Mystic And Black

2d times a charm!
Wasn't gonna sleep until i shot Mystic Falls...so i combined it with a trip to Black Canyon this weekend. Compared with last week's debacle, this time it was an easy stroll up the creek, although i imagine with the next big snow it's gonna get much tougher, cause access was already a bit tricky this time. I stood knee deep in the icy water for about half an hour taking shots of the falls. Went wide with my 24mm TS-E.

2) Black and white was the way to go.

3) Close up of the falls

4) The half frozen creek was quite pretty (but a bit slippery!)

5) I figured the cold front would lead to a great sunset at Black, and fortunately the road is still open to the end! I went out to Wariner pt, but decided on Devils overlook for the sunset. Ive got a 4 img stitch shortly after this that ill probably post in a few days--one of my best of Black i think. Im ready for subzero weather--bring it on!

The second image is the one.
Looks like your efforts were well rewarded.

Like the top one the best with it cropped from the glare-reflection down.. neat stuff. Joe.

Stan, Both the color and B&W versions (1&2) are nice. I prefer the color as I feel the blue presents a colder feel. The streaking from the edge of the ice is great. In #1, do you have the treetops as seen in #2 ? I would like to see your color version of 2. Sounds like a pair of hip waders may have been nice
#5 is a joy to look at.

Yep, you made it to the right spot this time! I love the B/W version Stan...glad you made it in and out in one piece.

Thanks! Doug--usually i process in color first, but this time i went straight to B&W, but i could always go back and do a color version too. The sky is problematic at Mystic, which is why you see most shots of the Falls attempt to minimize the sky, its such a shadowed canyon that the sky takes attention away from the falls i think.

I feel ridiculous trying to criticize Stan but what the heck...I feel the first one is way too cyan, it bothers me I played with it a bit and like the results of match color > neutralize and fade it back a bit, it keeps the cold feel but is not so garish. The second one is awesome though, I prefer the scene in black and white myself

Very nice series...makes you want to take a trip down there.
B&W is good.
Love the lighting in #5.

Hi Stan, nice work. When all of us are trying to transition to winter conditions you keep hitting the field. I had everthing packed for a trip up to Emerald this morning but when the alarm went off, I went back to sleep.

Ive never been to Mystic, I'll have to check that place out one day. Personally I like #1 the best. I love the color and wouldn't dial back the cyan. It appears natural to me especially when you have a blue sky reflecting light into a dark shadow-ridden gorge. The sky reflection in #1 is distracting. No polorizer? I also see what appears a noticable speck of dust on your sensor on the bottom left area of the image, in the water about 1.5 inches from the bottom and side.

I also think a vertical 40-50mm comp would be nice. That might eliminate the reflection and show off the interesting snow and ice in the falls.

BTW, I do like the Black Canyon shot as well but I'm left wishing for more depth in the canyon and little less sky. You've placed more emphasis on the brilliant sky and clouds, rather than the dark and forbidding, bottomless canyon. Just a matter of taste.

Kane, the 4 image stitch is just what you are thinking of--and i just posted it to my website--its the first one in 'Latest'
I was very careful to match colors on site here--I used a Shade WB since auto would have been way too cyan.
I used a polarizer, but kept turning it to allow the reflection in #1--my idea was to show the sky in the reflection rather than the top, since the sky was blank, boring, but in the water i thought it looked cool. You win some, you lose some

Nice series, Stan. The b&w version (#2) is the best of the bunch!

Hi Stan,
Beautiful sequence! I have no problem with the cool tone in image #1, but I like both of the black & whites as well. And what a sunset at the Black Canyon! I do have to agree with Kane that the version you're showing here might place a bit too much emphasis on sky and not quite enough on canyon. I'd keep all the sky and just go a bit wider, which is just about what you did in the version I just saw on your website. I think you lost a bit too much sky in the website version, but despite that quibble, it's still spectacular!

I love the cool colors of #1, although I wish there was just a little bit more breathing room on the top edge with more sky above the falls. Even without the cold-feeling colors, #2 has a sweet comp and a wonderful range of tones! The closeups are both effective because they look different from the usual waterfall shots IMO. I also like the Black Canyon image: even though the canyon edge sort of divides the frame into a 50/50 comp, the mountains and sky colors help to keep a viewer's eyes moving through the scene. Great work to get there and come away with some nice photos!

Nice series Stan - #2 is my fav here ..

Love the last image. Great color in the clouds and I like some of the detail in the canyon, but just enough black to add a little mystery.