Well, school has officially started, and summer is on it's way out. I'm looking forward to the soon coming autumn, but, I thought I'd share a final image from this past spring. This arch and waterfall are located within an unmarked section of Banning State Park, in east-central Minnesota. No trails lead to this spot, and I didn't even know it existed until about a year ago. Due to the extreme amount of visual clutter, I chose a tighter composition that hopefully conveys some relation between this small sandstone arch, and the waterfall/creek that ultimately created it. As always, thanks for looking.
Posted by Chuck Beatty on September 2, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Very nice, Joel. The light reflecting below the bridge give the image a good sense of depth. The variety of ferns makes this feel like a rain forest, rather than Minnesota. Congrats on finding this hidden gem.
Posted by Ken Bachofer on September 2, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Just beautiful. This is so very rich with the diversity of nature - and the waterfall is the centerpiece. Great find, nicely composed.
I'd really like to see this large, the better to appreciate all the details. Very creative, unorthodox use of the arch, Joel. Here it really feels like a complementary element rather than the center of interest. Nicely done.
Posted by Tim Mulholland on September 3, 2008 at 8:40 AM
Great shot! And, when you take Ken, please take me, too.... ;)
Hey Joel - sounds like you have signed up to lead a workshop!! Can't wait to join you - are gourmet dinners included???
Very interesting shot, of an interesting location. One thought is to darken the upper left corner a bit (area by the falls) to separate the entire arch from the background. Don't know if that would work, but I think the arch loses a little definition on the left side....otherwise that looks pretty good.
CJ
Posted by Mitch Erwin on September 4, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Joel, I enjoy the detail and crispness of this capture, but for me it is a tad too busy. The arch going through the lower center of the frame makes me want to see what is being blocked and seems to break up the continuity. All my $.02 which usually isn't worth anything.......just ask my wife!
CJ, good point about the upper right corner. I darkened it some but I felt it looked unnatural if pushed much further. I'll experiment some with your suggestion. Thanks!
Mitch, it is busy! I can certainly see where you'd perceive the arch as breaking the continuity; though I personally feel the enclosed feeling communicates the essence of the place to some extent. I felt that it was the best compositional option to my eye at the time, but I'm sure other's would do it differently. I suppose that's half the beauty of photography. Thanks so much for your honest feedback.
Posted by Jack Graham on September 5, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Joel,
I've waited a while before commenting on this image and have viewed it many times. At first, I liked it but wasn't blown away by it. After subsequent views I've really grown to appreciate this for the image it is.
As far as the comp goes, it really works well for me, I wouldn't crop anything. What I like is that everything seems tom more from right to left, and has a flow ti it. Perhaps I've become a bit spoiled here in Oregon with green. I'd like to see a bit more saturation in the green or maybe a stronger polarization effect. Kudos though on leaving some texture in the the water. Too ofter we ( myself included) fall into the trap of always polarizing more than necessary and looking reflections that really help images.
This IS a scene that could easily be found here in the great Pacific Northwest. Great Find!
JG
Thanks so much for your thoughts Jack, I really appreciate them! The polarization level was a bit of a compromise. If I was shooting digital, I'd probably have taken an exposure for the reflection and combined it with a maximum polarized exposure for the foliage. I certainly could raise the saturation to taste - I didn't want to push it over the top though (an easy thing to do).
Posted by Toni Lankerd on September 8, 2008 at 9:59 AM
This is one of those images that grows on you the more you look at it and I'll bet it looks great as a large print, Joel. I love the ferns and moss in this one!
Discussion
10 repliesTechnicals: Tachihara 4x5, Fuji Provia 100f, Fujinon 135mm, Polarizer
Please take me there next Spring
Tim!
Very interesting shot, of an interesting location. One thought is to darken the upper left corner a bit (area by the falls) to separate the entire arch from the background. Don't know if that would work, but I think the arch loses a little definition on the left side....otherwise that looks pretty good.
CJ
CJ, good point about the upper right corner. I darkened it some but I felt it looked unnatural if pushed much further. I'll experiment some with your suggestion. Thanks!
Mitch, it is busy! I can certainly see where you'd perceive the arch as breaking the continuity; though I personally feel the enclosed feeling communicates the essence of the place to some extent. I felt that it was the best compositional option to my eye at the time, but I'm sure other's would do it differently. I suppose that's half the beauty of photography. Thanks so much for your honest feedback.
I've waited a while before commenting on this image and have viewed it many times. At first, I liked it but wasn't blown away by it. After subsequent views I've really grown to appreciate this for the image it is.
As far as the comp goes, it really works well for me, I wouldn't crop anything. What I like is that everything seems tom more from right to left, and has a flow ti it. Perhaps I've become a bit spoiled here in Oregon with green. I'd like to see a bit more saturation in the green or maybe a stronger polarization effect. Kudos though on leaving some texture in the the water. Too ofter we ( myself included) fall into the trap of always polarizing more than necessary and looking reflections that really help images.
This IS a scene that could easily be found here in the great Pacific Northwest. Great Find!
JG