Posted by Marc Adamus on March 17, 2007 at 1:12 PM
Columns of Basalt rock surround this extremely remote waterfall, found many miles into Oregon's Steens Mountain wilderness. I felt B&W was a good choice for handling the mid-day contrasts above the summit of this basalt pinnacle, especially because the scene held little color to begin with.
5D, 17-40 at 17mm, 3-stop ND hard grad moved slightly during exposure to reduce grad-line, polarizer, .6 seconds at F14.
To my eye there's nothing in the image that takes anything away from the impact. When I look at the image it seems as if the rocks are flowing as well - I guess, slowly they are! Anyway, the B&W really works, especially the sky as it compliments the feeling of flowing water in terms of looking rain-bearing as well as a bit like a primordial sky might look when the rock was moving faster. It all works for me - great image! Thanks for posting.
Lee
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 17, 2007 at 6:53 PM
Anyone who is interested, there is a new temporary gallery up on my site featuring some of my newest work, about 30 images.
Posted by Thomas Biggs on March 18, 2007 at 8:42 AM
Oh wow Marc, this is perfect IMHO!! I'd like to see a print of this! Nicely done!
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 18, 2007 at 11:04 AM
Dang, guys. What are you all up too? We have to attract people from Kentucky just to get comments on images posted on our own NW forum?! (thanks Thomas) Hello out there........anyone out there?.......
Posted by Mark Hudon on March 18, 2007 at 11:51 AM
I think the top is too bright and featureless. If you cropped out the whole sky, the rock on the left looks like it rushing at you just like the water. I think it works that way.
Posted by Erik Lundh on March 18, 2007 at 11:58 AM
I myself think the rock is just a little too dark. I do like the way the water and rocks seem to move with the same flow. I'm kind of "boarder line" with this one.
I have always love these formation, the jet out at you like something below is thrusting them through the earth's crust. I like comp, the section just above the peak is a tad bright, but almost balances out the water below. Maybe just fix the shadwos, ulc, and the llc, just a hint of darkness there. But I like this scene, I like the waterfall flowing out of the rocks, just darn cool!
Marc, I think it is the composition I like the best. There's just something that make me want to climb that mountain, even though I doubt I have the skills to do so. I've definitely never seen an area like this. Very cool!
It would be great if you planned a trip to Colorado sometime. While there is a lot of photography here, I haven't seen much during the wintertime. Knowing your affinity for that time of year, I think you could find some great opportunities down here that haven't been photographed much during the winter, especially in places that require backpacking. Unfortunately, I like a nice warm bed, so I'm not likely to get many of those shots. We'd be happy to see what you come up with.
Keep the photos coming, and congrats on making some recent magazines. I can't wait to check out what you have in OP.
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 18, 2007 at 6:10 PM
Steve, I assure you Colorado is on my list, it will be in Winter - probably Fall all the way until Winter, and it will be in the next 2 years. I'll let you know. I was last there in RMNP in July 02' - an experience I don't wish to repeat, ever.
Marc, I'm assuming you are referring to the crowds at RMNP. It is about impossible to not get crowds there during the summer, even in relatively remote portions of the park. Winter is obviously better, but there are many more regions of CO that would be more photogenic, particularly the southwest portion of the state. Some areas can only be reached by a train ride and then extensive backpacking, which I would guess would be more up your alley.
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 18, 2007 at 8:45 PM
The crowds, yes. Just ridiculous, as are a few other National Parks, but RM is so small with so few through-routes that it can be really tough to navigate in Summer. I can recall picking up a backcountry permit to climb Longs Peak somewhere (can't remember) on the West side of the park in the morning and it took four or five hours of crawling over to the East side to begin the hike, rarely exceeding 25mph. I think it was a weekend, but then again I remember construction as well... After arriving at the boulderfield campsite, which was obviously packed (I wasn't expecting solitude, but it's still annoying to be in a campground setting at 12,500 feet with 40 other people) we encountered Marmots so accustomed to campers they walked up and demanded hand-outs. We actually aquired a camp pet that we named Mo, the Marmot. We never fed him, but he repeatedly tried to crawl into our empty packs for crumbs or something. Hiking with an unexperienced climber, we took the main drag up Longs first thing in the morning and blew past about two hundred other summit-seekers as if they were standing still - some inexplicably terrified and others nauseated by altitude, and actually had to wait in line to make the final summit push (an easy stroll if you ask me). Upon returning to camp we found Mo head-first down in someone else's backpack.
So yeah. That's it in a nutshell. I have absolutely no doubt that it was our planning that caused problems and don't hold any grudge against the park. I will be looking forward to doing it all much differently next time and pursuing a true wilderness experience.
Marc, I think this is a very powerful image. I disagree with Mark on cropping out the sky, it adds a nice balance to the lightness of the waterfall and helps to center the rock formations. I love how the water splits the rock and seems to come out of nowhere. It's an intersting combination of a dry desolate mountainside with a gushing waterfall. Could you post the color version as well just for kicks?
Discussion
12 replies5D, 17-40 at 17mm, 3-stop ND hard grad moved slightly during exposure to reduce grad-line, polarizer, .6 seconds at F14.
To my eye there's nothing in the image that takes anything away from the impact. When I look at the image it seems as if the rocks are flowing as well - I guess, slowly they are! Anyway, the B&W really works, especially the sky as it compliments the feeling of flowing water in terms of looking rain-bearing as well as a bit like a primordial sky might look when the rock was moving faster. It all works for me - great image! Thanks for posting.
Lee
It would be great if you planned a trip to Colorado sometime. While there is a lot of photography here, I haven't seen much during the wintertime. Knowing your affinity for that time of year, I think you could find some great opportunities down here that haven't been photographed much during the winter, especially in places that require backpacking. Unfortunately, I like a nice warm bed, so I'm not likely to get many of those shots. We'd be happy to see what you come up with.
Keep the photos coming, and congrats on making some recent magazines. I can't wait to check out what you have in OP.
So yeah. That's it in a nutshell. I have absolutely no doubt that it was our planning that caused problems and don't hold any grudge against the park. I will be looking forward to doing it all much differently next time and pursuing a true wilderness experience.