Refreshing Waters

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 8, 20172,800 views4 comments

I want to start by saying a big "Thank you" to everyone who has commented on my images through the years. devil

This image is in many ways a testimony to the value of the critiques here on NPN. Some of you may recognize this from a previous version that I took from this location a few years ago.

Here is a link to the previous version:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=222991&CGISESSID=0f2d19b8c27a5ce66aca8a062142a0bf&u=19405&title_action=

I have re-visited this spot a few times since my original post taking the critiques into account from the original version. However, the water flow hasn't been quite what I was looking for in my previous attempts. This time, everything came together. In order to retain texture in the water I had to capture two different exposures and blend them together in Photoshop. This ended up being a lot easier than I expected and I am pleased with the results.

This is one of my favorite places to visit in the Smokies. After I finished shooting I lingered in this spot for several minutes. Sometimes I get caught up in photography that I forget to enjoy the moment. I made sure on this day to take some time to set the camera aside and just enjoy the beauty and the sound of the water. It was also my birthday and it was a fitting birthday present!

As always all comments and critiques are welcome! crying

Capture Info:
Base Exposure: 15mm, f/16, 1/3 sec, ISO 400 (because I was concerned about movement in the foliage)
Water Exposure: 15 mm, f/16, 1/20 sec., ISO 1250

Processing Info:
Manual blending of the water
Clone layer to remove a few leaves that still ended up moving (I'm amazed at the healing brush tool in PS!)
Levels adjustment to set the black and white points
Adjustments to mid-tone contrast and selective highlight and shadow contrasts using luminosity masks
Vibrance Mask
Cropped to 4 X 5 aspect ratio

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on July 9, 2017 at 1:28 PM

I checked out your prior version and they both work very well, Brian. Hard to pick which one I like better, but I will give this one a slight nod. I like your POV here along with your SS choice as it gives the water a nice sense of motion. I can see why this is one of your favorite spots as it does look like a perfect spot to relax. My only suggestion; and take this with a grain of salt because my brother says my monitor is to bright; would be to reduce the overall brightness of the scene just a touch. Either way this is nicely done.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on July 10, 2017 at 8:48 AM

Very dynamic with both of those waterfalls, and the angular comp leads nicely through the screen. The large version shows a little softness in the distant leaves / trees near the second falls, maybe the wind issue you were talking about. Could be the web sharpening? Also, not sure if it was possible, but slightly moving right might have cleared the branches away from the view of the 2nd waterfall. Gorgeous view, sounds like you really enjoyed your birthday present.

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on July 11, 2017 at 2:04 AM

Looks like a nice birthday present, Brian. It's amazing how this site helps develop, or at least point the way, for that development over the years. I think being able to blend the texture of the water with the two exposures is the ticket. I am currently in Oregon and have shot two waterfalls thus far and I have to tell you that I am like a fish out of water. Without the images found here on NPN, I would be at a total loss, as to how to handle them. Still not sure there will be any good enough to post, but it's a place to start. Beautiful work on this one.

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

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on July 11, 2017 at 12:57 PM

Brian, this is a beautiful view in either presentation, but I prefer the previous version for a number of reasons:

The color of the rock is much warmer and richer in the previous, maybe a bit bright in this one
I'm just a sucker for fall foliage, and the bits of color in the previous version add a lot
The shutter speed in the previous gives a texture I like better, except for in the very foreground pool, it's a little bit featureless (I know this one is 100% subjective)

Some things I prefer in this version:

The slightly wider view is nice, and the composition does more to pull you into the focal points of the falls here
I like the ridge of rock with the water flowing over in the LRC (maybe this could be an even stronger leading line if it came right from the corner?)

Sounds like a great way to spend your birthday!

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments