Abandoned Cottage - Rookhope,       Co. Durham.

This is one of many abandoned buildings on the high moorlands of Co. Durham. Some are farm buildings some are relics of the lead mining history of the area. They all now play their part in creating a wonderful unspoilt landscape, rightly highlighted as not only an AONB, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but also since June 2003.  Britain's first European Geopark, a UNESCO-backed designation reflecting its world-class geological heritage.

This image was taken late on a summers afternoon, although a couple of hours from sunset the light was quickly disappearing from the cottage, obscured by the hills to the west. I carefully selected part of the cottage which was in very deep shadow. Then using an adjustment layers adjusted the levels to reduce the contrast between the part in shade and the part in full sun. This technique is very useful in situations where a ND graduate filter just can't cope.