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Arch Angel Falls
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Arch Angel Falls

by Jim Greenwood

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 9, 20091,669 views50 comments
I realize that the quantity of posts from the Left Fork and the Narrows this season is bordering on the extreme, but ...

I've been working diligently on the processing for this composition and am interested in getting your comments and suggestions. Thanks.

Canon 5DII
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II
17mm, f/22, 13 seconds, ISO 50, polarizer, .9 GND filter

Comments

50 comments
Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on November 9, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Beautiful! Great composition, perfect exposure.
Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments
Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on November 9, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Gorgeous! One of the best I've seen from this location. :toast:
Registered on July 15, 2007, 171 Posts, 3566 Comments
Comment posted by Kirk Greene on November 9, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Oh WOW! Superb! The waterflow was very nice for you! Did you take any with a shorter exposure?
Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on November 9, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Your processing work and the beauty of the place has made a stunning image! Perfect in every way. :toast: :toast:
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by David Cobb on November 9, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Great background light off the canyon wall, the tree is place just perfectly, and I love your foreground and color.

David M. Cobb
Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments
Comment posted by Chuong Nguyen on November 9, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Beautiful shot! I love the leading line shaped by the flowing water. Color is a real treat.
Registered on June 23, 2006, 3 Posts, 38 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on November 9, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Splendid in every way. I particularly love the foreground water. :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments
Comment posted by Mat Malone on November 9, 2009 at 10:53 PM
The FG depth and BG lighting is really nice here. Water action in the FG is really sweet. My only suggestion would be a small crop from the bottom.
Registered on December 15, 2008, 91 Posts, 882 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on November 9, 2009 at 11:21 PM
I agree with Benjamin here, this is certainly one of the best I have seen of this area. Well done.
Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on November 9, 2009 at 11:29 PM
I love this spot... Nice image, Jim. However, I'd like to see the yellows a bit less saturated.
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on November 9, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Hi Jim,

Beautiful capture. I guess maybe I am the only one thinking this but your processing looks a little heavy handed to me. The colors and contrast are a little strong in your background for my tastes. Also, you have a significant amount of clipping at the base of your ripples in the foreground. Totally cosmetic and usually an easy fix - just something I am very nit picky about when photographing water. Thanks for sharing. Michael
Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on November 10, 2009 at 12:11 AM
I like the s-curve you have here in the foreground. Really nice image front to back. Nice work.
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on November 10, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Wow, this is some complex and dynamic fg composition, but really efective and well arranged. The glowing bg is very appealing too. Super shot Jim.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Sieren on November 10, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Very colorful! Love it.
Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Bohlander on November 10, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Awesome comp. Really like the color, especially on the back wall. Great job. :toast:
Registered on August 22, 2008, 14 Posts, 125 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on November 10, 2009 at 1:27 AM
Love it. The S curve of the foreground cascade really makes this for me! Unique view Jim!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Trevor Anderson on November 10, 2009 at 2:52 AM
Perhaps one of the nicest compositions I've seen from this spot!
Registered on April 25, 2007, 64 Posts, 483 Comments
Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 10, 2009 at 3:53 AM
This is flat out gorgeous Jim. Your comp is superb, contrast and colors are wonderful. Phenomenal image, one of the best from this spot I've seen.
Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on November 10, 2009 at 5:33 AM
Simply beautiful Jim, in every way.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on November 10, 2009 at 6:31 AM
Highly dynamic composition and stunning colors and textures! Powerful image, Jim!
Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments
Comment posted by Martin Stankiewicz on November 10, 2009 at 6:33 AM
Outstanding work. You did well on the composition and the processing.
Registered on October 26, 2008, 52 Posts, 462 Comments
Comment posted by Rafael Rojas on November 10, 2009 at 7:07 AM
Yes, this rings a bell...but honestly, I really like this image. I specially like how you worked that gorgeous S curve in the foreground...Lovely image indeed.
Registered on March 1, 2009, 56 Posts, 623 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Canning on November 10, 2009 at 7:51 AM
Just gorgeous! The post processing looks great to me, except the whites at the base of the falls look like they could use some recovery or burn. Minor nit, it is a fantastic image.
Registered on February 10, 2004, 88 Posts, 549 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on November 10, 2009 at 8:01 AM
Beautiful! Light, comp, colors all work perfectly for me.
Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on November 10, 2009 at 8:01 AM
This is extremely nice Jim, both in comp and colors. No nits at all from me.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on November 10, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Very nice take on this place. The warm reflected light is superb.
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Larry Fischer on November 10, 2009 at 8:54 AM
It is just me but I like the water not quite as fluid and most people show. I would have preferred a slightly faster shutter for less blur in the water. Ah, the eye of the beholder.

If I ever photograph waterfalls, etc., I'm going to do a selection of shutter speeds so I can please everyone !!!

I do like the composition and, as Stan said, the warmth.

the fisch
Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Dayton on November 10, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Well worth the extra effort, Jim. I never tire of seeing images from Zion NP.
Well done.
Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments
Comment posted by Justin Peterson on November 10, 2009 at 10:10 AM
One of my favorite shots from this area...excellent shot.
Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Gordon on November 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Great FG and love the colour throughout. Beautiful work..
Registered on May 31, 2007, 224 Posts, 1490 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 10, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I like the "S" curve of the foreground and the light and color in the background Jim. The water fall terrace actually could stand on its own. Nice work.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Shane McDermott on November 10, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Overall the image is very pleasant to look at, great leading lines and lots of dynamic energy about it!

A few things unwillingly pull my eye and attention however. First, the dominant tree in the BG doesn't seem to have enough space above it. Secondly, you seem to have lost some highlight detail at the base of the falls, it is not even the brightness of these that bother me, it is the loss of important detail. Lastly, I think you could have lost an 1/8 off the bottom, and gained an 1/8 at the top for a more balance composition.

Shane :toast:
Registered on November 12, 2007, 49 Posts, 1074 Comments
Comment posted by Anish Desai on November 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I love the dynamic composition here. I think the processing on the FG looks about right, but I find the saturation on the back wall and the yellow foliage to be too strong. Ease up a bit on that, and you've got a winner.
Registered on May 23, 2009, 49 Posts, 410 Comments
Comment posted by Swamy Lokanadham on November 10, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Wow! such great composition Jim.
Registered on July 21, 2009, 45 Posts, 112 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 10, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Jim,

It appears that the people have spoken, so what more can I say. My only nit is the water cascading off the ledges in the immediate FG appears a bit dull to me.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on November 10, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Jim: Jaw dropping good IMO. I've not been to Zion as a photographer so all the recent images and this in particular really makes me want to get there in the fall. Spectacular shot. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on November 10, 2009 at 1:44 PM
works well for me. well done
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 10, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Beautiful image! Looks awesome.
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Erik Stensland on November 10, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Jim, I like your composition a lot. I shot the same scene http://morninglight.us/photo.php?id=1274 but I like your composition better. The yellows do seem far too strong and the water seems quite muddy like it has lost all contrast. I think if you undo some of the processing you will have a spectacular image.
Registered on September 27, 2004, 121 Posts, 718 Comments
Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on November 10, 2009 at 4:20 PM
one of the best composition I have seen from the place. :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments
Comment posted by Art Escobado on November 10, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Excellent shot!
Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 10, 2009 at 11:36 PM
One of the better comps I have seen from here. And the colors and light are great.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Lawson on November 10, 2009 at 11:45 PM
I think the composition is great. It may be a small detail, but I like how the curve of the foreground waterfall is echoed by the curve between the reddish sandstone and sand (I think) just to the right of it. Like some of the others here, I find the saturation to be a little much, but that's just personal preference.
Registered on March 3, 2008, 29 Posts, 337 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on November 11, 2009 at 2:16 AM
I want to sincerely express my gratitude to everyone for the enthusiastic and encouraging comments, as well as the insightful suggestions and the honest criticisms. I am overwhelmed by the response. This and other photographs I made at the Left Fork recently are the reward and culmination of about a six month effort for me to get myself back into condition to be able to confidently attempt a hike of this magnitude. It was a personal triumph for me to accomplish the hike again after seven years, and then to do it again less than a week later. Sharing the photographs I made with the wonderful and talented NPN community is a fantastic additional benefit. Thank you.
Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments
Comment posted by Jon Leibowitz on November 11, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Might be an overdone spot, but you nailed it. Amazing comp and amazing capture of the water motion. The warm colors top it off.
Registered on July 8, 2004, 15 Posts, 97 Comments
Comment posted by Elliot Johnston on November 11, 2009 at 3:41 PM
The color, detail, and thoughtful composition really make this image. Nicely done
Registered on November 11, 2009, 23 Posts, 288 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 16, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Really excellent!

Congrats on the EP!

Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Helio Cristovao on November 17, 2009 at 5:09 AM
Superb tones and colors on this. Really well done, and well chosen FG. That´s beautiful.
But Jim, IMO you´ve gone really wide on this :wink: I guess my only nit goes to the impression of slightly distorted trees on the corners due to wide angle (guess not so noticeable in larger version - not quite sure) , maybe a bit less wide focal length would result on an even better comp. but once again, that´s for my taste. Technically, light, and processing looks just fine.

Registered on September 15, 2009, 83 Posts, 434 Comments
Comment posted by Angela Classen on November 23, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Beautiful image with a perfect composition! I hope to be able to visit this place sometime in my life. Congrats on the EP! :toast:
Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Anderson on December 4, 2009 at 9:26 PM
The best shot I've seen from there! Congrats on the EP!!!
Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments