Lake Isabelle (minus the lake) + repost

Late this past summer my compatriot David Kingham and I hiked up to Lake Isabelle for sunrise at the epic spot. We had left plenty of time for the hike, so it was completely dark when we reached the lake. Hoping to get a nice shot of the outlet, we were surprised at the lack of sound as we approached the location still in the dark. We found that during the week previous (as David had been there the previous Saturday) they had drained the lake! Disappointed we forged ahead to find the edge of the water as it was starting to get lighter in the sky. We found the waters edge and geared up for the sunrise hoping (as always) for some clouds to materialize over the peaks enjoying the perfect reflection. Moments before the sun came up, so did the wind, dashing the reflection of Shoshoni and accompanying peaks! It was also becoming clear that our hopes for cloud action were dashed as well. On to plan C, we each made our choices of paths to follow. I came out with this nice shot of these cascades and view to the east. Another good reminder that you never know what you might come home with! BTW - we did meet some fellow NPN photogs, but I don't remember the names, sorry.

This is a blend of 2 exposures employing the use of a luminosity mask in the blending as well as some luminosity based dodging, burning etc. C&C appreciated

Beautiful shot!

I'd try lightening up the trees in the background. The delta between the light on the flowers in foreground and those trees is too much for me.

Hey Randy, I really like the comp and color in this shot, but the upper 3rd of the image seems underexposded. There's a sudden dark transition from above that nice little falls upward on my monitor, similar to a hard-edge graduated ND filter.

That's a beautiful shot man, fix up the grad line as Kane and Scott said and maybe back off the blacks a little bit and this will be phenomenal. Great work on such a high contrast scene

Thanks guys, I will work on the blending. I've got 2-3 RAW shots to work from.

Randy, Great shot - that's making lemonade out of lemons. What was the reason for draining the lake?

Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA

"When you're mediocre, you're always at the top of your game."

Thanks guys, I will work on the blending. I've got 2-3 RAW shots to work from.

This is the best explanation that I have found: "the water rights to Lake Isabelle have been owned exclusively by an entity called the Left Hand Ditch Company (LHDC) since 1907. (For those of you not familiar with the American West, water rights are a very huge issue out here and the Rocky Mountains play a very major role in the fight). At some point in the past, the LHDC dug a tunnel from Lake Isabelle through the glacial moraine that forms the lake and every year round about the first of August, the tunnel gate is opened and the lake is drained. The water is gobbled by LHDC shareholders to irrigate parched crops in the Boulder Valley below. It sure makes Lake Isabelle rather unsightly, not to mention kind of smelly." courtesy http://39degreesnorth.net

This is superb, Randy! I actually like the dark green background and don't at all mind the silhouetted trees and the dark triangular ridge in the far background. Perhaps darkening the greenery in the immediate foreground before the first waterfall may achieve a better balance.

thanks John! I have taken a bit of each of your comments. There was actually some interesting details in the darkened tree area that I drew out a bit. But I also darkened a little bit in the LLC foreground and just behind the last cascade.

Well, I like the changes you made! Others may still find it a wee bit too dark, but it looks natural to my eyes.
Consider adding '+ Repost' or some such to the title to get some more opinions.

I agree with John, changes look good. I think it might have helped even more if you had shot at a slightly lower angle (a few inches off the ground if necessary!) to eliminate some of the dark space in the bg that doesnt really add to the shot--i really like the fg subject here, just wish there was a bit more of a connect to the nice sky...

The repost looks great Randy.

Very nice. Like the rushing water and the color in the clouds.