. Other than that I like it a lot.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hey Niek! I've always had a fondness for photos of the ocean's shores. So many elements of this photo are pleasing to look at. The grassy cliffs look like moss covered slopes at a distance, the ominous gray clouds remind me of the powerful indifference mother nature holds over us. My favorite part of the photo is the rocks. Rocks, lumps of minerals, are always full of life, color, and texture when they're by the ocean. The composition here is great -- the tiny strip of houses off to the right adds just the perfect touch. Great shot, as always. TFS.

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