There are a few places along the Prairie river that I shoot every time I go to this little bit of it. Frankly, there aren’t that many good spots since it’s a wild river with limited trail access. In winter and spring I was perched on the bank and a rock while balancing the tripod in that little space you see below the log. This time I am in the water and balancing the tripod where I would have stood without my tall boots. I liked the implied continuation between the big log and the big rock. In the distance you can see a HUGE spruce that came down across the river, spoiling my favorite cascade. Not only can you not see it anymore, but you can’t really get to it anymore either because the tree top is smack on top of the boulders I stood on to shoot. It continues up a small slope that was the easiest access to the boulders in the river. Ah nature, she is unpredictable and cares not for our agenda. It wasn’t raining as much at this point, but everything was still soaked.
Specific Feedback Requested
It’s a wide view with a lot going on, but I think it hangs together.
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
Tripod with CPL
Lr processed for a little crop 5:7 because the bottom was messy. Also messed with lens correctio and a little geometry change in transform. Brush work in the water for some clarity there. Texture & clarity overall as well as some sharpening. Ps to remove some distractions in the bottom and a little dodging. Then a little vignette.
Certainly a full scene but the colour palette works beautifully together so nothing seems out of place. I think this is edited tastefully, the colours pop realistically but are not too saturated. I absolutely love the little eddy whirl of water in the bottom left. What a cool river name!
Thanks @Kirsten_Packer, @Igor_Doncov & @David_Bostock - nature is messy isn’t it? I rather like the presence of the logs, but I can see it isn’t for everyone. I’ll put a cleaner image up just for you, Igor, isn’t all this chaotic.
This one works quite well for me. I don’t find it too chaotic at all. A lot is going on, but the comp holds together quite well for me. Very nicely done.
I’m comfortable with the logs, but it is chaotic below. My eye gets caught on the open space below the big log and to the left. You might want to try to lower the brightness of the water directly below the log. Cropping doesn’t help because you lose that beautiful streaming beside the little log.
Maybe if you lift the big log and place it on the little log, then drag the spruce from across the stream. That would do it.
Thanks @Harley_Goldman, @Jim_Gavin & @paul_g_wiegman - seems opinions are firmly divided with this one. It was the near continuation of the log (left) and rock (right) that I liked - the little riffle that Paul likes on the right is part of why I composed down that low, but I understand how it is conflicting with the rest of the scene. Maybe it’s trying to do too much.
I have no idea why it’s called the Prairie, but someone named it that and so there it is. I tried to paddle the headwaters, but was stymied by torn up logging roads, deep mud and no cell service. I will investigate again next year and see if the roads have been graded or re-graveled. If they have I can make it without danger of stranding myself.
