The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
If you search the internet for images of Abiqua Falls, you’ll see (as with many famous waterfalls) it’s been photographed six ways to Sunday. In preparation for meeting up there last June, @david_haynes sent @steve_kennedy and me a link to this video by Michael Shainblum. I remember watching it, and after finishing thinking “Well, there’s no original compositions left…” Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful waterfall and it’s fun to take your own memories to bring home. (For what it’s worth, I did try to take something less conventional; I’ll post that later.) This is just a simple shot of the waterfall and the amazing basalt walls it falls over.
Specific Feedback
I’ve cropped it this close at the top because just above there were bright areas of sky that were distracting. Would you recommend a different crop? (I’ll post the sidecar jpg image below so you can see what I was cropping from.)
How does the processing look? I wanted to keep the basalt fairly dark to hold the rich color that the lichen has, but am open to thoughts for improving.
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 41.0 mm
1/2 sec. at f/14.0 and ISO 31
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
@John_Williams, wow! This is a beautiful waterfall. FYI, I’ve never heard of, nor seen a photo of Abiqua Falls, so it is fresh for me no matter how many others have photographed it.
The crop works well. It keeps my eye in the frame and draws my attention to the beautiful detail of the rock wall, which the original does not. One question I have is about the dark area directly above the waterfall. I wonder if lightening up the foliage (that I can barely see) would enhance the flow across the top. I don’t think it would detract from the waterfall. Rather, it would add to the flow. That dark area draws my eye away from the important features. I hope this makes sense!
John, it’s a lovely look at this falls. I very much noticed the basalt walls and am wondering about the size of the columns. The columnar basalt that I’ve seen all has columns that are one or more feet wide. These look to be inches across. I think your crop looks fine, losing the grey sky lets you bring out the colors in the rest of the scene without blown highlights.
There is an awesome beauty that I immediately felt when I saw this photograph. But I have to say, that I was ultimately more struck by the original jpg than the finished picture. That it isn’t to say that raw image doesn’t need to be developed but there are important elements in the raw that feel underplayed or missing in the finished piece. I love, for example, the contrast and mystery between the dark rock face and brilliant flow, which is all but lost in the finished image. The rock needs work, for sure, but I love the way the reds seem to emerge out of the background darkness and that is lost in the finished piece where all the detail is fully revealed throughout. I also feel like the greenery above is over bright in the finished piece and competes with the falls, whereas the raw image hints at a darker and, I feel, more complimentary colour relationship between the green and the red as a stage for the star of the show - the glorious falls. I think your shutter speed is perfect, not only with regards to the flow but also the mist rising at the bottom an d the softness of the water. I like the crop from above but I would be tempted to leave more of the water below because in its softness, it adds to the mood. Obviously, this is my take on this image but based on the alternate version that you posted and I hope you don’t find it over critical. I think this picture has fabulous “bones”, which is a credit to your vision.
Hi John,
The crop and processing look just fine to me. I have never heard of this lovely waterfall before so they are all original to me. Looking forward to seeing what other compositions you cam up with. I am really enjoying all those wonderful tones and shapes on those basalt walls. Beautifully done.
This gives me some wonderful memories of that day, John. Yep, it’s a very simple yet beautiful image showcasing the falls and the unique basalt columns and their colors. From the location of the shot you were lucky to get an image without water droplets all over your lens. The wind was really something over there and very slippery. I think you captured colors of the basalt, the rich copper/rust tones that I love about this place. The water looks about right too. The falls itself, looks perfect. I love the slightly longer shutter speed, just enough to give you a perfect mixture of texture, milkiness, and spray at the bottom. I hadn’t thought about it but after reading @Kerry_Gordon comment about the moodiness of the original, it got me to thinking that you could, if you were so inclined, do a rework and make it less revealing, a bit moodier and maybe more about the falls with a hint of the surroundings. I never would have seen the potential had Kerry not mentioned it in his post. Nevertheless, I think this is terrific as is. Looking forward to the next shot in this series. Pretty sure I know which one you’re talking about.
