My Take on Keefe Falls

Mike commented the other day that he was always amazed how you could drop a dozen photographers in the same spot and they would each take a different approach to shooting the scene. Here is one of my takes on Keefe Falls.

Haley and I had a great time despite the deluge. I'll post one of her shots tomorrow.

More of my shots from the weekend can be found here:

http://bryansimpson.zenfolio.com/p640930986

Brian,
This shot of the falls with the foreground rock makes for an interesting photo.
It was worth the second try.

Rod

Hey Bryan, it was good to see you at the bridge Sunday, and thanks for bringing your daughter out to shoot! I've always wondered why there are so few female nature photographers, and I look forward to seeing everything from her perspective. Karla and Dottie have done a great job of representing this group well, and I hope Haley will be able to join in more often. By the way, have you taken her to Haley Falls yet?

I like this low perspective too Bryan...I'm so glad you brought Haley. She will always remember it as a great time, regardless of being wet most of the time! I can't wait to see what she came up with. I'm sure they will be great! I was 16 when I began my love affair with the camera. Fair warning Haley, it lasts a life time! Start putting money back now to support your addiction!!

Tim, Thanks for the nice comment!

I appreciate the 'real' color you've presented. I sometimes feel we overdo the saturation thing.
the rock in the foreground contrasts nicely with the 3-streamered falls.

Sometimes all that glorious color comes from just being there at the right time when you have great light and atmosphere (i. e. moisture really brings out RICH colors, and, of course, so does light very early or late in the day - sometimes looks impossible, but it is real). I haven't touched a saturation slider in a long time, other than to reduce colors that some folks may not believe. My most colorful picture book ever was shot back in the 1990's on film, long before I knew what photoshop was. I could probably not get away with such rich colors now. The general public and most casual photographers simply don't get to see or experience the true colors of nature - if you sleep much then you miss it, ha! (One sign of a true nature photographer is bags under their eyes - and also wet boots and pants!)

I haven't made it to your site yet, but I'm sure they are all just as good as this one. I'm glad you got this angle. We followed each other around all morning and duplicates happen. But I haven't seen this one before and I didn't get it either. NICE!

Color- I did touch the slider up 7 to 10points just for post here. I feel like my images go a little flat when I post them.

Nice take on Keefe Falls, Bryan. I checked out the rest of your gallery and you have some really nice work there! Sorry, I missed you guys this year but my daughter was in town from Salt Lake this past weekend.

It was good seeing you again as well, Bryan. Really like the one with the light reflecting off the creek on your website. Wish i would have shot Keefe up close like this.

Bryan, I really like this fresh take on the falls.. it seems to do a better job portraying the height. I enjoyed your gallery too. The Columbine shot is excellent. It was nice meeting you and Haley this weekend.

Very unique and beautiful view you captured here, Brian! Sorry I missed you during the gathering - sounds like ya'll had a lot of fun.

Thanks for the nice comments.

Rod, it was definitely worth the second stab at it. Given how little time we had to shoot all weekend, wasting 2 hours of it on that bushwack still makes me a little sick. Sorry you still haven't been to Keefe.

Larry, I agree with Tim here. Although there are photographers who overdo the saturation, when the conditions are right, nature produces some incredibly rich colors. I did up the saturation on this post because I agree with Mike that my shots on this forum look muted otherwise, but this is still not as vibrant as the original. Of course, different monitors will make a huge difference in the appearance.

Tim, it was good running into you as well. Since I keep up with the journal and see your comments on this forum, it's hard to believe that's it been 5 or 6 years since I actually talked to you in person. Haley and I have not made it to Haley Falls yet. This was only her second trip with me to Arkansas and the other time was in the fall (ie, no water). We still haven't processed any of her images (other than a quick conversion of a couple for her Facebook) but I'll get some up soon.

I tend to think that women make better photographers, and fisherman than men. Women are generally more patient and they care a lot less about gear. It is great to get kids outside one way or another. My dad got me out with fishing and hunting, and a camera works just as well.

Tim, thank you for defending good light and conditions. I am with you on not using the saturation slider, except for turning things down. I have a pretty good idea of what film you were using for that picture book. Being a former film shooter (how many 24 years can claim that!) I know Velvia's wonderful colors. I am still dying to shoot some 4x5 velvia.

They are also better SHOTS than men are - just remember that if you get into a fight with your wife and happen to remember that you gave her a pistol for your anniversary!

Yup, 40,000 Pentax 6x7 Velvia chromes in 11 months on the road - at $1 per frame for film and processing I would have killed for digital back then...

It costs more now than it did then. I was paying over two dollars a shot for getting Velvia 50 shipped here and sent back out to Kansas for processing last Spring. And that is 35mm! Come to think of it I still have the last couple rolls laying around here somewhere. I should probably do something with those.

Love this shot and the inclusion of the rock in the foreground.