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In the Flow
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In the Flow

by Preston Birdwell

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 30, 2016232 views17 comments
This large boulder is mid-stream in the Merced River down-canyon from the Arch Rock entrance station. Lon named it 'Harley's Rock' a few years ago. I recently did some work on the master file, so thought I would post it.

Chamonix 4x5
Nikkor-M 300mm
Astia 100F
May 2012

Please see the large version. Thanks!

Your thoughts are always appreciated. cool

--P

Comments

17 comments
Comment posted by Dan Kearl on April 30, 2016 at 3:29 PM
About the perfect shutter speed and it has  a nice flow to it.
Beautiful color tones in the rock. I always want a wider view when I look at these kind of photos....
Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments
Comment posted by Allen Brooks on April 30, 2016 at 6:24 PM
Your shutter speed created a very interesting pattern in the water.  It's like you can see individual lines of water flow. Also, a very artistic looking image.  Well done.devil
Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on April 30, 2016 at 6:32 PM
Wow, I really like this one. The composition is really not that overwhelming. But the craftsmanship with the rock is absolutely remarkable. I suspect the image of the rock looks better than the rock itself! Beautiful detail and luminosity. I might even consider doing a closer crop of the rock and not have that flow at the very bottom. Beautiful work.
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on April 30, 2016 at 7:43 PM
Beautiful, Preston.  I hate to say that about anything named Harley's rock sad.  The detail and presence of the rock as the stalwart in this chaotic flow makes this comp work very well for me.  I like it a lot .
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Basil Greber on April 30, 2016 at 8:10 PM
A very well crafted shot, Preston. The shutter speed is very well chosen. Only nit would be the slightly busy part of water at the top of the frame. I wonder if you could stretch the topmost 10% of the frame a bit to move that bit of foam out of the frame?
Registered on November 8, 2005, 219 Posts, 1340 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on April 30, 2016 at 10:18 PM
Preston, a nice rendition of my rock.  I might experiment with warming up the my rock a bit?

My lawyer will be contacting you for royalties due. 
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 30, 2016 at 11:13 PM
This is exceptional IMHO Preston.  Absolutely prefect shutter speed to show the power of the flow but still maintain detail and texture.  Great details also in the rock and the lighting is so nice on the rock.  Well done.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on May 1, 2016 at 2:25 AM
Shutter speed excellence! You chose the right ss to really capture those patterns while still retaining detail, sweet! I do feel the small bright part in the ulc is  a bit of an eye magnet, so I would probably burn that part a bit.
Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 1, 2016 at 3:42 AM
Great lines and swirls in the water, and interesting boulder
Nice light snd perfect SS.
Sweet!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on May 1, 2016 at 7:51 AM
Perfectly shuttered, the water swirls and textures are super nice. And the rock itself makes a great central point. It all looks a bit green for my tastes, perhaps try it a bit more cyan/blue for comparison?
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 1, 2016 at 10:53 AM
A fine contrast between the stability of the boulder and the flowing water, Preston.  I like the ss as it retails lots of detail in the water but shows some nice motion.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Sairam Sundaresan on May 1, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Really love the swirl! It goes to show that the simplest of images often attract us the most :)
Registered on March 14, 2013, 100 Posts, 643 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on May 1, 2016 at 3:35 PM
Love this rock Preston!  And of course the the color, flow and even texture of the water surrounding this rock just makes for a great image.

Very nicely processed too.  I'm stretching to find something to suggest.... perhaps a very slight burn of the churning water in the ULC.  I wouldn't even classify as an eye magnet, just something to consider.

Well done sir!  I always stop here on my way in to the Valley.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on May 1, 2016 at 6:05 PM
Beautiful light and color, plus great shutter speed for the water. I love these kinds of photos, an example of standing firm in a turbulent time, or something.  These photos are surprisingly difficult to get right, and you've certainly done it here.
Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on May 1, 2016 at 6:09 PM
I think you've picked a good exposure for the flow of the water here. The shapes created by the turbulence enveloping the rock is pleasing. In this case, I like the contrast between the flow of the water and the solid detail of the rock. Good composition and placement of the important elements. Nicely seen.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Danny Laureys on May 2, 2016 at 3:28 AM
Very nice, right on with shutter speed. Excellent.
Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments
Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on May 2, 2016 at 12:12 PM
Beautiful and very dynamic image! The SS is perfect holding just enough texture in the water while displaying the movement and force of the water. Processing looks very natural. I would agree with Lon on trying to burn down the upper left corner a bit but this is very minor. 
Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments