Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Gulfoss Falls
‹ PreviousMan & Nature GalleryNext ›

Gulfoss Falls

by Grant Collier

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted September 30, 2013945 views23 comments
I captured this shot of Gulfoss Falls in Iceland on a day when there were sustained 50 mph winds, with gusts around 100 mph. There's normally a lot of mist coming up from the falls but on this day it was more like waves of water being pushed back up over the opposite cliff face.

I got drenched while making my way down to this spot, which was somewhat protected from the mist and water. I had to hold my backpack down with my foot to keep it from blowing away, then I'd clean the mist off the lens, put the lens cap on, compose the shot blind, take off the lens cap and immediately take a shot, while holding down the tripod with my other hand hoping to keep it stable. I repeated this for about an hour, since I didn't know how many shots would actually be in focus with the 1 second exposures I was trying to do to get a little blur in the water. Fortunately, my favorite shot of the bunch was in sharp focus.

C&C Welcome

Nikon 800e, 24mm, f22, ISO 50, 1 sec :cool:

Comments

23 comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on September 30, 2013 at 6:14 PM
The mist coming up on the right is awesome! Such a neat effect.
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by John Mumaw on September 30, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Superb! The mist complements the falls perfectly, and you got a nice sky to boot. Under the conditions, I'd say you did quite well here!
Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Kearl on September 30, 2013 at 6:43 PM
Superb in every way, one of the best I have seen of this falls. The mist on the right is awesome.
I would love to see a larger view.
Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 30, 2013 at 7:06 PM
Unique shot, just crazy up draft. I am sure you've thought of it, but maybe a crop of the trail and fence to the right to match the wildness. Sounds like a Patagonia day with that weather. Nice job getting it done!
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by jack jaeger jr on September 30, 2013 at 7:45 PM
Looks and sounds like an amazing place, great shot.
Registered on April 2, 2012, 26 Posts, 355 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 30, 2013 at 8:13 PM
Very dramatic - I love the mist/fog that looks like it's trying to claw its way out of the gorge and the colors are top notch
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on September 30, 2013 at 9:01 PM
Great shot. No nit from me. Iceland had to be one of the premier nature photography destinations in the world.
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 30, 2013 at 9:16 PM
Amazing water action Grant. It must have been amazing to experience in person.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on September 30, 2013 at 10:37 PM
Beautiful Image Grant! That mist is something.
Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 30, 2013 at 11:29 PM
That is so cool!!!!!! :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Gavin on October 1, 2013 at 1:57 AM
What everyone else said X 2.
Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Reid on October 1, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Wonderful image Grant and that water action is amazing. Great colors and processing on this. :toast:
Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 1, 2013 at 12:52 PM
Well, that was worth enduring that! An extraordinary image, Grant! :toast:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on October 1, 2013 at 2:32 PM
This is amazing! Lots of effort went in to capturing this, and it looks like you came away with something very unique to show for it. I keep coming back to this image and just sitting, looking at it, exploring the colors, textures, and, well, enjoying it from the comfort of a non-windy environment! I really don't want to nit-pick, but I am noticing some 'green' clouds, middle sky, just above the hill that is sloping down to the right. Just a small area that kind of looks odd to me on my screen.

You should be mighty proud to have this in your gallery! :wavey:
Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on October 1, 2013 at 3:50 PM
What an amazing spot. Well done.
Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments
Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on October 1, 2013 at 3:54 PM
WILD... like some water creatures rising out of the falls and climbing towards the hills :biggrin:
Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Bill on October 1, 2013 at 4:47 PM
Beautiful! Great photo!
Registered on July 30, 2013, 11 Posts, 19 Comments
Comment posted by Grant Collier on October 2, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Thanks for all the comments! I appreciate it. Nathan, good eye on the slight bit of green in the sky. I'll look to address this before printing. I've considered cloning out the one small fence post to the right but haven't considered any crop, as for me personally it would throw the shot too much off balance.
Registered on July 29, 2005, 73 Posts, 430 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on October 3, 2013 at 3:41 AM
Amazing sense of power in this shot. Unfortunately I will have to move it to the M&N gallery as there's a pretty obvious road on the right.
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by Grant Collier on October 3, 2013 at 5:04 AM
Thanks for the nice comment, Kah Kit. I would, however, appreciate this being moved back to Landscape, as my goal with this shot was to tell the story of the landscape not of man & nature. There is a small path to the right mostly obscured by the mist that is not at all the focal point of the shot. I think the point of the Man & Nature gallery is to show an interaction or juxtaposition between man & nature and that is not the case here, nor was it ever my goal.
Registered on July 29, 2005, 73 Posts, 430 Comments
Comment posted by Jack Garrett on October 3, 2013 at 1:36 PM
First of all, this is a fantastic image Grant! Lots of drama in this shot. I didn't even notice the path until it was explained why it was moved. I'd be interested to see if they move this back as my Bells image has a few people in it that you can't even see. I was going to put it in ESS but was afraid it would get moved.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 41 Posts, 251 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 4, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Awesome shot, Grant! Maybe would like a bit more sky--but why quibble here, it's great as is.
Yeah, keep this in Landscape. I've said over and over--the point of that gallery should be to show interaction of man and nature, not every incidental sign of humans in the shot--otherwise might as well move everything to M&N.
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on October 25, 2013 at 10:57 PM
Really shows the power of the falls Grant. Glad your favorite was in focus!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments