Good Old Punchbowl Falls

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 6, 20101,035 views22 comments

This is another image taken while leading workshops a few weekends ago, this was my first time photographing this spot since the log that used to obscure the falls finally washed away. It's good to have our Punch Bowl Falls back. I wasn't expecting to get a shot here on this day, but the light became very interesting as the sun peaked through the clouds for a moment.

I also had the pleasure of running into Marc Adamus, John Zinn, John Williams, Adrian Klein, and Kevin Mcneal all in the gorge on the same day, it was like a nature photographers reunion. It was great to see everyone out in the field.

This is 4 exposures blended by hand using some the advanced selection and masking tools in CS5. No HDR programs were used. Even though HRD pro in CS5 is a huge improvement, it just can't give me the results of good hand blending techniques. The new refine edge tools is very handy though, and saving me a lot of time during the selection process.

5D II
17-40L
4 exposures, f/22, ISO 100

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on May 6, 2010 at 3:42 PM

I like this shot Zack.
Really it's hard to find anything to nit pic.
The only thing that sticks out is the brightness level of the brightest foliage vs the sky.
Nice Comp, Nice colors.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on May 6, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Pretty sweet shot Zack. Has a very magical feel to it.

I agree with hand blending methods versus software driven ones. One has so much more control with in depth layer masking.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Kartik Venkatarama on May 6, 2010 at 4:37 PM

Hi Zack...love the greens and the f/g stones, but I find this a bit too wide for my taste..the falls are almost lost here...which would be OK, but dark shadows make the falls pop out, and then once again I find myself thinking the falls look too small. Just my 2 cents...

Registered on July 27, 2007, 197 Posts, 830 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on May 6, 2010 at 4:50 PM

Kartik, yes that is a dilemma. I have lots of closer views, but non with this spectacular light. I ended up liking this version much more because it includes more of the scene, and captures for me a much better feel of this location. This is just my subjective preference though, and I appreciate your opinion as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on May 6, 2010 at 5:16 PM

Sweet shot Zack,
The extreme low fg is engaging and wonderful dyn range throughout. Nice job

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on May 6, 2010 at 6:12 PM

Zach- Most images of these falls look almost exactly the same, imo. I think the wide view and bright reflection really set this one apart from the rest. Well done!

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 6, 2010 at 7:28 PM

This is a great shot Zack. I really like this wide view. Some very nice light and the falls looks really good to me. Also love the rocks under the water. Very nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on May 6, 2010 at 10:16 PM

Beautiful and vibrant. I really like the foreground too. It feels dynamic. Great shot, Zack.

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 7, 2010 at 12:23 AM

Really nice. Those foreground rocks are really nice. The foreground highlight reflection feels a tad bright to me, but that may just be a personal preference thing.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on May 7, 2010 at 1:49 AM

A just plain sexy photo. REALLY well done!

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on May 7, 2010 at 3:04 AM

excellent image, Zach. The low angle really draws me in.
Sounds like CS5 is worthwhile, as I do alot of hand blending.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 7, 2010 at 4:20 AM

there's so much that i like here - the rocks, the perspective, the colours, the faint lines indicating flow. what i like less is the bright patch on the water that i find distracting and the brightness of the more distant foliage.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on May 7, 2010 at 7:58 AM

what a perspective! the detail underwater and colors are striking. nice detail on the "walls" too and the deph here is awsome. as mentioned the bright area on the does distract a bit but not that much for me. you´re work is inspiring!!! nice capture!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on May 7, 2010 at 10:21 AM

Awesome Zack. I love the combination you caught of the colored rocks and the sun splashed canyon. I'm surprised this hasn't had more comments considering the number of views. Superb processing; I know because in my photos the difference between the shadows and sun lit sides is a lot!

Matt, speaking of lighting, that's likely how it was. The clouds were dark and stormy with breaks this day, and the sun would spill through a hole while the background was quite dark.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on May 7, 2010 at 1:07 PM

The revealed rocks in the foreground and the light across the back make for an outstanding photo.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on May 7, 2010 at 7:20 PM

Pretty cool, Zack--i like the low perspective! You should have brought a hand grenade--couldve wiped out the competition all at once...IM KIDDING!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on May 8, 2010 at 1:08 AM

Beautiful image Zack. I really like the wider perspective here and those foreground rocks look outstanding. Well done.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 8, 2010 at 1:50 AM

Very cool perspective here!

Sure makes the falls look small. From the left part of it it is an 80 foot jump!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on May 8, 2010 at 12:32 PM

Beautiful work, Zack. I definitely like the subtle tones of the submerged rocks. If you don't mind me asking, did you use any filters for the shot?

Love the pulled back comp to!

Registered on October 4, 2008, 28 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on May 8, 2010 at 7:04 PM

Hey Cory, yes I did use a polarizer.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Goldstein on May 9, 2010 at 2:10 AM

While the old tree added character to the scene I do like the clear view. The low perspective and motion blur of the water are quite nice. Sounds like there was a photographer convention of sorts on this day. Every time I see a photo of this area from photographers here at NPN I'm blown away by the beauty of the scene. A spectacular photo such as this always makes wish I had been there.

Registered on March 18, 2006, 119 Posts, 878 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on May 10, 2010 at 3:25 PM

Great image Zach. I also like the control of hand blending. I've done three images at once, now you have four. I'll have to give it a try!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments