Learning Landscapes - Water Fountain Test Silky Water

[Brownbear]

Hi Grahame,

Sorry, somehow I missed your reply, likely because this particular thread tuckered me out, just a wee bit.

Thank you for sharing the tip on bracketing... The only reason I wanted to try it was to learn about another feature on my camera, and to use for landscape photos where it is hard or sometimes expose properly for the sky, mountains, trees and waters. (not on these waterfall images) I thought one could combine the bracketed shots in PP and avoid having to PP... or in lieu of filters but I do intend to purchase some filters one day.

Anyhow I finally figured out how to use the bracketing feature on my camera, and I did try it just to see how it works, but will save for future, after I have some more practice with mirror up mode and remote release.

I purchased a quality tripod, a remote clicker and tried the mirror up mode this morning, and followed Terry's advice on photographing waterfalls, almost to the letter. (forgot a couple of things)

Anyway, I have a love/hate relationship with my new tripod... Amazing how much more stable it is and so versatile for positioning but it weighs 3.2 kg which is a lot of weight to carry on top of my gear, and I'm a hazard on public transit if I don't have a seat because when the bus lurches the momentum of my backpack sends me flying backward...

Thank you.

Hi Christina,

Well done. You have now learnt a range of speeds that are going to give you some different 'silkiness' levels.

A tip for bracketing is to take a blank shot, hand in front of lens, after each sequence which makes it simple to sort them later. But saying that not sure why you want to play with bracketing at the moment when you seem to have mastered use of exposure compensation and verifying your histogram?

Grahame

[Brownbear]

This morning I made another attempt at silky waterfalls with a sharper background.

All photographed from above on a suspension bridge because the hike to the falls below is still too wet and muddy. That said, I think a photo from below would be much prettier and while on another hike in another park I spotted a waterfall that looks far easier to access then these so I plan to figure out how to get to those falls, one day. When I do I will post those images in a new thread.

Aperture Priority F22 ISO 100 SS varied from 5 to 30 seconds and exposure bias from +.67 to +1.33

I used my new tripod (much better for stability and positioning), the mirror up mode and a remote release.

I focused on a rock near the waterfall. Single point auto focus (forgot to switch to manual focus) Sharpened in LR 25% .5 radius with heavy masking, and then in Elements 9 after downsizing .3 radius 100% un-sharp mask. ( I will try Terry's method of sharpening one day in the near future)

#1



#2



#3




I think these backgrounds are sharper with less motion blur, hopefully no motion blur than in the prior set?

Questions...

1. Mirror Up Mode

In my camera manual it advises one to press the shutter button to set the mirror-up and then to press the shutter button to take the photo. If one forgets to press the shutter button it will automatically go off after 30 seconds.

There is no mention of when to press the shutter button, ie; after a few seconds or 30 seconds...

Does the timing of this mode effect the image?

2. Remote Release

How does one properly use the remote release with the mirror up mode?

I pressed the shutter button to lift the mirror up, and then I pressed the button on the remote release to take the photo.

3. Is the mirror-up mode hard on the camera?

[Stagecoach]

Hi Christina,

I use mirror up all the time when I am tripod mounted especially for the macro and use both a cable type and at time wireless remote. For each I simply press the remote once for activating the mirror up, wait a few seconds, then press again to take the shot. The theory being that the 'wait' allows the camera and tripod to settle.

The timing of the mirror up mode does not affect the image other than with respect to the time between 'Up' and 'shooting' that affects stability of the rig.

BUT, in saying that and with all the talk recently about VR use when mounted on a tripod, the time taken for VR to settle, the advantage of mirror up and the advantage of waiting for things to settle I did some tests the other week.

I took images of a 0.3mm hypodermic syringe needle from 500mm away and two of the tests consisted of one shot waiting 5 seconds for things to settle after MU and another shooting without any delay, eg, MU and shoot. On enlarging these down to pixel level I could see no difference. Admittedly, any movement is going to give a worse affect for subjects farther away so I suppose the moral of this is to take what precautions are possible as theoretically they will help.

As for the images, well done. One thing that you have to consider with these is that the longer the exposure time the more chance of OOF greenery if there's any wind.

Grahame

[Manfred M]

Questions...

1. Mirror Up Mode

In my camera manual it advises one to press the shutter button to set the mirror-up and then to press the shutter button to take the photo. If one forgets to press the shutter button it will automatically go off after 30 seconds.

There is no mention of when to press the shutter button, ie; after a few seconds or 30 seconds...

Does the timing of this mode effect the image?

The reason for the two step exposure is to allow any vibrations related to "mirror slap" to stop before the shutter opens and thereby reduces some minor movement, resulting in a sharper image. This damping out of vibration takes fractions of a second. So if you wait a momemt or two, you will be fine.

Any movement will add some level of vibrations; even the shutter firing will cause a tiny bit of camera shake.

2. Remote Release

How does one properly use the remote release with the mirror up mode?

I pressed the shutter button to lift the mirror up, and then I pressed the button on the remote release to take the photo.

You've got it; press twice. The first time raises the mirror and the second time fires the shutter.

3. Is the mirror-up mode hard on the camera?

No harder than any other expousre (and your camera is designed for this). Every shot you take has the mirror rising out of the way, the shutter firing off and the mirror coming down after the picture has been taken. The two steps are not going to introduce any additional wear and tear on the camera.

[Mike Buckley]

It must be very rewarding for you to realize that you now have in your control the look of the water in your photographs. Developing that capability is one of the benchmarks of making rather than taking photographs. We're all happy for you because each of us remembers when we first made it happen to the point that we knew we could do it reliably and consistently. It seems that you are now at that point.

Notice the leaves in the lower left corner of photos #1 and #3. I think that softness is due to motion in the leaves but it might be due to softness in the corner of your lens. Regardless, the slight softness complements everything else in the image. I mention it only because you asked about it.

One solution to your problem riding the bus is to take your camera bag off and set it on the floor. The other solution is to ask the bus driver to go easy on the acceleration.

[Loose Canon]

Christina? Seriously!

These are awesome! (Big fan of slow shutter waterfalls!)

You have really put it together regarding your exposure journey! Dang! Well done!

I’m kind of partial to #A! I think the added contrast looks great (as compared to #3. I might even consider pushing that aspect to further make your slow-shutter (did I montion I’m a fan?) waterfall pop. Great spot to shoot bracketed ( as mentioned) at different shutters to freeze the trees and the fog and then get your smooth-as-silk water effect with a longer shutter. Of course you then have to combine them but you have the software available to do this.

I noticed even the gravel in the bottom right of the last landing looks great. Sharp from at your vantage point. Very cool!

So what would you think about taking that gorgeous #1 shot and cropping a little off the top? Would it make the fall itself more of the subject and make it pop more?

This is one of the prettiest falls I have seen and I envy you your access to this. It looks like it is ripping as well at a good water level.

I am very impressed at your chosen direction Christina! You sure get ‘er done!

[Brownbear]

Thank you to all for your comments, answers and advice, and for helping me be able to manage the silky water effect.

Grahame and Manfred,

Thank you for the detailed and wonderfully clear explanations of the mirror-up mode, how it works and that it is a normal camera function with no harm done.

Mike,

Yes, it is nice to know that I can produce and control the silkiness of the water, and also freeze it if I so wish. Thank you for answering my question on the softness of the greenery... Yes, I can see that in the lower left corner. There was a light wind but it could also be my lens, given time I expect I will become better at figuring this out.

If standing I do place my back-pack at my feet but when it comes time to make my way to the door, navigating through the lurching bus to the exit door in a timely manner is sometimes a challenge... No doubt with time I will be able to manage it more gracefully. About those bus drivers, most of them are great but a few of could use a lesson in etiquette. I feel for the seniors with mobility challenges trying to make it to the door without losing their balance, especially with me on board.

Terry,

Thank you. Truly appreciated. Thank you for all your help with this and for sharing your thoughts on the image. When processing I was thinking that I preferred the darker greenery but on a couple of them I lightened it up thinking it should be lighter but I prefer the dark greenery. I'm still learning what I like and don't like.

Multiple exposures from the suspension bridge are too challenging because the bridge is used by hikers to access the trails, ruining my shots. However, I will try it one day when I am able to get to the bottom of the falls and/or with a different waterfall. And yes, I will have to learn how to combine the shots in post processing and will do.

Yes, I can see how that crop makes the fall more of the subject and pop more. Thank you for sharing. I did try it on one of the images but then went back to the crop as shot thinking I would be cropping out leading lines and hesitating to do so... But now that I look at the image again, I prefer your suggestion.

Yes, it is breathtakingly beautiful waterfall and the roaring water are likely class 6 rapids (if one were wee enough to raft down them). During the summer months one can enjoy as swim in a few of the calmer pools in crystal clear Caribbean green waters but the water is so chilly you turn blue in about two minutes. I will be trying again as my images still don't do the falls justice. I plan to visit a little later in the morning for nicer light, sunbeams and even better yet, for a rainbow, which I do see on occasion. Thank you.

Thank you to all. I have no doubt that someone else trying to learn silky water falls will be truly delighted to find all the information in this thread.

[Brownbear]

Hi Terry,

Here is my edit... I played with the curves tool in LR and the whites and blacks to increase the contrast, and I selectively sharpened just the trees and the rocks... .5 Radius 25%. Then in Elements 9 I selected just the water and used the curves tool to adjust the highlights (following some notes I printed of Mikes on selective curves adjustments, although it is hard to do in Elements with any finesse, and not possible in LR 4, ie; to apply curves to just select parts) Plus I cropped a bit off of the top.

Now that I see it here, I think I increased the contrast a bit too much but the idea has been learned.



I think it has improved, albeit I will save these and revisit them when my PP skills are a little stronger.

Thank you for your recommendations and encouragement.

Christina? Seriously!

These are awesome! (Big fan of slow shutter waterfalls!)

You have really put it together regarding your exposure journey! Dang! Well done!

I’m kind of partial to #A! I think the added contrast looks great (as compared to #3. I might even consider pushing that aspect to further make your slow-shutter (did I montion I’m a fan?) waterfall pop. Great spot to shoot bracketed ( as mentioned) at different shutters to freeze the trees and the fog and then get your smooth-as-silk water effect with a longer shutter. Of course you then have to combine them but you have the software available to do this.

I noticed even the gravel in the bottom right of the last landing looks great. Sharp from at your vantage point. Very cool!

So what would you think about taking that gorgeous #1 shot and cropping a little off the top? Would it make the fall itself more of the subject and make it pop more?

This is one of the prettiest falls I have seen and I envy you your access to this. It looks like it is ripping as well at a good water level.

I am very impressed at your chosen direction Christina! You sure get ‘er done!

[nimitzbenedicto]

Hi Terry,

Here is my edit... I played with the curves tool in LR and the whites and blacks to increase the contrast, and I selectively sharpened just the trees and the rocks... .5 Radius 25%. Then in Elements 9 I selected just the water and used the curves tool to adjust the highlights (following some notes I printed of Mikes on selective curves adjustments, although it is hard to do in Elements with any finesse, and not possible in LR 4, ie; to apply curves to just select parts) Plus I cropped a bit off of the top.

Now that I see it here, I think I increased the contrast a bit too much but the idea has been learned.



I think it has improved, albeit I will save these and revisit them when my PP skills are a little stronger.

Thank you for your recommendations and encouragement.

Hi Christina,

Getting better.

Altho , for me, I'd crop more on the right side and the bottom till the tip of the white water.

HTH

[Brownbear]

Hi Victor,

Altho , for me, I'd crop more on the right side and the bottom till the tip of the white water.

Thank you. I will try that, too. Appreciated.