I've had this shot for a while, and liked the light in the canyon, yet hated how bright and choppy the water was, due to the fast shutter speed. Last night, I worked it again but only this time, I selected the water...then applied some motion blur, and reduced the exposure a tad. I probably could have stacked a couple 3 and 6 stop ND filters to make the water better...but I dont own them and this is cheaper anyway
I think it looks fairly real, but wanted your take on it if you had the time to comment...
Before reading your description, my first reaction was that the water looked different- but not fake, and wondered how you pulled it off. It does appear to have some left to right motion blur as opposed to front to back, but overall I think it works well. You got some fantastic light and depth going there, so I'd say its a keeper.
Hey Rick nice shot I hope you don't mind me asking but where is this I have been out of the PNW for 8 years and just moved back so seems everything is new again
Rick, I have see lots and lots of shots from in here at various times of the day and various times of the year....this has to be in the top 5 for sure....you captured some really nice light and the water looks dead on to me.....cause thats how I like it.....one thing I have been experimenting with and it may be old news to some but I am taking one shot at a fast shutter speed like 1/125th sec and then one at like 3 seconds and just blending the water part at various opacities to get some nice texture in there....I am slowing learning what photoshop can do. Really nice shot.....the comp is just off enough that it works well to really give the viewer an idea of how deep (long) the canyon is!
Rick, honestly, I wouldn't even hesitate before saying something like 'what happened to the water?', if I'd seen such an image on display without explaination. It doesn't look like a photograph at all to me, and is immediately recognizable. The alteration would stand out even more in a bigger print.
I hear you about the water though. I've had the same problems. I just think a 10-stop ND would be more valuble to your cause than the PS work, personally. I don't think this looks bad necessarily, but if you're asking whether it looks photographic, I'd say definitely not. Looks more like CG graphics IMO.
Thanks Rick for the info I have been down in the gorge when I was a kid but this will be the first time as a photographer and looks like I hit the lottery with this being the first year in I guess from reading like 10 or more years that the log is gone in punchbowl falls so now I am very excited to get down there next week I love this canyon shot too can't wait to see it thanks again
I have to totally disagree with M.A on this one......at various shutter speeds this is easy to do.......unless you have blending issues at the very edges of the cliffs.....
As a big, long exposure ND user I have to say that at first I did not notice the water being weird. Then after reading others comments here I am changing my mind and thinking some might brand it "Photo-shopped" like some love to do sometimes. Personally I would be inclined to go back and use a polarizer and 9 stop Hoya (making sure your tripod is on rocks) so that the image is naturally - unnatural looking!
Discussion
12 repliesI think it looks fairly real, but wanted your take on it if you had the time to comment...
Before reading your description, my first reaction was that the water looked different- but not fake, and wondered how you pulled it off. It does appear to have some left to right motion blur as opposed to front to back, but overall I think it works well. You got some fantastic light and depth going there, so I'd say its a keeper.
David M. Cobb
I hear you about the water though. I've had the same problems. I just think a 10-stop ND would be more valuble to your cause than the PS work, personally. I don't think this looks bad necessarily, but if you're asking whether it looks photographic, I'd say definitely not. Looks more like CG graphics IMO.