The Force be with you

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 27, 2016216 views16 comments

Thanks for your comments and input on my last image. Interestingly, Paul mentioned "upright scenic" compositions, which is exactly what this is, rather than something found along the ground. I do tend to gravitate to things at my feet or isolated upright views, but when one is in Yosemite standing beneath mammoth granite walls and towering waterfalls, it's hard not to look up. ;-)

I snapped a few of Yosemite falls with the longer lens. Of course there's no force field, but fun to watch the water move around in the wind. I thought the graphic nature and little drama in the water warranted the b&w rendition.

Your thoughts, comments and critique always welcome. Thanks!

Nikon D800E
Nikon 28-300mm @300mm
f/8 @ 1/800th. iso 400

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Tom Falley on November 27, 2016 at 3:13 PM

As a former "valley" climbing rat, I knew that was Yosemite Falls right off the bat. Much of the vision we have of the "Valley" began with powerful black and white photography from now two or three generations ago. Your capture of the power of the falls fits well into this historical perspective.

Registered on November 21, 2014, 189 Posts, 454 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on November 27, 2016 at 3:54 PM

That's a beauty, Lon. Wonderful tones, lovely, misty water movement, and the massive granite wall...what's not to like. Well done.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on November 27, 2016 at 5:34 PM

Very nice textures and graduated tones in the rocks. Yosemite Falls as a foil does a good job in making this a good composition. There is a lot to look at in this picture with respect to all the cracks on the wall and how they interact with the water.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on November 27, 2016 at 5:59 PM

Lon, this looks great in b&w, as it really shows off the structures in the mist blowing off the falls and contrasts those with the textures of the wall on the right. While this looks great as presented, I also find myself wondering how a bit more space on the right would look (capturing "all" of the mist).

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

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on November 27, 2016 at 6:22 PM

The force is with this one...

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on November 27, 2016 at 6:35 PM

Looks like a classic from one of the old masters. I really don't think you can do granite better than in b&w. The last 2 have been real winners in my book. The only thing I would do is add a bit more 'texture' to that granite by adding sharpness. Great job.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 27, 2016 at 7:43 PM

While many ooh and ahh when the falls in Yosemite are at full flow ( and rightly so), I think one gets a better appreciation for the underlying textures of the water and the walls when the flow is very much lower. That is the case here. The textures in the water and the granite compliment each other nicely, and your B&W treatment is perfect for this. I love the mist and the alternating bands of light and dark.

Just a note for Igor: More sharpening of the granite would make it appear grainy, to my mind. The best option would be careful tonal adjustments if Lon wants to do that. However I think it is fine as it is.
--P

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

Comment posted by Sairam Sundaresan on November 28, 2016 at 11:21 AM

The shutter speed choice is perfect here, Lon. I certainly can feel the fury of the water cascading down.

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

Comment posted by Mark James Ford on November 28, 2016 at 1:52 PM

Hi Lon, a great BW - composition is very good as is for me with wonderful detail in the rocks. Any suggestions my side would simply reflect how two photographers working with the same motif rarely end with the same image enlightened

... I find the end point you have chosen to be extremely interesting (+ve sense) ...

Registered on January 16, 2015, 60 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on November 28, 2016 at 7:53 PM

This is outstanding, Lon. Simple comp. with strong graphic appeal. Processing looks great. I really like the SS selection which maintains some lovely texture in the water. For November, looks like you had some great water flowing!

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on November 28, 2016 at 9:22 PM

This is excellent, Lon! This kind of has a bit of a yin-yang feel to it with the interplay of light and shadow as well as shape of the waterfall and the granite wall. This conveys the scale and power of the waterfall. Great work!

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 29, 2016 at 9:39 AM

Excellent, Lon. Nice light on the big wall and very well composed to balance the rock and the wall. No nits here.

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on November 30, 2016 at 1:45 AM

I've seen other shots of Yosemite Falls similar to this but they all have their own unique and wonderful character. I really like it...it's beautiful and abstract, but it conveys some of the power of the falls just the same.

I'm not going to comment on it separately, but your "Streaking Merced" shot is one of the better images I've seen in a while. You have a unique ability to see and capture scenes like that, and it reminded me of some of Guy Tal's recent work (albeit in a much different setting).

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on November 30, 2016 at 3:29 PM

One of your finest Lon. This has so much life to it, it literally breathes. Outstanding image and post processing.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on December 5, 2016 at 2:59 AM

Hi, Lon!
Stopped in at NPN to "troll around" and see what's up. Had to stop here and speak of a happy memory we had a few years back when I posted a misty shot of a waterfall and was thrilled with my processing effort. Remember? Anyway... memories aside, this is brilliant. I like the sense of mystery, even though it looks so "graphic" in detail. Your composition is what does it. B/W makes it quite luminous. A masterpiece of artistic photography, very evocative for me. Thank you.

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

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on December 8, 2016 at 6:40 PM

Excellent black & white Lon. Liking very much the dynamics, contrast and tonal range. No suggestions to offer.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments