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Myoptimism · 12-09-2009, 07:17 PM

Wish I would have brought my tripod to use a slower shutter speed (and smaller aperture), but...I didn't.

Anyway, suggestions are welcome.

Attached Images

Last edited by Myoptimism; 12-09-2009 at 07:24 PM. Reason: forgot my point about aperture

Frank Fletcher · 12-10-2009, 02:32 AM

Nice scene.
Compositionally could have done with a stronger foreground - especially at 11mm.
Technically, it lacks midtone contrast and much of the green is washed out.
You're right - it would have benefited from a tripod. The whole image is blurred somewhat.

I can see that you did the best you could given the circumstances and subject matter. Not sure I would have done better without the tripod - keeping the water smooth. Some of the washing out of greens and midtones is due to the blur. At 11mm, just one more stop (down) of aperture would have been enough.

Perhaps a handy railing or stone would have done the trick.

**Ash** · 12-10-2009, 02:47 AM

Would have been a great shot. It's overexposed, though.
As above, the image blows out the greens and hasn't got the flair of waterfall shots about it.
The tripod was the way to go, but also the harsh lighting makes it very hard to get a striking result.

Myoptimism · 12-12-2009, 10:00 PM

Thanks for the comments Frank and Ash, and what you both are saying makes perfect sense. I have worked on this shot a little more but I am not sure if it is improved, or I just need to remember to bring a tripod and pay more attention to my settings and the time of the day next time. Any thoughts.

juu · 12-13-2009, 02:57 AM

The greens still look poisonously artificial, at least on my monitor.

stevebrot · 12-13-2009, 03:08 AM

Originally posted by juu

The greens still look poisonously artificial, at least on my monitor.

Ditto. Almost looks like you were shooting with an EOS in that second treatment.

I really like your composition however and do feel your pain. Latourelle Falls (your location) is a very difficult subject to photograph. The falls are quite high and the amphitheater is fairly confined. There is also very little light even in mid-summer, a narrow pathway on which to work, and a constant stream of tourists tripping over your tripod legs. The color temperature of the light is also an issue. What should be verdant green takes on a bluish tint in the camera. At least you were lucky enough to be there on a day when the wind was not whipping the water around or moving all the plants.

I have usually found it more practical to concentrate my efforts on the more approachable subject. That being the base of the falls. The rock formations and greenery are quite compelling in their own right. If you need a picture of the full drop, the bridge out by the parking lot about 100 yards away is the best location.

For example, the same falls taken with the 18-55 kit lens at 1/45s f/4 and 28mm:

and from a couple of decades earlier, a more abstract approach:

BTW...what lens were you shooting with at 11mm?

Steve

Myoptimism · 12-13-2009, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

BTW...what lens were you shooting with at 11mm?

Steve

Hi Steve, it was the older Sigma 10-20mm.

BTW, I really like your bw "abstract" shot.

Last edited by Myoptimism; 12-14-2009 at 04:23 AM.

Frank Fletcher · 12-14-2009, 04:16 AM

Amazingly, you got more detail out of it - so I played with it a little...

There was a strong green cast in the last edit. Not just in the greenery - but across the frame.

Myoptimism · 12-14-2009, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by Frank Fletcher

Amazingly, you got more detail out of it - so I played with it a little...

There was a strong green cast in the last edit. Not just in the greenery - but across the frame.

Thank you for taking the time, both to comment and work on the shot. Unfortunately, I think this is a scene I will just have to repeat with a little more thinking before I shoot. Although I do like how you see the scene, I am still stuck with very soft corners/foreground.
Thanks again,
Tony

stevebrot · 12-14-2009, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by Myoptimism

Hi Steve, it was the older Sigma 10-20mm.

BTW, I really like your bw "abstract" shot.

Javier (jgredline) also uses this lens with similar great results.

The bw "abstract" shot was done with a 28mm lens on a film camera back in the early 1980s. I have tried to duplicate the shot, but have never been able to figure out just where I set up the tripod!

Steve

wallyb · 12-19-2009, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by Frank Fletcher

Amazingly, you got more detail out of it - so I played with it a little...

There was a strong green cast in the last edit. Not just in the greenery - but across the frame.

Now there's a strong magenta cast, though.

12-09-2009, 07:17 PM	#1
Myoptimism Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 94	Oregon waterfall Lens: 11mm Camera: Pentax k-m ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 1/15s Aperture: F4 Wish I would have brought my tripod to use a slower shutter speed (and smaller aperture), but...I didn't. Anyway, suggestions are welcome. Attached Images Last edited by Myoptimism; 12-09-2009 at 07:24 PM. Reason: forgot my point about aperture

12-10-2009, 02:32 AM	#2
Frank Fletcher Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 257	Nice scene. Compositionally could have done with a stronger foreground - especially at 11mm. Technically, it lacks midtone contrast and much of the green is washed out. You're right - it would have benefited from a tripod. The whole image is blurred somewhat. I can see that you did the best you could given the circumstances and subject matter. Not sure I would have done better without the tripod - keeping the water smooth. Some of the washing out of greens and midtones is due to the blur. At 11mm, just one more stop (down) of aperture would have been enough. Perhaps a handy railing or stone would have done the trick. Last edited by Frank Fletcher; 12-10-2009 at 02:33 AM. Reason: added the railing/stone suggestion

12-13-2009, 03:08 AM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by juu The greens still look poisonously artificial, at least on my monitor. Ditto. Almost looks like you were shooting with an EOS in that second treatment. I really like your composition however and do feel your pain. Latourelle Falls (your location) is a very difficult subject to photograph. The falls are quite high and the amphitheater is fairly confined. There is also very little light even in mid-summer, a narrow pathway on which to work, and a constant stream of tourists tripping over your tripod legs. The color temperature of the light is also an issue. What should be verdant green takes on a bluish tint in the camera. At least you were lucky enough to be there on a day when the wind was not whipping the water around or moving all the plants. I have usually found it more practical to concentrate my efforts on the more approachable subject. That being the base of the falls. The rock formations and greenery are quite compelling in their own right. If you need a picture of the full drop, the bridge out by the parking lot about 100 yards away is the best location. For example, the same falls taken with the 18-55 kit lens at 1/45s f/4 and 28mm: and from a couple of decades earlier, a more abstract approach: BTW...what lens were you shooting with at 11mm? Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 12-13-2009 at 03:30 AM.

12-14-2009, 04:16 AM	#8
Frank Fletcher Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 257	Amazingly, you got more detail out of it - so I played with it a little... There was a strong green cast in the last edit. Not just in the greenery - but across the frame. Last edited by Frank Fletcher; 12-14-2009 at 04:18 AM. Reason: explained green cast

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12-10-2009, 02:47 AM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Would have been a great shot. It's overexposed, though. As above, the image blows out the greens and hasn't got the flair of waterfall shots about it. The tripod was the way to go, but also the harsh lighting makes it very hard to get a striking result.

12-12-2009, 10:00 PM	#4
Myoptimism Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 94 Original Poster	Thanks for the comments Frank and Ash, and what you both are saying makes perfect sense. I have worked on this shot a little more but I am not sure if it is improved, or I just need to remember to bring a tripod and pay more attention to my settings and the time of the day next time. Any thoughts.

12-13-2009, 02:57 AM	#5
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	The greens still look poisonously artificial, at least on my monitor.

12-13-2009, 02:28 PM	#7
Myoptimism Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 94 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot BTW...what lens were you shooting with at 11mm? Steve Hi Steve, it was the older Sigma 10-20mm. BTW, I really like your bw "abstract" shot. Last edited by Myoptimism; 12-14-2009 at 04:23 AM.

12-14-2009, 04:25 AM	#9
Myoptimism Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 94 Original Poster	Originally posted by Frank Fletcher Amazingly, you got more detail out of it - so I played with it a little... There was a strong green cast in the last edit. Not just in the greenery - but across the frame. Thank you for taking the time, both to comment and work on the shot. Unfortunately, I think this is a scene I will just have to repeat with a little more thinking before I shoot. Although I do like how you see the scene, I am still stuck with very soft corners/foreground. Thanks again, Tony

12-14-2009, 09:34 AM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Myoptimism Hi Steve, it was the older Sigma 10-20mm. BTW, I really like your bw "abstract" shot. Javier (jgredline) also uses this lens with similar great results. The bw "abstract" shot was done with a 28mm lens on a film camera back in the early 1980s. I have tried to duplicate the shot, but have never been able to figure out just where I set up the tripod! Steve

12-19-2009, 04:13 AM	#11
wallyb Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Untied States Photos: Albums Posts: 1,881	Originally posted by Frank Fletcher Amazingly, you got more detail out of it - so I played with it a little... There was a strong green cast in the last edit. Not just in the greenery - but across the frame. Now there's a strong magenta cast, though.

Landscape Oregon waterfall

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