Latourell Falls

Seems like the season for waterfalls, so I thought I'd get in on the action.

Strangely Monday was my first trip to the gorge with the intent of taking photos. I had hoped for a sunrise from the Womens Forum, but was skunked by an overcast sky. But spending a few hours with waterfalls isn't a bad day either.

This is with a Canon D-Rebel, f/10, 2.5 sec, the kit lens, and a polarizer.

Lessons learned on this trip included: long exposure vs. slight breeze - it does matter, the spray from a waterfall is more than you think, and a lens with a focus ring on the end does not mix with a polarizer.

I am continually blown away by the images on this site, so feedback of any kind is greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
-Brett

Brett, I like the unusual comp. It has great balance. I'm not too sold on the bottom rh corner though...perhaps cropping it just above that would improve this...but is really cool as is.

Thanks Rick, part of the composition was out of necessity. The lens wasn't wide enough to really capture the entire falls without including a branch slightly swaying in the breeze on the right. I'll also say, still very much a rookie at this and struggling with the concept of 'composition' so your feedback is very helpful.

-Brett

Brett, I like it. The different textures are what jump out as intersting to me--the basalt columns, the fairly uniform foliage, the soft water, and the surface of the rock face on the left all have contrasting colors and textures.

I love the mist at the base of some of these waterfalls, but it limits the shooting... I feel your pain. Sometimes I compose with a clear plastic bag over the camera, then remove it just long enough to meter and take the exposure.. Even then, I still get droplets on the front of my polarizer.

I like this angle.. maybe crop from the bottom to square..

I agree with Ned, I don't think you need the entire bottom third of the photo.

It kind of makes me dizzy, something about the bg seeming to not align with the (vertical) falls itself, even the basalt columns don't align. I'm not sure what to do about it....other than shoot some more....& isn't it maddening to try to get a moment at the base of a waterfall when the foliage isn't blowing every which way?.....

Personally I love this the way it is. Cropping it will remove some of the beautiful water detail below the falls which to me is a really great contrast to the downpour from the falls itself. Love the stone detail above as well so it works for me as it. Great job on the greens - not too much yellow which my 20D always tries to sneak in.

Thank you for the comments. I am going to give losing the lower 25-30% a try, though with this shot it may end up making the river drain out the bottom-center of the frame. If that's the case, it gives me a great excuse to head back down to the gorge and try it again

Thanks again for the great feedback.
-Brett

Brett,
I have photographed this falls probably 50 times and have come away with maybe two shots I like. This particular shot I have to disagree with John L. I think the greens are a little warm and the image does have a bslight yellow cast. I noticed it on my monitor at work. The cast is also there on muy calibrated home monitor. I would crop abouut 2 inches of the bottom or just above the lower main pool.

I like this, Brett. It's a good start. And don't feel bad about the foliage, I've never seen it quiet, so I've never gotten a shot of it I like.

Kevin