Tanner Creek | Feb '08

Spent another stolen afternoon at Tanner Creek today - and more time on this particular view of Wahclella Falls. I've posted a couple of landscape views, but wanted to get some feedback on a vertical composition. I'm trying to force myself to do more vertical stuff, against my horizontal nature... Comments and suggestions appreciated, as always!

Olympus E-510, 11-22mm lens at about 14mm. 1 second exposure, polarizer

BTW, I cloned out some bird poop on that rock in the lower left, but looking at the photo no, am thinking that I should have burned or cloned that light patch in the trees, center top. Any advice on that?

God, Wahclella Falls is a bear... I've seen so many shots, and tried a few myself, though I can't say I've ever seen the definitive composition.

This is really good, considering how tough this location is. I might burn in the rocks lower right a bit to make the water seem brighter, and emphasize the "S" of the water as well a bit, which would then lead you more towards the falls.

Great vertical comp all around.

the curve of the creek is nice here

Tom, this shot has that wonderful Northwest look that we so miss since we moved out to Ohio in '04, so for me, I'm totally biased: the shot to me is just grand.

Tom, I really like the swirl of the water in the creek. I am just not sure about the waterfall in this composition. It seems kind of dwarfed to me. I almost didn't see it at first.

Since I haven't had the chance to visit this location I'll take others words for it regarding the difficulty in getting a good composition. But I have seen a really excellent shot by Bryan Swan of Wahclella Falls which has inspired me to check out this spot. Here is the one I am referring to:
http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall.php?num=1893&p=0
I don't know if he just got lucky or if everything really came together for him. But I am guessing the later combined with a lot experience at this location. Either way it looks like a must see on our first trip out there this Spring.

I don't think I have ever seen a shot of this falls that I really liked. I have to agree with Derek on the falls looking "dwarfed".

Thanks for the comments & suggestions, everyone! Derek, if you mean Bryan's wide shot from up on the talus slope that includes the side falls, I would definitely agree - that's the most photogenic angle. It's easy to find, too - just head up the rocky slope above the trail, just downstream from the "cave" along the west side of the loop. In fact, I was up there with Bryan last Spring, though I think his shot must have been from an earlier trip. We were there early enough in Spring for things to be just barely greening up. BTW, one of the best times to shoot from the talus slope is in late October, when fall colors are peaking.

A nod for pioneering that particular angle should go to Portland photographer Ron Cronin. His mid-1980s art print of Wahclella Falls from this spot is still hanging on my wall - he captured the scene before the footbridges were installed, and it remains the best photo I've ever seen of Wahclella. Couldn't find it online, though.

As you will discover when you visit, the problem with Wahclella is volume - it's a torrent, and so it makes it tough to expose the stream properly without burning up the falls. If you're here in late April or early May, the side stream dropping in above the main falls will still be flowing, but it's usually a trickle by early June, and completely dry in Summer and early Fall.

Tom

Tom, I acutally was referring to the one in the link above which is more of a close up from the base of the falls. But I do like the other perspective as well. I can't even imagine it with Fall colors - wow!

BTW, Bryan's shots are great. I really enjoy his website on waterfalls. With all the great shots he has taken from so many places I assumed he was a bit older until I read his About the Author section. Geesh you guys sure have a lot of young talent over there.
It must be a pretty awesome place to grow up! These guys/gals probably start at a really young age appreciating nature and then start capturing it.

Absolutely, Derek! Bryan posts here regularly, so he'll probably come across your kind comments, too!

I couldn't find a clean version, but here's the wide view Wahclella showing early Autumn colors:

as someone who has shot this about a million times, I can say that it's a very good shot....you have captured the upper falls (lots of water flow right now) and the lower falls with the sweeping curve of the creek in the foreground!

I've never been to these falls, sounds like they are tough. I'll echo that I wish the falls were more prominent in the photo.

Tom,

I really like that perspective you posted. I guess I am not sure if that was taken pre-bridge or if it is was taken in front/away the bridge. Either way it is a nice composition especailly with the fall colors.

It's there, Derek - just tiny. Directly above the "l" in Field Guide, and below and left of the falls. Darren has a cool shot that he took from the top of the giant boulder to the right of the bridge. The falls never looks like 120 feet to me, but supposedly that's the height. It's a tough place to get scale, since the cliffs on the west wall of the canyon are close to 400 vertical feet in spots... steep!

Tom,

I just saw a great shot by Hans Sager of this location while enjoying his gallery. It looks like the falls were flowing good in April:
http://hanssager.zenfolio.com/p282173606/?photo=h08946FFC#355258825