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Exiting the Canyon

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted October 9, 2011107 views9 comments

This photo was taken last August. I features the Matthews River exiting a mile-long canyon. The River empties into to the Bettles River which merges with the Dietrich River to form the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River in northern Alaska.

The rocks give the color to this extremely clear water.

Nikon D300
Nikkor 18-200 2 56 mm
1/125 [I'm not a blurry water guy]
f/5.6
10% crop off bottom.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 9, 2011 at 11:37 AM

I like the wild feel to this image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 9, 2011 at 6:11 PM

I like the comp and color in this.

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

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on October 9, 2011 at 6:14 PM

I like the comp in how it carries my eyes back to the upper left distance. The image makes me want to grab a canoe and fly rod for that stretch of aqua water..

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Fischer on October 10, 2011 at 9:03 AM

Doug, the only fish here are "Grayling". They are good to eat. Take a long time to grow in the northern waters so most angler just take enough for supper.
the fisch

Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments

Comment posted by Varina Patel on October 10, 2011 at 4:46 PM

What a beautiful location! There's a lot going on here - I could spend hours finding smaller compositions in all this beauty!

Registered on August 22, 2008, 45 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Fischer on October 10, 2011 at 5:48 PM

Varina,
You are correct. Much to photograph in this region.
From looking at your bio you and hubby could probably make the 5-mile trek with back pack and kuyak to the headwaters, float down the Matthews [20 miles] to the Bettles, then back to the Haul road. Big circle.
Be prepared for grizzly, however.
More photos of this area are on my Flicker site: flickr.com/photos/syzygyphoto
Best to scroll to the gallery, Matthews River.
Kindest regards,
the fisch

Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on October 10, 2011 at 7:18 PM

Wow, would love to spend some time here.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on October 12, 2011 at 2:04 AM

A nice Alaska scene, Larry. Your composition catches just enough of the curving stream to give it good depth and the cliffs are interesting enough to be the prime subject. I just have two minor processing nits. The small version could use a little more sharpening (the large version is much better) and the stream appears to be a bit strong on the saturation, especially in the right foreground.

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Fischer on October 12, 2011 at 10:39 AM

Gary,
You may be right about the saturation in the lower right. I darkened that area slightly in processing.
I don't worry much about the small versions sharpness; sharpening can lead to a larger file which then requires a re-do for size.
I'm glad NPN has the "Larger Version"....
The water in this river is as clear as any. The underlying rocks give most of the river a blue-green look although
other areas may have a different tint. Interesting.
The gravel bars have a myriad of different colored stones. Lots of mineralization but apparently relatively low gold
yield.
Thanks everyone for the comments. Why I have stayed with NPN.

Other photos of this river are on my flicker.com site

flickr.com/photos/syzygyphoto

I would go to the Matthews River group instead of slogging through all the photos.

the fisch

Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments