Stair Falls + 2 Alt

I like this view a lot Preston.  I typically tame highlights in LR which I don't think you use.  Your choice of shutter speed works well.
 

Nice view of the falls. I would be tempted to crop down to eliminate the horizontal water at the top. I find it pulls my attention and does not add to the comp for me. You could try the light clonng technique on a few of the hot spots, but overall it looks pretty good.Nicely done. 

I feel that this image is too representational and not interpretive enough. It is what it is and doesn't say how you feel about it. Some of your recent images of water and bark have been more interpretive. That's my value system in photography and it may not be yours.

As far as composition I don't feel it's necessary to show the top of the falls. I would crop into it. I might crop the top off just below the big rocks in urc. It would be an improvement but it's not a big deal.

 

Preston,

I think you did a great job capturing this top to bottom (actually there's more up top and bottom...)  You've also managed the difficult lighting and the time of day was just not right; but fortunately we waited things out a bit and had some puffy clouds roll on by, at least long enough for some exposures like this.

We've chatted about this one, but I'll also agree with Harley that I think you could do some soft cloning techniques to bring back some detail to some of the hot spots in the cascade. Not a huge deal though.  Color and detail look great throughout.

And even this, or any of our images from here don't do this spot justice.  When you brought me here I was like a little kid in a candy shop.  Can't wait to get back there again!

Lon

It's interesting to read Igor's and Lon's thoughts together. It's always such a struggle to bring the three-dimensional and multi-sensorial world into an image, and maybe that's what Igor is after. This is a very nice image, but since all we see is this snippit, it doesn't convey Lon's comments about this being such an grand location. I have minimal nits, but wonder if an image is hiding at this location that would convey Igor's value system???

I have minimal nits, but wonder if an image is hiding at this location that would convey Igor's value system???

I'm sure there are several but here is one that Lon took of these same falls:

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=245538&CGISESSID=2cbfbb2ef1b42e436fd8a6d99de4c4eb&u=23280&title_action=

The rocks have been darkened and the browns have been enriched. The composition has been chosen in a way that converts the falls into a shrine, an altar. The use of darkness with brighter falls gives a sense of a place of worship. That tells us how the shooter feels about it and how it's qualities impress him. Even if you come up with a different interpretation it still beckons for one because the image is not a literal representation.

I never know when I'm overstepping boundaries and embarrassing a photographer with such comments. I don't know what people think about them because they are never referred to except in this instance. But for me personally, I would welcome such comments, and prefer to give them, more than technical advice (exceeds dynamic range, crop, clone, etc.). 

Sometimes an image doesn't have to be manipulated in order to convey a man's feelings.

Thank you for your comments, everyone. They are appreciated!

I liked Igor's crop suggestion, so I cropped a bit from the top. I also made some minor adjustments...

• Used a TK Lights-2 mask to re-work the cascades, deepening the lower values and reducing the high values.
• Used Harley's 15% cloning technique on the hot spot in the water near center to add a little texture.
• Burned down a couple of rocks at the top.
• Adjusted saturation in the blues, yellows, and reds.
• Used a TK Saturation Painting layer on the rocks at center-bottom.

@Igor: I am not offended by your comments, so do not worry about that. I am, however, in the process of formulating a response to your initial comment on this image.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this adjusted version, everyone. Thanks!
--P



 

Preston,

Great job on working the texture of the water and mitigating those hot spots.  The greens really pop and the side walls look good.  I like the crop.

BUT, I'm not sure what happened with the saturation and colors down the middle, mostly in the water. I see purple, some green a little red in the water, mostly towards the bottom.  But also some weird purple on the rock face left of the cascade in the upper left quadrant.

I think if it weren't for the odd color in the cascade, this image would really sing.

Lon

Fine image, very nicely composed, Preston. I think the repost is an improvement but I think the contrast looks a bit flat and would benefit to a little mid-tones boost.

Dang! That weird color is, well...weird! I had used a TK 'Make It Glow' action in the master file. For the alternate image above, I wanted a little blue in the water, but it appears the make it glow action affected the color of the water in ways I had not anticipated. Therefore, I went back and reduced the blue, and based on Dave's suggestion boosted the mids contrast a bit.
--P