Pam's Grotto Falls

My first hike back into this falls. I am really glad I made it, stunning.

Ed, a stunning view of a great place. This looks like a pano? If so, how many shots did you use?

Sorry, I should have mentioned the details: Cambo Wide RS, 35mm Schneider Lens, Phase One P45 Digital Back, ISO 50, 2 sec @ f/11. Two 39MP frames stitched using Capture One and Photoshop.

This gear is fantastic for stitching. The back can shift 50% in all 4 directions with no change in the nodal point since it is a 4x5 lens. Just for fun I didn't do any cropping, you might notice the 1 or 2 pixel white line at the top and bottom where I stitched it.

Few more from the same spot here.

I see your white lines now that you mentioned them. I guess I didn't look hard enough the first time. Cool setup, it is something I am unfamiliar with, but sounds pretty awesome for stitching. I did a 12 shot stitch of Cedar Falls yesterday that came to be a whopping 30 MP. Not real big, but also not too bad considering it came from a 6mp Nikon d40.

Good composition of this one, I really like the bluff line at the top. I take it you will be returning to this spot in the future?

Matthew,

This will be on my short list from now on. It was such a cool spot I hung around just enjoying the ambiance for about 2-1/2 hours.

Isn't it amazing what you can do with stitching now? Anyone can have large format detail.

Yea but stitching does add some more work, patience and a subject that holds still.

I was there Wednesday and spent a couple hours shooting the creek below the falls all the way to the road. I had never done that before, but I will again.

Really nice color Ed, especially the water. I just wish I could see this bigger - I'll bet there's some great detail. I'll be watching for it at Scott's.

Beautiful shot Ed. I love the comp I shot one with a very similar angle once and I think it is my favorite also. Yes it's a great spot and not to far from the road. I'm sure you will return.

For those who don't recognize it, a two-page spread of this scene is what opened the 14-page feature article on the Ozark Highlands Trail in the October issue of National Geographic magazine. And much to my surprise they allowed an HDR version of the image to be published - in fact it seems that Geographic is doing a lot of photoshop work to their images these days. The photographers still have to submit the RAW files, but they can also submit processed files with them. I sent my wife off at 5am one morning to pose at her waterfall with the Geographic photographer (I had a meeting elsewhere) - I was really glad that the movie star Eastwood guy did not show up (although Peter was a very nice guy and a terrific photographer, obviously). The water flow was low that day so they did not use the photo with her, but having her name on it to open up the article was pretty sweet, just like she is...

Tim, Yesterday I ordered a couple of your books that were are on special and Pam sent me a confirmation email. Probably automated but I almost replied back asking if she was as beautiful as her falls were. Better judgement took hold and I decided best not to flirt with the wife of the best known photographer in the state. After all I might run into one day in the middle of nowhere!

It really added to the experience though, I hiked in during the middle of the day when the light was bad and returned later that evening to shoot this image.

I didn't see the article, is it online somewhere?

I don't know if they archive that stuff or not, but the article was online last fall - in fact there were even more photos with it, including one of her husband shooting with a P-45+ that did not make the final cut for the hard copy. I'll see if I can find a link somewhere...

Here is the link to the article - and my ugly mug is still in the photo gallery, second page...

Thanks for the link Tim. Great article and you don't look so bad, just intense.

Tim thanks for the link also. I know Nat. Geo. has photographers they use but it seams to me that using your work for this article would have been better and more cost effective for them. I know they have published your work before. Anyway great article and congrats again on it.

Thanks Gale, but I was not the least bit interested - I stopped doing assignments many moons ago. It was much more fun to work with their writer and photographer than having to do all of the work! I would not have had the time anyway...

Looking at the gallery in this article I found myself thinking the same thing. They could have just purchased stock photographs from Tim and avoided the expense of sending another professional photog. to do the same thing. The quality would have been much better especially those HDR images.

Tim I really thought you wouldn't be out any time you already have a huge gallery of images for them to select from. Just my thoughts. Anyway the article really complements some of the hard work you have put in the state and ozark highlands trail.

You aren't going to find any stock images in National Geographic (their other publications, yes, but not the main magazine). There is a reason for this, and it is one of the reasons that Nat. Geo. remains a cut above the rest. They are a different breed - a dying one for sure though!

Very nicely done.

Fantastic shot, Ed!