Diana's Baths Revisited

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 20, 2013596 views13 comments

Thanks to all who commented on my previous photo. I took all your suggestions into consideration, edited the image, and decided it's unsalvageable. Problem is, it's a heavily visited tourist area and one is constantly trying to compose around people; I had to crop two out of the original image and one out of the one I'm posting here. This is from 2009, clearly when the foliage was better than 2012 (it was past peak when I went in 2012). Next time I'll try on a rainy day for more saturation and fewer leaf peepers! If no one likes this, I'll go back to doing my vintage old buildings.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 20, 2013 at 10:27 PM

I like the tightness of the comp and the way it allows the eye to focus on the elements. This image feels a bit soft on my monitor. Could maybe be more aggressively sharpened for web posting.

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on January 20, 2013 at 11:34 PM

I wouldn't be discouraged by the comments on your previous post - I can only speak for my comment but I was trying to offer some constructive comments that could help you improve and give you food for thought next time you are in the field. It was not necessarily a reflection of whether I did or did not like the image. I also wouldn't say that the image was unsalvageable - the most important thing is whether you like the image and whether it is meaningful to you. The value of NPN comes from the opportunity to learn from some fantastic photographers. If you are interested in improving your skill as a photographer both technically and artistically then comments from those on this forum can help you grow but also should be kept in perspective as they just represent one person's viewpoint.

Regarding this image I like the perspective you have chosen with the composition as it gives a sense of depth from foreground to background. The fall foliage also adds a nice splash of color. From a constructive perspective I would like to see even more of that beautiful foliage. I'm not sure if you had the option of going wider but it might add even more interest. Having said that it may have also introduced some technical challenges as judging by the brightest highlights in the foliage the dynamic range may have been more than your camera could record in a single exposure.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on January 21, 2013 at 4:57 AM

Nancy ..I like this one for the overall impact it has on my ...the calmness and the rocks and patterns are nice too ..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on January 21, 2013 at 6:45 AM

Nancy, you've brought back good memories. When I lived in Bartlett in the 90's, I went to Diana's Bath many times. And yes, there are tons of people that also go there. Going early in the morning before most peepers get out of bed (and when you get the best light) is the best time to go.

Also, Brian makes some good points.

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on January 21, 2013 at 8:07 AM

Nancy - This looks pretty good, better than your previous post. Diana's Bath is challenging to get a unified composition even when there are no others there, let alone peak conditions. Most if not all of my waterfall shots are taken when the weather is raining, snowing, or during or after a storm. Thes keeps the chances of other people getting in your way. You may try and isolate a couple of the cascades instead of trying to include them all. I do like like your processing, maybe the shadows are a bit too dark, so if it is possible to open them up give it a try.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on January 21, 2013 at 8:40 AM

Gorgeous composition. I may open the shadows just a bit. I certainly wouldn't give up on the waterscapes!

Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on January 21, 2013 at 9:02 AM

Nancy for me this is a big improvement over the first post. Well done. Chet

Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on January 21, 2013 at 11:42 AM

Nancy, I agree with you the other one probably wasn't worth keeping around but hey, that's just photography! Records show I've kept less than a third of all the 700+ pictures I've posted here over the years, and there's a pretty low success rate in this game in general. That's also what makes it fun though, and you can get some great feedback here as I'm sure you're aware. The other was flat and had some distractions. This one takes the eye fluidly right to the background colors and light, and that transition combined with no distracting elements makes for a great 3-D depth, and it's a winner in my eye.

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

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on January 21, 2013 at 1:11 PM

This is a pretty scene. It looks a bit soft, at least on my monitor. I also love the composition and the natural looking colors.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 22, 2013 at 11:14 AM

I like this Nancy! You have some very nice fall color and light. I think your comp works quite nice and I enjoy the flow of the water. It is a little soft and the shadows a bit dark maybe but still a very pretty scene. I think you should keep at these...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Bret Edge on January 23, 2013 at 2:36 AM

I'll echo Tony's comments. I like the composition and the colors very much. Looks like a lovely spot to kick back and enjoy the day!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Manjot Singh on February 12, 2013 at 9:49 AM

nice picture so cool it will be good I saw it after cropped ... Beautiful

Registered on May 10, 2012, 25 Posts, 66 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy de Flon on February 12, 2013 at 9:56 AM

Thanks, Manjot, to you and to everyone who has taken the time to comment! Much appreciated and very helpful. Now I can't wait to get back there.

Registered on June 28, 2010, 61 Posts, 284 Comments