Landscape Pup-Creek Falls

sgtkashim · 01-04-2011, 01:09 AM

Two images, very similar.
I can't quite tell which one sits better with me... I'm kinda disappointed in both. Neither really captures just how powerful and frozen this waterfall was. Would love to hear suggestions. I personally think the first one's a little better.

And the second

Sparkle · 01-04-2011, 07:08 AM

I also like the first one better. Both should be brighter to get the detail of the trees. Can be fixed in PP. I have the impression that the exposures were a little too long to present the fall in better motion. Always bracket your shots so you have more options to choose from.
That's my opinion. Hope it helps.

grainbelt · 01-04-2011, 09:09 AM

The second shot give a bit better scale since the full-height trees are visible at the top of the falls. That said, there is still some negative space to the top and left. A crop to the yellowish small tree branches on the left and just above the two trees above the falls may be the best compromise.

In the second shot, a tiny bit of fill flash on the nearby trees to the right would have brought some more detail out.

Edit: I went ahead and did it. Also brightened shadows, darkened highlights, added some midtone contrast and ran a wee bit of noise reduction

One thing I always do when struggling with a contrasty scene is convert b&w. In this case I think it is the yellow that is visually pulling you away from the falls.

click for originals

smf · 01-04-2011, 09:20 AM

Although I like both images, I prefer the first.

If you're trying to convey power, I think the first image does that more. Perhaps that's because the falls appear to be larger in the first image than in the second.

Perhaps shooting from a more extreme angle — from a lower tripod mount, or from your knees or from a prone position — would have better conveyed the power you experienced

The second image's greater context is attractive.

Best wishes for the new year.
Stu

sgtkashim · 01-04-2011, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by grainbelt

The second shot give a bit better scale since the full-height trees are visible at the top of the falls. That said, there is still some negative space to the top and left. A crop to the yellowish small tree branches on the left and just above the two trees above the falls may be the best compromise.

In the second shot, a tiny bit of fill flash on the nearby trees to the right would have brought some more detail out.

Edit: I went ahead and did it. Also brightened shadows, darkened highlights, added some midtone contrast and ran a wee bit of noise reduction

One thing I always do when struggling with a contrasty scene is convert b&w. In this case I think it is the yellow that is visually pulling you away from the falls.

click for originals

Hm... I like the black and white!
I'll definitely consider that.

Originally posted by smf

Although I like both images, I prefer the first.

If you're trying to convey power, I think the first image does that more. Perhaps that's because the falls appear to be larger in the first image than in the second.

Perhaps shooting from a more extreme angle — from a lower tripod mount, or from your knees or from a prone position — would have better conveyed the power you experienced

The second image's greater context is attractive.

Best wishes for the new year.
Stu

I wish I'd brought my tripod and a flash with me... Might have been able to do a little more. I really didn't want to lie in that... mess there, though... :F

Originally posted by Sparkle

I also like the first one better. Both should be brighter to get the detail of the trees. Can be fixed in PP. I have the impression that the exposures were a little too long to present the fall in better motion. Always bracket your shots so you have more options to choose from.
That's my opinion. Hope it helps.

Hrm... I tried it with a bit more fill light up front, and found it distracting. I'll keep playing with it, and I'll do some shutter bracketing next time.

Thanks all!

krp · 01-04-2011, 12:23 PM

Nice shots. Is that moss behind the waterfall? Maybe next time you could use a polarizer to bring out the colors more.

sgtkashim · 01-04-2011, 01:11 PM

Originally posted by krp

Nice shots. Is that moss behind the waterfall? Maybe next time you could use a polarizer to bring out the colors more.

Hm.
I've never really used a polarizer (I have one, but I had baaaad IQ issues with it, so I put it away...). Can you elaborate a bit on why it would help?

Thanks!

*EDIT*
Gone and read a bit more (slow day at work, I guess...). I think I could see a CPL working here... though I guess I need a decent one. The $10 ones seem to produce particularly poor results.

Last edited by sgtkashim; 01-04-2011 at 02:11 PM.

Sparkle · 01-04-2011, 02:30 PM

Good ones go for $100.00 +

Try eBay. You should get the identical one from China at half price.

grainbelt, above brightened it as I suggested.

01-04-2011, 01:09 AM	#1
sgtkashim Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 90	Pup-Creek Falls Lens: DA L 18-55 Camera: Kx Photo Location: pup creek falls, OR ISO: 200 Shutter Speed: 1/60s Aperture: F8 Two images, very similar. I can't quite tell which one sits better with me... I'm kinda disappointed in both. Neither really captures just how powerful and frozen this waterfall was. Would love to hear suggestions. I personally think the first one's a little better. And the second

01-04-2011, 09:09 AM	#3
grainbelt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Albums Posts: 587	The second shot give a bit better scale since the full-height trees are visible at the top of the falls. That said, there is still some negative space to the top and left. A crop to the yellowish small tree branches on the left and just above the two trees above the falls may be the best compromise. In the second shot, a tiny bit of fill flash on the nearby trees to the right would have brought some more detail out. Edit: I went ahead and did it. Also brightened shadows, darkened highlights, added some midtone contrast and ran a wee bit of noise reduction One thing I always do when struggling with a contrasty scene is convert b&w. In this case I think it is the yellow that is visually pulling you away from the falls. click for originals Last edited by grainbelt; 01-04-2011 at 09:28 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Landscape Crystal Creek Falls	jswillems	Photo Critique	6	06-26-2010 08:59 PM
Monticello, Virginia & Falls of Hills Creek West Virginia	camperguy01	Post Your Photos!	7	01-15-2010 12:22 PM
Mink Creek Falls.....	Heinrich Lohmann	Post Your Photos!	16	09-02-2009 06:25 PM
Grassy Creek falls	Dale	Post Your Photos!	2	12-14-2008 11:22 PM
My trip to Falls Creek	Voe	Post Your Photos!	4	08-23-2008 09:50 AM

01-04-2011, 07:08 AM	#2
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521	I also like the first one better. Both should be brighter to get the detail of the trees. Can be fixed in PP. I have the impression that the exposures were a little too long to present the fall in better motion. Always bracket your shots so you have more options to choose from. That's my opinion. Hope it helps.

01-04-2011, 09:20 AM	#4
smf Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midland, MI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,083	Although I like both images, I prefer the first. If you're trying to convey power, I think the first image does that more. Perhaps that's because the falls appear to be larger in the first image than in the second. Perhaps shooting from a more extreme angle — from a lower tripod mount, or from your knees or from a prone position — would have better conveyed the power you experienced The second image's greater context is attractive. Best wishes for the new year. Stu

01-04-2011, 11:16 AM	#5
sgtkashim Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 90 Original Poster	Originally posted by grainbelt The second shot give a bit better scale since the full-height trees are visible at the top of the falls. That said, there is still some negative space to the top and left. A crop to the yellowish small tree branches on the left and just above the two trees above the falls may be the best compromise. In the second shot, a tiny bit of fill flash on the nearby trees to the right would have brought some more detail out. Edit: I went ahead and did it. Also brightened shadows, darkened highlights, added some midtone contrast and ran a wee bit of noise reduction One thing I always do when struggling with a contrasty scene is convert b&w. In this case I think it is the yellow that is visually pulling you away from the falls. click for originals Hm... I like the black and white! I'll definitely consider that. Originally posted by smf Although I like both images, I prefer the first. If you're trying to convey power, I think the first image does that more. Perhaps that's because the falls appear to be larger in the first image than in the second. Perhaps shooting from a more extreme angle — from a lower tripod mount, or from your knees or from a prone position — would have better conveyed the power you experienced The second image's greater context is attractive. Best wishes for the new year. Stu I wish I'd brought my tripod and a flash with me... Might have been able to do a little more. I really didn't want to lie in that... mess there, though... :F Originally posted by Sparkle I also like the first one better. Both should be brighter to get the detail of the trees. Can be fixed in PP. I have the impression that the exposures were a little too long to present the fall in better motion. Always bracket your shots so you have more options to choose from. That's my opinion. Hope it helps. Hrm... I tried it with a bit more fill light up front, and found it distracting. I'll keep playing with it, and I'll do some shutter bracketing next time. Thanks all!

01-04-2011, 12:23 PM	#6
krp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery Posts: 470	Nice shots. Is that moss behind the waterfall? Maybe next time you could use a polarizer to bring out the colors more.

01-04-2011, 01:11 PM	#7
sgtkashim Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 90 Original Poster	Originally posted by krp Nice shots. Is that moss behind the waterfall? Maybe next time you could use a polarizer to bring out the colors more. Hm. I've never really used a polarizer (I have one, but I had baaaad IQ issues with it, so I put it away...). Can you elaborate a bit on why it would help? Thanks! EDIT Gone and read a bit more (slow day at work, I guess...). I think I could see a CPL working here... though I guess I need a decent one. The $10 ones seem to produce particularly poor results. Last edited by sgtkashim; 01-04-2011 at 02:11 PM.

01-04-2011, 02:30 PM	#8
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521	Good ones go for $100.00 + Try eBay. You should get the identical one from China at half price. grainbelt, above brightened it as I suggested.