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High Water Flowing +clone
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High Water Flowing +clone

by Nick Bristol

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 3, 2017321 views21 comments
The Wisconsin River Bottoms where I often shoot are under a lot of water right now. A couple of months from now I would expect it but it is normally not like this at the end of February or early March. Lots of rain here and snow melt up north is the reason. Since I shoot in this area of the bottoms often I thought I would give you a look at it when the river is really high. It was also a very foggy morning. I had thought the foreground fine branches would stand out a little more but they seem to get lost a bit in the rippled water and reflections. Probably not one of my better pictures just thinking you might like seeing it. Maybe I'll get a couple more shots that are better. Large version included. Canon 5D3, 24-105L @45mm, ISO 100, F/14, 1/15 sec. tripod.

Comments

21 comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on March 3, 2017 at 6:32 PM
Terrific image, Nick. I'll repeat my comment to Gary's image - it's pretty exciting when you can photograph unique conditions, particularly at home where you tend to experience a lot of the same. The high water is really evident here, and the both the fog and the patterns in the reflections make this an eye-catching and excellent photo.  
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on March 3, 2017 at 9:32 PM
This is very cool. Like it a lot. Very moody and surreal feel to it . A crop off the bottom might be an option to include a little less of the fg water. The wavy reflections are eye catching! 
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 4, 2017 at 11:12 AM
Gorgeous image, Nick!! I love the subdued colors and it has a real nice painterly look to it and great mood. Excellent!
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 4, 2017 at 11:47 AM
Must view large to get the impact.  Love the flow details and distorted reflections in the water, Nick.  The sense of fading into the fog works well at emphasizing the water parts even as it establishes the storyline.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on March 4, 2017 at 2:19 PM
Love this one, Nick.  The wavy reflections top left are my favorite part of the image.  The moody fog and line of trees are perfect support for the two triangles formed in the water.  Nice work.
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on March 4, 2017 at 3:00 PM
I love the mood created by the fog and water motion Nick.  Nice use of diagonals.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Genny K. on March 5, 2017 at 1:42 AM
Wow.  How much fog do you have????  The water smoothness here is really cool, especially with the gold-brown color.  The fog gives this an almost eerie mood. Excellent capture of the reflections of the trees in the water.  The zig zag is mesmerizing.  super interesting image!
Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on March 5, 2017 at 11:45 AM
Nick, there is an almost surrealistic feel to this image for me. Yor choice of shutter speed is spot on to my eye to convey the sense of gentle flow.

Maybe a version without the foreground branches might accentuate the serenity of the scene even more. Just a thought.

Peter
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on March 5, 2017 at 2:07 PM
This is an outstanding image, Nick. It has emotional impact and great beauty as well. Beautifully constructed it has several components each of which are worth delving into and exploring. However, I want to make an observation which may or may not be valid.

In one way the image is too good. By that I mean it looks almost supernaturally good. The water and branch in the lower left hand quadrant to me look a bit incongruous with the rest of the image. The water looks super slick, almost oily with will defined tones while the rest of the image is purposely more ambiguous in both subject matter and treatment. The same goes for the sharply defined stick protruding out of the water. I think it would be stronger if there was greater harmony between this area and the general image. I suspect that this is the result of processing of this section so perhaps a little less aggressive processing here would achieve more harmony. This is just my sense of it and I could change my mind in a few days. Regardless of this observation this is a truly remarkable image which I like very much.
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 5, 2017 at 3:08 PM
Thanks to all of you for giving me your thoughts on this. I really wasn't so sure if anyone would care for it...so a nice surprise getting your comments. Your comments and suggestions are always helpful and appreciated. Thanks, Nick
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on March 5, 2017 at 4:17 PM
This is fabulous, Nick. The various flow indications and the reflections are gorgeous. That one branch in the lower left quadrant is a little distracting, and could easily be fixed. The mist adds a wonderful and moody element. Well done!
--P
Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 5, 2017 at 5:42 PM
Thanks guys! I cloned out the closest branch in the lower left and left the others close to it. Also cloned out the one lone branch sticking out of the water near the back and one colored leaf on the left edge. Doesn't look much different but may have improved it some. Click the image for large one. Nick
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on March 5, 2017 at 5:45 PM
this is a superb image and well seen. Only nit is the branches/twigs at the lower third.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on March 6, 2017 at 11:35 AM
Nick,

Not sure how you keep topping yourself!  This is outstanding!  I was actually sitting with Preston in front of his PC and the first image we saw here was this one.  We both had similar reactions, like "Oh my..." "This is awesome!"  

Love this image. There are three distinct elements: The somewhat realistic flow of the water in the lower third/corner, the wildly abstract reflection in the middle and the then forest in the misty fog up top; all combined for a unique and wonderful image. One of the most amazing aspects of this image is the water level.  Where the reflected part meets the trees, it appears as if the water just falls away... it's very cool and mysterious.

Nothing to be critical of here, but if I was to offer a suggestion, it would be to crop slightly from the right.  The reason is just that from top to bottom, the right edge is brighter than the rest of the scene.  It's not a bad thing per se, but draws my eye over there a bit.  Oh, personally, the sticks in the water don't bother me.

Beautifully seen!

Lon

 
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on March 6, 2017 at 1:48 PM
Love it Nick, but I also love a crop of just the upper left side of the image (with those branches cloned out). Those wavy lines as a foreground is a cool alternative.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Bruce King on March 6, 2017 at 9:48 PM
Great shot Nick. Lots of depth here and abstract enough to make me want to spend more time studying it.
 
Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments
Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on March 8, 2017 at 7:21 PM
Wow, this is terrific, Nick. Extremely engaging and unique capture. You really took advantage of these conditions. The repost looks great.
Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 10, 2017 at 4:50 PM
Thanks guys! Really appreciate all of your comments on this. Nick
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Elizabeth Holbrook on March 12, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Beautiful,  Love the ripples and reflections.
Registered on May 6, 2015, 43 Posts, 221 Comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on March 12, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Congrats Nick on a well deserved Weekly Pick.
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 12, 2017 at 6:50 PM
Elizabeth, Thanks much! 
Igor, Really appreciate that. Thanks, Nick
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments