Waterfall

[MarieV]

I took the attached photos today using the Velvia setting on my Fuji x100s and not sure how best to PP them - please help! I just have the iPhoto on my Mac and was intending to upgrade to Aperture but now read that it is being discontinued - was thinking of Lightroom - any suggestions!!

[Shadowman]

The waterfalls are almost lost in the high exposure of the image, however it works as an almost abstract blend of colors and lines. If you want to try something a bit different, change some of the greens to a darker shade just to see how it contrasts with the white waters. LR is fine but I prefer Elements for overall editing, however LR might be all you need.

[NorthernFocus]

Waterfalls taken in lighting conditions like this are very difficult. The dynamic range between direct sunlight on the white water and the shaded portions of the dark/wet rocks pretty much requires HDR processing. And then one needs to plan accordingly and take multiple images to blend together. With this harsh lighting I'm afraid you are beyond post processing corrections. If you were shooting RAW it may be possible.

If you have ready access to this location, revisiting during overcast conditions or early morning/evening when there is no direct sun on the fall would yield better results. In Ireland you shouldn't have long to wait for an overcast day

Regarding the software, the new versions of LR are impressive. I was a Capture NX2 and Photoshop Elements user until this year. I've now converted completely to LR5 with OnOne Photosuite and it is quite an impressive combination at reasonable cost. Both can frequently be found on sale for half off list price which means under 200 USD total cost for a full featured 16bit processing suite.

[Downrigger]

These are really quite richly hued and I think you almost got in the whole dynamic range except maybe some clipping of the brightest of the white water. I am not quite sure where one would go in PP with the first image, which I like very much. It would depend on your recall of what you wanted to make of it when you captured the image. Another vote for LR here - lots of capabilities in addition to cataloguing, and great on-line tutorials.

[MarieV]

The waterfalls are almost lost in the high exposure of the image, however it works as an almost abstract blend of colors and lines. If you want to try something a bit different, change some of the greens to a darker shade just to see how it contrasts with the white waters. LR is fine but I prefer Elements for overall editing, however LR might be all you need.

Thank you John - the same image taken in the 'standard' setting was a bit tedious so I thought post the image taken with a Velvia setting as it was at least a bit quirky! Unfortunately, I only have the iPhoto basic software so cannot change individual colour areas, etc., hence my intention to upgrade.

[MarieV]

Waterfalls taken in lighting conditions like this are very difficult. The dynamic range between direct sunlight on the white water and the shaded portions of the dark/wet rocks pretty much requires HDR processing. And then one needs to plan accordingly and take multiple images to blend together. With this harsh lighting I'm afraid you are beyond post processing corrections. If you were shooting RAW it may be possible.

If you have ready access to this location, revisiting during overcast conditions or early morning/evening when there is no direct sun on the fall would yield better results. In Ireland you shouldn't have long to wait for an overcast day

Regarding the software, the new versions of LR are impressive. I was a Capture NX2 and Photoshop Elements user until this year. I've now converted completely to LR5 with OnOne Photosuite and it is quite an impressive combination at reasonable cost. Both can frequently be found on sale for half off list price which means under 200 USD total cost for a full featured 16bit processing suite.

Hello Dan. We have been having some wonderful weather for a change and on that particular day it was completely cloudless - not what I expected when I visited the waterfall! As you can see in my reply to John, I used the Velvia setting to try to give some 'life' to an otherwise tedious result. Thank you for your valued advice regarding software - I know there has been lots of times when I wished I could have improved some of my shots.

[MarieV]

These are really quite richly hued and I think you almost got in the whole dynamic range except maybe some clipping of the brightest of the white water. I am not quite sure where one would go in PP with the first image, which I like very much. It would depend on your recall of what you wanted to make of it when you captured the image. Another vote for LR here - lots of capabilities in addition to cataloguing, and great on-line tutorials.

Hello Mark - glad you like the first image as I didn't expect such a 'quirky' result from the Velvia setting on my camera so it didn't have any PP. Thank you for your advice regarding software - I know photography should not always depend on PP but there are times when an image can be greatly improved and I need all the help I can get!!

I also took some shots in a monochrome setting but, again, correct software would I'm sure put some life into the image!! I included the couple sitting together at the end of the fall to show how large the fall is.

[Downrigger]

Yes - LR provides some decent tools for monochrome too, though I think most LR users wind up with adding a plug-in more dedicated to monochrome. I think it too hard to give up on the great hues you have in your original to want to see this pushed this over into monochrome.