Akaka Falls

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 11, 2013390 views14 comments

Please view a large uncompressed version here.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/9009932777_80c8c9eb79_o.jpg

Slowly working through all these hawaii shots. REally appreciate all the feedback here. I came back with more shots than I expected!

This is Akaka falls, probably the most well known waterfall on the big island. It measures in at 422 feet high. This shot is nothing original. The falls is located in a state park, and there is a concrete path that takes you through it. You can only view this fall from one place, so every shot you see is basically the same thing. I desperately wanted to get down to the base of this waterfall and do something different, but after doing a lot of research, it seems impossible without trespassing(or getting permission) to enter private land, and doing some rope work to get yourself down to the river. Oh well. I decided to do the best I could with processing to make this amazing waterfall look as amazing as it is to see it in person. I did also shoot some tight, more abstract intimates of the water. But I'm trying to process more of the scenes I shot. Got a lot of abstracts on this trip.

All thoughts and criticisms appreciated!

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on June 11, 2013 at 1:21 AM

Thanks for showing this one to me earlier. It's just an all around fantastic image. I am a sucker for green too. Disregard what I said about the lower left corner earlier, it looks pretty good as is a second look over.

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

Comment posted by Sairam Sundaresan on June 11, 2013 at 3:17 AM

Very nice Shot Ted! Just a suggestion, but it's upto your artistic taste. Perhaps you could darken the surrounding foliage a bit to draw more attention to the waterfall. Looking forward to seeing the abstracts!

Registered on March 14, 2013, 100 Posts, 643 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on June 11, 2013 at 11:05 AM

I like the centering here Ted. As you say, nothing original but still I like the sense of overwhelming greens and lushness here surrounding the falls. I find this is descriptive of the environment in the same way as your palms shot. It works for me.

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

Comment posted by Ted Gore on June 11, 2013 at 1:13 PM

Thanks Gents, I've had a couple remarks about doing a little vignetting, so I might have to look into that. Thanks for the feedback!

Registered on April 25, 2013, 36 Posts, 149 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 11, 2013 at 2:51 PM

That is really quite an amazing view, Ted. Very nice! I'm wondering how much of a drop that is. Looks like a long ways down!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Ted Gore on June 11, 2013 at 2:58 PM

Thanks Nick, it's a 422ft water fall. I should add that to my write up!

Registered on April 25, 2013, 36 Posts, 149 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 11, 2013 at 3:07 PM

Wow! That is a long falls. I thought from the looks it must be a long drop. Yes, it would be interesting to see it from the base too....so now I'll wait for you to figure out a way...

Nick

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 11, 2013 at 5:03 PM

Ted,

It may be a common vantage point (or the only one for that matter,) but to a person who may have never been or never seen this before, well, it's still a downright beautiful location and beautiful, and nicely crafted image. This works extremely well despite the long, tall vertical splitting a horizontal frame. If anything, despite this being the only vantage point, this is still a well conceived and crafted image. Oh, color/sat is spot on. Vignetting, sure, maybe, but for me it should only be subtle and not to obvious.

No nits here.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on June 11, 2013 at 5:34 PM

Your vantage point may have been limited, but you definitely came away with a winner, Ted. The greens are amazing and the lighting perfect for bringing out the details and colors in this lush scene.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on June 12, 2013 at 12:17 AM

Nice, straightforward shot Ted. I usually don't care for elements placed in the center of a horizontal shot, but this works pretty well.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 12, 2013 at 9:52 AM

I like the lush greens and would tone down exposure as Mark suggested. Well captured.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Ted Gore on June 12, 2013 at 11:41 AM

Thanks Rick. I'm confused though, I don't see anyone named Mark suggesting I bring down the exposure?

Registered on April 25, 2013, 36 Posts, 149 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on June 12, 2013 at 12:07 PM

I'm going to have to be the dissenting voice here.

This image gets an F for originality. This exact same image has been literally shot thousands and thousands of times. I knew it was Akaka from the thumbnail alone. I've seen it everywhere: on postcards, on peoples FB pages, etc. Every single tourist that sets foot within miles of Hilo has this exact same shot with the falls centered. I would go so far as to say that this is the least original comp on the island, with the possible exception of Rainbow Falls. As such, I'm a bit surprised that you'd post it rather than the abstract intimates you spoke of. Why not post those? They sound much more enticing.

Not trying to make you feel bad, just giving you honest critique. I've seen your work and I know you have skills. I'm just surprised that you didn't try and put some sort of original take on this instead of serving up the same shot that half the world has, especially considering that there are SO MANY other worthy waterfalls on the big island that hardly ever get shot.

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

Comment posted by Ted Gore on June 12, 2013 at 3:35 PM

Um ok. I was pretty clear that this was nothing original bro. Calm down. Yes, I've seen tons of shots of this waterall, and I knew I could do a better job with processing than what I've seen, so I that's what I did. I have other comps, but most of them don't work to me. As you probably know, there is really no other way to view this waterfall. I know there are other waterfalls(I spent tons of time searching for them), but most are VERY difficult to get to with out massive effort and having to trespass on private land. Something that is highly looked down upon on the island. I visited several other waterfalls that most people don't get to, but honestly, found them all pretty ugly up close. And getting high vantage points of falls like this isn't easy. I tried.

Sorry to disappoint you, but thanks for your opinion.

Registered on April 25, 2013, 36 Posts, 149 Comments