Raging Spirit

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 17, 2013535 views22 comments

Until I went to the Gorge a couple of weeks ago I had never heard of Spirit Falls (chalk it up to living in Florida :), and didn't recall seeing any photos from here. Located on the Washington side, and readily accessible, I found it pretty contrasty to most of the other falls in the area with the aquamarine water, and the current was really strong. The "trail" takes you to a viewpoint just above the falls, but a little scrambling really gets you down there in the mist. It was a lot of fun to shoot. I wish that little cascade in the bottom left wasn't there, as I feel it is a little distracting, but I couldn't find a good comp to exclude it. Single exposure, Nikon D800E 14-24 with polarizer (CAVision on Lee SE150). Thanks for looking!

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 17, 2013 at 1:55 PM

Chris, this is fantastic. I love the color of the water and the misty light in the trees on the top. I understand what you mean about the cascade at lower left, but it is not a big distraction to my eye. Your composition and processing pull my eye through the top into the curve of the turquoise water very nicely. Great job with this one.

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 17, 2013 at 2:22 PM

A beautiful mix of colors and the light leads the eye through very well. Gorgeous image.

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 17, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Chris,

The l left does not bother me after looking~ it is well place

exposure about 1.5 sec?

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

Comment posted by Chris Moore on June 17, 2013 at 3:03 PM

Thanks for the comments. Rick, it was actually 1/2 second exposure, should have included that. The water was really moving!

Registered on January 12, 2010, 84 Posts, 388 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 17, 2013 at 3:08 PM

Beautiful colors and sweet scene. The cascade lower left does not bother me a bit.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 17, 2013 at 3:34 PM

This is really nice, Chris! The water is beautiful and I really like the flow of this. Wonderful light and love the misty mood. I can understand your feeling about the small cascade in the lower left, but actually I think it works just fine as it is. This is a fantastic image so well done! Excellent work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on June 17, 2013 at 3:40 PM

Fantastic image of the falls and its surroundings. The colors and energy are just outstanding ! Chet

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

Comment posted by Peter Richter on June 17, 2013 at 3:51 PM

Fantastic capture for me, Chris, stunning dynamics and beautiful natural colors. Your choice of shutter speed is spot on to my eye. Great work in my opinion.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 17, 2013 at 7:58 PM

Chris,

A beautiful scene and image from the PNW. I don't recall these falls either, but I'm sure you're glad you found this, you were definitely well rewarded with this. The color is wonderful, especially the turquoise in water. The shutter speed is perfect, allowing the texture of the water to shine and not give up any detail-less areas. Excellent!

The composition is a little different, but yet I think successful. I say that because the falls up top start at the center and point left, or are facing left and out of the frame so to speak. But the saving part is how the stream with the beautiful flow and texture come back around exiting the frame on the right. Oh, the patch of water/cascade in the LLC doesn't bother me either; there's some nice texture in there.

Overall, I like this quite a lot.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 17, 2013 at 8:51 PM

I LIVE in WA State and have never seen this! (Slap to forehead.) Thanks to an adventurer from FLORIDA, I have a trip to make!! This is so well composed and an exquisite scene. Love your POV-- I feel like I'm right there. Thanks for showing this and for enjoying our great State.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on June 17, 2013 at 10:06 PM

Beautifully lit bg really adds to this image. Nice job on the water. I like the flow of this composition.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on June 17, 2013 at 10:12 PM

Chris, this is spectacular. I love the luminescent blues emanating from the aerated pooling and contrasting surface flows. The framing, your processing, and lushness of the scene is as good as I've ever scene.

Well done.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on June 18, 2013 at 5:30 AM

awesome

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on June 18, 2013 at 5:50 AM

Beautiful shot Chris. Love the fresh, vibrant feel. The water textures are excellent.

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

Comment posted by Gary Reed on June 18, 2013 at 9:55 AM

Nailed it!

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on June 18, 2013 at 1:32 PM

Great drama! I can hear the river noise just by looking at the photo. Beautiful!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on June 18, 2013 at 2:56 PM

Gorgeous photo Chris, very fresh and inviting.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Chris Moore on June 18, 2013 at 4:05 PM

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate the feedback!

Registered on January 12, 2010, 84 Posts, 388 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on June 18, 2013 at 8:15 PM

I agree with all of the others, your photo is fantastic. Very well done Chris.

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on June 21, 2013 at 12:36 PM

So very lush and inviting! I love the atmosphere, water colors and even the handling of the lower left. I would expect no less from you.

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

Comment posted by Helmut Steidl on June 24, 2013 at 5:57 AM

Hello

Wow perfect .... i like it so much ..... The color of the water is fantastic ....

Helmut

Registered on May 18, 2011, 17 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on June 25, 2013 at 10:35 AM

What a beauty. Love the colour of the water.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments