Tahquamenon Falls Ice 1

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 30, 2015245 views16 comments

Ryan Shain and I met up for the first time last weekend in Tahquamenon Falls to hang out in some rather chilly weather in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I had a great time shooting and exploring together. We both agreed it pushed us harder to go further afield and explore.

Tahquamenon Falls (Upper) is 200 feet wide and 50 feet tall. Here, on the left, is about a 40 foot high column of ice that has formed. The river itself is a root beer color due to tannin. Gives some nice contrast. From research, in later / colder winter photos, this whole area appears to eventually fill with ice and the flow stops if it gets cold enough.

One of the great things about ice is that its going to be completely different next year. I already have the weekend picked.

a7r, 70-200 @ 171mm, f22 0.5 sec, LR / silver efx

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on January 30, 2015 at 8:50 AM

Very interesting abstract. I like the composition and the b&w works well here. There is an interesting contrast between the flowing water and the frozen ice. Also the the texture and shapes in the ice add interest. As I looked at the image there is an unusual juxtaposition between the flowing water and the ice.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 30, 2015 at 8:58 AM

Jeff, I really like the juxtaposition of the dynamic (smooth flowing water) against the static (sharp pile of ice). The larger version shows off the dynamic range in the image very well.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on January 30, 2015 at 10:13 AM

Oh yes. Oh yes. This is special. It works on many levels for me. Great composition and even though I know what it is it's suggestive. The ice looks like billowy clouds which takes me in a different direction. It's an image to fantasize with.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 30, 2015 at 10:19 AM

I like this a lot. Very abstract and encourages prolonged study. This image has a real nice tension to it, too. Excellent.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on January 30, 2015 at 10:19 AM

Different, I like that. Great study in textures

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

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on January 30, 2015 at 10:45 AM

Interesting and unusual composition, and it works perfect! I have been looking at it for a long time, and still can't really figure out the perspective, haha. Looks a bit Escher-isque to me. Well done!

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on January 30, 2015 at 1:48 PM

Very cool, Jeff. I like the textures and the tones. It's neat how the water disappears behind the ice. One feeds the other.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on January 30, 2015 at 2:12 PM

Love the textures and the tones. Good abstract quality. Good work

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

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on January 30, 2015 at 4:52 PM

I like the diagonal lines moving across the image. Maybe burn down the bottom right corner a bit with a very slight vignette to keep the attention on the flow and ice? Just a thought; this is great as is! Fascinating ice formations...

Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 30, 2015 at 5:27 PM

From the thumbnail I thought the ice was clouds. Nice textures and good use of diagonals.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 30, 2015 at 7:47 PM

Fascinating abstract. My only thought is to maybe try and dodge-out some of the highlights in the black water for better balance.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on January 31, 2015 at 7:18 PM

This is almost abstract--I like it. The different directions of the water flow and the ice mushrooms create a nice dynamic. Nicely done, Jeff.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on February 2, 2015 at 6:24 AM

i like this - nice abstract ... image after my own heart. I consider a couple of things: i) cropping off the right to give a square, and ii) bump up the streaks in the dark water (i.e., make the lights in the water brighter) - as well as in the upper part of the ice ... just my 2c!

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Shain on February 2, 2015 at 9:24 AM

Jeff,

I thought this looked great on the the quick view from the weekend, but the processed image is awesome. The conversion to black and white is well chosen. The tones and contrasts ware wonderful, and unique comp is very engaging.

great view and capture Jeff

Registered on February 20, 2007, 226 Posts, 4571 Comments

Comment posted by D.A. Edwards on February 3, 2015 at 7:31 PM

An especially intriguing image, Jeff. Well done on just about every level/criteria. Looks otherwordly.

Registered on October 8, 2014, 226 Posts, 1187 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on February 5, 2015 at 4:08 AM

Really like this isolated detail of the falls. Nice contrast in forms and textures. Water movement in two directions. Lots of interest in a small space. What's not to like. Wouldn't change a thing,super find.

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