The Plunge

Yum yums :) Good call w/ the rappel

aF

Interesting POV. Images with water flowing away are tough to do, and I think this is as good as any! I would prefer the shot slightly darker (just a smidge) and a bit less yellowy in regards to the WB. I think it would take the very slight glowing green down a notch. I know (not that I have actually witnessed...) gorge images have greens that are off the chart. I think your shutter speed choice is perfect!

Looks like a perfect place to hop on a round metal sled and slide down to the bottom!

woohoo. very cool. loving that moving water and how it splits at the base. magical capture - gives me a bit of vertigo in a neat way.

Wow! This is fantastic Floris. Yes, looking at this I would say the rappelling gear was a good idea. I like the water alot. Your comp, the light and those greens look awesome. This is a very interesting image, and so well done.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

The water textures really jump out in the larger version, which should be mandatory viewing. This is an awesome image. You can really feel the water rushing past, and while you may not be "breaking any new ground" compositionally you're certainly plowing old ground in an exciting way. Fantastic!

Beautiful shot. My eye is led right on down through the photo. :)

I like it a lot Floris including the choice of shutter speed and the dark triangle splitting the flow which I assume is down to your booted foot. I also think its compositionally excellent and reasonably adventurous too.

Wicked work on the foreground water. Excellent idea using the feet for the more dramatic effect.

Not breaking any new ground compositionally as you say, but it's still pretty damn wicked. And definitely worth staying roped up..does not look like a very good water slide.

Interesting for sure Floris. I was thinking like Matt but instead of a metal sled how about a lunch tray. More daring.
Crazy you can repel and wade/swim. Every park by me has a long list of things you can't do, lol
Nice perspective and execution.
Thanks for sharing

Wow Floris! When I first read that you were standing in the water, I though you had completely lost your mind (glad to hear you were roped up for this shot). I really like your treatment of the water here. The greens look great to me.

Fantastic view and comp Floris. Color is spectacular as is your shutter speed. The only other thing I can say is just stay safe!

Bet that rope helped with the confidence to compose. I leaned over the rock but just never really was sold on this view. I think you did the best with it though, I probably won't even process mine.

Thanks folks!

The boot trick didn't create the central separation, just spread out the flow on the left stream side more.

Looks fantastic. Well done in creating your own unique feel to this one Floris.

Your magic is magical!!

Awesome image Floris, In your face and on the edge, I like it. Composition is very strong. Great work!

I like this as well! it is a different perspective. It is a unique image within the gorge

The exposure showing the turbulence of the water really propels the viewer into the scene leading to the waterfall. Great perspective!

Jean

Pretty neat stuff, Floris. I'm not familiar with view, but it's very good. Is this the Punchbowl from above?

I'm a little undecided about the sharpness of the foreground water. It doesn't exactly pull me into the scene like I expect it would. The lighting and presentation look perfect to me.

I usually don't like shots that are obviously pointed down, but this works well with the edges framed with water and the s-curve of the upper falls. The small tree at 6 and the growth at 9 o'clock distract the from the overall scene and if it were mine I strongly consider cloning - if you believe in that sort of thing. I can see your style written all over this shot, which is a good thing Floris.

Michael

This is really unique, well composed (and gives me vertigo!)

This sure gives the feeling of falling down the falls toward the bigger drop down below. I think it's the zig-zagging flow in the foreground that gives me the feeling that I'm getting battered by rocks as I'm plunging downstream.

In most landscape shots, I feel a calm feeling -- as though I am in the scene. This is different. This gives an almost cinematic feel, which is much different, but equally successful.

It is a common-ish comp now...but still takes some bravery to pull off...even with a rope! The gorge is a beautiful and dangerous place in spots. Someone just died last week at the log jam in Oneonta... tragic stuff.

Love the water action here, and great shot overall...

Thanks folks!

Tony - That's Metlako Falls in the backdrop.

Michael - thanks, I'll think about partially cloning that growth (ie. reducing the contrast, but not removing), not sure which tree you mean.

Ben - I can assure you that there wasn't much of a relaxing feel from being on the edge there.. I think that cinematic feel is pretty accurate I'm glad it comes through for you.

Rick - wow, I had no idea. That log jam is pretty scary.. those logs are so slippery!

nicely composed and great textures in the water. good reminder to explore such textures - so much focus on water flows!

Floris, this image shows me stunning points of interest in the near and in the distance, which are amazingly connected by your composition. Your choice of shutter speed lets me experience the dynamics of the falls immediately. All this is consistently framed by the fresh greens to me.

Peter

Beautiful shot Floris; really pulls you into the scene. Gets my vertigo going. Excellent shutter speed and composition. Also love the vibrant greens. Good call on the rappelling gear. Please give an idea of scale here - how far down is the pool?

Bill - Metlako is a 100 feet, and I'm a good ways above that.. I'd say around 200-300 feet to the water below.

Dude you don't need repelling gear here, I jump from there all the time!

Nice shot Floris.

Ever try jumpin Punchbowl?

This is sweet! The sense of swift movement conveyed by the foreground water and the steep incline almost give me a slight touch of vertigo. I like the adventurous feel this composition has. We don't see many waterfall images from a vantage point like this.

Floris,

Fantastic perspective and simply a wonderfully captured image. Glad to here you taking some precautions here - wouldn't want a young buck like you taking too many chances... Seriously though, great work in the planning and vision in creating this dynamic and beautiful at the same time, image. Processing, color, sat, etc. all look spot on.

Lon

One of the better ones that I have seen from here. Nice work Floris!

WOW! I commend your vision and innovation required to nail this shot. For me, the water droplets spraying in the foreground & swirling S-shaped curve make this really outstanding.

This a stunning composition and a very unique shot of an often photographed location. What a great way to set a new bar :)

Hello Floris


Very well Composition and Exposure .... I love the Textures in the moving Water and the strong green of the Foliage .... in one Word ... Perfect ....


Best Regards from AUSTRIA
Helmut