Hello Spring!

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 9, 2012501 views24 comments

Wildflowers and spring greens surrounding Ponytail Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. This is a classic gorge shot, but until this week, the right conditions have never come together for me. It doesn't get much better than springtime in the gorge...electric greens, wildflowers and tons of water!

Nikon D7000, 10-24 Nikkor dx at 10mm, polarizer

6 image hand blend for dynamic range and DOF. This is one of the most complicated blends I've ever attempted!

1 sec at f/16, ISO 100 (2 images) for the back wall, trees and water
1/30 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800 (4 images) DOF for the foreground flowers.

Thanks for any comments or suggestions you have. Please view larger version, since web compression is definitely affecting the smaller version.

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Scott Miller on May 9, 2012 at 11:07 PM

This is awesome Scott! I definitely need to head out there for this! Just like you, I have never had the conditions come together for me at Ponytail, it may be a classic, but I want those little flowers too!

Well done.

Registered on May 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 322 Comments

Comment posted by Jean Day on May 9, 2012 at 11:46 PM

Beautiful work on the shot and blending. I especially love how well the sprinkling of bleeding heart stand out. I can't see any way to improve on this.

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on May 9, 2012 at 11:56 PM

I can never get sick of these rich greens from the Gorge. A sight I must see in person. The blend looks flawless and the contrast between the water and foliage is great. The few pink flowers add a nice splash of color to the predominately green landscape.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 10, 2012 at 12:18 AM

Spectacular, Scott. The range of tones in the greens is pretty amazing. Really like how you were able to isolate some of the new maple leaves against the rock wall. Gorgeous. And nice work with the blend; looks flawless to my eye.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Cram on May 10, 2012 at 12:52 AM

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!

Registered on June 4, 2006, 204 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on May 10, 2012 at 1:12 AM

PACNW ftw! Cant beat those greens (and I live in Hawaii). Nice work sir

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on May 10, 2012 at 3:40 AM

A true beauty of an image Scott. You deserve a pat on the back. Gorgeous shot!

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on May 10, 2012 at 8:09 AM

There is a very nice feeling in this image. The colors and exposure are handled very well. The flowers add just a nice color variation and the water blur is just right. Fine image.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 10, 2012 at 8:12 AM

This is a beautiful spring image, Scott. Excellent comp, great light and I really like what the foreground flowers add. Very nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Jeremy Calow on May 10, 2012 at 8:15 AM

Really great image Scott, not much else to add. It looks calm and natural to me!

Registered on November 8, 2007, 39 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on May 10, 2012 at 10:29 AM

Stunning in every way. Fantastic comp, light and the processing is perfect

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 10, 2012 at 2:58 PM

Hey, I've seen that shot somewhere before. I was actually just there and found a few flowers someone had picked and put in place. They are very fragile and one or two more photographers here is going to kill it for everyone. I've seen how this works but I'm certainly not blaming you for anything specifically. This is a well done shot. This is a TINY area though, and it's too bad it may be over-photographed soon with all the repetitive shooting of the same exact spots out here. So please, be careful if you go.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on May 10, 2012 at 8:38 PM

Thanks to everyone for the comments.
Marc - Thanks for the thoughtful comment about the fragility of this scene. I totally agree with you that careless photographers may damage the flowers here. When I was there the flowers were already suffering from tripods being planted right in the middle of them. I always make a point of not disturbing the scenes I photograph, so that it can be enjoyed by everyone else who visits the same area. My hope is that everyone will follow this "Leave No Trace" ethic.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 10, 2012 at 9:24 PM

This is stunningly beautiful! Well done.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on May 10, 2012 at 9:44 PM

Really nice Scott. Those greens are so lush. Awesome!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 12, 2012 at 6:30 PM

Works great.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 12, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Excellent, Scott. You nailed everything here. Really like it all, but the delicate leaves in the upper part of the frame really fill this space nicely.

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

Comment posted by John Williams on May 12, 2012 at 11:28 PM

Great take of this classic view Scott. I've also taken this shot, so I'm sad to hear Marc's tale.

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

Comment posted by David Edwards on May 13, 2012 at 5:45 AM

Great job with the blend Scott. Love the clean, fresh atmosphere.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Adam Gibbs on May 13, 2012 at 11:09 PM

Scott,

Beautiful image, love all of the elements that you have put together here.

Both yourself and Marc bring up some important points about the fragility of some of these photographic iconic areas. I was also at this location a couple of days ago and quickly noticed how trashed this area is, erosion is taking its toll from photographers trying to get the "Adamus" shot.. Please remember folks that it's not always about getting the trophy image but more importantly being stewards and respecting these natural areas for all to enjoy, not just the audience over at 500px.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 168 Posts, 870 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on May 14, 2012 at 9:06 AM

Scoot, this is really awesome, especially looking at the larger version.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Wick Smith on May 15, 2012 at 3:05 PM

The blend and the composition are excellent. It was worth the effort!

Registered on June 12, 2009, 91 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on May 15, 2012 at 3:44 PM

Amazing shot Scott, I think this looks really great. Your blending has worked really well.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Kris Johnson on May 15, 2012 at 9:48 PM

Great colors and composition. The foreground really works well for this image.

Registered on March 6, 2010, 26 Posts, 299 Comments