Waterfall - first time with a tripod

[Andy]

I've seen all those lovely shots of waterfalls taken at low shutter speeds, but I never tried that myself until today. The weather wasn't great, but the rain actually played in my favor as the falls were active, the lighting was better, and no one was around while I was playing with my tripod. I received this tripod from someone, but never had a chance to use it until now (and I can understand why people invest in the more expensive ones. This one struggled at time to hold up my 18-200 lens at high zoom). This is the first image I played with - edited in LR and then in On1 for some enhancement. I'm still experimenting with the right crop and I have to look through the other images, but I'm pretty happy with this one for a first attempt.

[Howard]

Looks pretty good to me, Andy. Maybe slightly tigher crop on the horizontal but it's very good as is.

I was taught to try to maintain 3x2, 4x3 or square to represent normal negative ratios. Unless its a panorama of course. I wonder if others agree or disagree with that?

[Andy]

Thanks!

I printed a copy to see how it looked, so it is sized for the paper I used (8.5 x11)

I'd love to crop that tree on the left out more, but I couldn't find a way to do it and still like the end result.

 

[pontiac1940]

Andy,
The flowing water effect is exceptional. 
Agree about the left side tree.
Clive

[Andy]

Thanks Clive!

[Andy]

Another vantage point - this one doesn't have the tree in quite the same location.

[hmca]

I prefer the first one. It gives a better view of the falls and the effects of the long exposure.

[BuckSkin]

Jul 30, 2024 16:57:31 GMT Andy said:

I'd love to crop that tree on the left out more, but I couldn't find a way to do it

A Stihl 029 with 20-inch Bar and 3/8 chain should do the job.

[Andy]

Aug 2, 2024 5:33:26 GMT BuckSkin said:

A Stihl 029 with 20-inch Bar and 3/8 chain should do the job.

I don't think the State of Connecticut would like me touching the trees in their state park.

[tonyw]

Looked good to me although I did prefer the second one without the tree although the long drop in the first is impressive and would be nice to include. I have taken a few waterfalls but I must admit that since getting a camera with in body as well as lens image stabilization I rarely carry a tripod any more but do have a neutral density filter to lengthen the exposure time at normal apertures as well as looking for handy rocks to steady the camera on. Be interested to know what exposure time/Aperture was used for these?

Tony

[hmca]

Andy, I think you have megapixel. What about trying to enlarge it? I think you could get rid of a lot of that tree on the left and still print at 8.5x11.

[tourerjim]

I think the tree helps with the vertical depth as your look up, also you could use a copy layer then edit just the tree little more brightness.

Aww yea and very nice capture.

[Andy]

Thank you for the feedback everyone!

Aug 2, 2024 20:39:44 GMT tonyw said:

Be interested to know what exposure time/Aperture was used for these?

.5 sec at f/27

Here's a second attempt at the first photo:
- changed the aspect ratio to 4x3 as suggested by @howard
- Lightened the tree a bit as suggested by tourerjim
- Did some AI removal in Photoshop to remove that root or branch in the bottom left and to take out a few distracting small branches towards the top right.

[hmca]

Aug 6, 2024 21:19:49 GMT Andy said:

- Lightened the tree a bit as suggested by tourerjim

Nice suggestion. I do think it adds depth.

[tourerjim]

yep I think you've done that pretty nice now, Andy