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View Full Version : waterfall...what do you think?

wildviper
Jun-09-2009, 12:09 AM
This was taken over the weekend at Kings Canyon National Park in CA.

I have dodged and burned as well as cropped this a bit. I am going for the dynamic black and white feel.

Please provide your thoughts.
rutt
Jun-09-2009, 06:09 AM
Very nice and dramatic. I like the deep blacks contrasted with the turbulent water highlights. This contrast gives the shot a very dynamic feel conveying the power of the water.

I'd like to see a little more highlight detail if you can coax it out somehow. But even without this, it's a very effective image.
wildviper
Jun-09-2009, 09:54 PM
where would you like to see the details? I can try. Thanx for your reply.

Anyone else?
rutt
Jun-10-2009, 03:52 AM
where would you like to see the details? I can try. Thanx for your reply.

Anyone else?

Just at the bottom of the waterfall above the river surface. I know that there must be a lot of mist there, but that doesn't show. What I see is a big white patch. It would be a lot more dramatic if I could see the edges of the cloud of mist and if the mist itself were not so uniform. I made a quick, bad, attempt to show what I mean here (http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/559985168_PibhF-O.jpg). You should be able to do a lot better starting before the conversion.
CWSkopec
Jun-10-2009, 10:55 PM
Great shot, Viper! :thumb

I agree with Rutt. A little more detail in that water and it would take this from a great shot to an AWESOME shot!
wildviper
Jun-11-2009, 08:53 AM
ok tried that. Unfortunately I have clipped the highlights and can't boost that.

What do you think? Is this what you mean?
rutt
Jun-11-2009, 10:47 AM
ok tried that. Unfortunately I have clipped the highlights and can't boost that.

What do you think? Is this what you mean?

Very nice. What do YOU think now?
afarber
Jun-11-2009, 02:46 PM
This is a great shot. I love the dynamic and dramatic intensity of the highlights vs shadows. It must be some crazy histogram! I'm sure some may want to see a bit more detail in both the shadows and highlights, but I don't think that's really the effect you're going for. I really dig strong contrast. It leaves something to be filled in by your imagination. I will say there's something slightly unnatural about the very high contrast, but that's OK with me. It doesn't look fake - just intense and different.

Nice work.