Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 6:50 PM
There was one shot I had in mind for when the maples of West Fork of Oak Creek changed colors. I made the 2 hour hike up the trail to the long pool to be there at sunrise before the sun hit the cliffs behind the pool. Through the course of the day to sunset, I rambled up and down the creek gathering other shots when the sun angle presented good options.
Feel free to offer honest opinions and suggestions on any image, or whether an image does not cut your mustard.
#1 From the head of the long pool.
Do you think an increase in contrast or saturation is needed for the back and left walls?
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 6:52 PM
#2 From the foot of the pool.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 6:54 PM
#3 The Channel
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 6:56 PM
#4 The bend in the trunk caught my eye between the red leaves. Would a crop off the bottom help?
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 6:59 PM
#5 The highlighted fir growing from the side of the cliff above the colors caught my eye .
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 7:02 PM
#6 The last light of the day filtering into the canyon gave the yellow maple leaves a nice glow against the darker trunks.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 7:06 PM
#7 (last one) The trail up West Fork is well traveled, but it's curve under the tree canopy was leading.
Thanks for looking and offering any critique.
Posted by Phillip Noll on October 23, 2011 at 7:11 PM
Great set, Doug!! 1, 4, 5 & 7 are my favorites. Looks like a wonderful place to hike and explore!
Posted by Joe Rogers on October 23, 2011 at 7:22 PM
Very nice set, Doug...Always wanted to visit this area...When does peak color usually occur, although, from your shots looks like Maples are at peak, now.
Joe Rogers
Posted by Joseph Kayne on October 23, 2011 at 8:06 PM
What a good portfolio from this location!
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 23, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Thank you for the comments.
Joe, i had figured the last week of October would be close to peak, but last year was about Nov 6, and this year seems a week earlier. With aspens being late this year, I guessed wrongly that the maples would be late also.
Very nice. #1 and #6 are the winners here for me - I agree #1 could take a little more contrast on the walls (or perhaps darken the back wall just a little?).
Am heading down there next week, but I fear I may be too late...
Posted by Bret Edge on October 24, 2011 at 12:05 AM
These are all outstanding, Doug. My favorite is #6, but they're all excellent. One of these days I'll get down there for fall colors.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 24, 2011 at 9:40 AM
A fine collection, Doug. I don't have a favorite, but the more intimate nature of 4 ,6, and 7 really appeals to me. Especially in 4 and 6, it's the contrast of leaves and bark that interests me.
Posted by Jesse Speer on October 24, 2011 at 11:07 AM
#5 and #7 interest my eye.
Posted by Bill Bean on October 24, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Wonderful set, Doug. I had a grand time shooting here last year but events conspired against me this year. Watch out in 2012 though! I like all these but my favorite is #3, The Channel.
Great images from a magical place.
Posted by Guy Schmickle on October 24, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Looks like we were both standing on the same rock in that pool when composing that first scene! Only mine was shot in the late afternoon (I'm way too lazy to get up there at sunrise!). This is a very nice set, Doug. I particularly like your forest intimates. That's a long day to be in there...from two hours before sunrise until sunset. My feet hurt just thinking about it! And BTW...I do think that first shot (and shot #s 2 and 3) could benefit from some additional midtone contrast.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 24, 2011 at 2:30 PM
Bret, Paul, Jesse, Bill, Stephen and Soubhik- thanks for expressing your preferences.
Guy, the back and left walls in your image show the contrast I think is missing in mine. I think I spent an hour there taking various shots in the morning, and again in the evening. Maybe we should put in a photographers' registration box at the head of that pool
A highly productive foray, Doug! Excellent color and comps in all of the shots. I particularly like the contrast of the dark trunks and brightly colored leaves. I do think more contrast or even a crop from the top to make the first one symmetrical? I also like a crop on #4 from the top. #'s 4, 6, and 7 resonate with me slightly more than the others.
Posted by Rod Chandler on October 25, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Wow! Love these. #1 and #5 just totally blow me away. I am hoping to stop in that area on my way back to Colorado from Phoenix in March. I have not hiked this section. How would it look that time of year?
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 25, 2011 at 9:17 PM
Rod,
Weather wise, March is temperate but windy. Depending on early or late March, you may not have any new leaves on the trees yet. Also, runoff from melting snow may increase the creek flow, but it depends on La Nina or El Nino. Either way, the flow should not prevent any crossing. Just my hunches, as I have not hiked up WF in March.
Posted by Guy Schmickle on October 25, 2011 at 11:33 PM
The trees in West Fork will most definitely be bare anytime in March. Last year I hiked in on April 22nd and the trees were just beginning to leaf out. And I should mention that it was snowing by the time I reached the end of the trail! Of course, that's very atypical weather for that time of year.
Posted by John Mumaw on October 26, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Excellent work, Doug! Some of your best, too. The clarity of the water in #1 is just superb
Like Phil, my favorites are #'s 1, 4., 5 & 7.
Added contrast on that back wall would be a plus in my book. Otherwise, I have no suggestions for improvement.
I saw in yesterday's Flag paper that the reporter for a story on alternative autumn strolls in the area likened this trailhead to a train station at this time of year.
.
Great set, Doug, I really like 3 and 7 (though I tend to have a soft spot for trail shots).
Posted by Harry Lichtman on October 27, 2011 at 10:44 AM
What a mix of images! # 5 my fav., unique comp. at just the right time. #1 is my fave of that view. Jackpot with these!
Posted by Scott Fricke on October 29, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Beautiful images Doug! #1 is my favorite, I really like the colors and the reflections and that you can see the details in the stream bed. Followed closely by #7 and #6.
Discussion
27 repliesFeel free to offer honest opinions and suggestions on any image, or whether an image does not cut your mustard.
#1 From the head of the long pool.
Do you think an increase in contrast or saturation is needed for the back and left walls?
Thanks for looking and offering any critique.
Joe Rogers
Joe, i had figured the last week of October would be close to peak, but last year was about Nov 6, and this year seems a week earlier. With aspens being late this year, I guessed wrongly that the maples would be late also.
Am heading down there next week, but I fear I may be too late...
Great images from a magical place.
Guy, the back and left walls in your image show the contrast I think is missing in mine. I think I spent an hour there taking various shots in the morning, and again in the evening. Maybe we should put in a photographers' registration box at the head of that pool
Weather wise, March is temperate but windy. Depending on early or late March, you may not have any new leaves on the trees yet. Also, runoff from melting snow may increase the creek flow, but it depends on La Nina or El Nino. Either way, the flow should not prevent any crossing. Just my hunches, as I have not hiked up WF in March.
Like Phil, my favorites are #'s 1, 4., 5 & 7.
Added contrast on that back wall would be a plus in my book. Otherwise, I have no suggestions for improvement.
I saw in yesterday's Flag paper that the reporter for a story on alternative autumn strolls in the area likened this trailhead to a train station at this time of year.
.