Waterfall shots

[bambleweeney]

Not been around much for the last couple of months mainly due to a 'surprise' hospital visit (they took me there by helicopter which I thought was nice of them albeit a bit dramatic)
Anyhow finally a day out with the camera and a visit to the Orlu valley which boasts a rather nice waterfall and a wolf park amongst other things. The problem with waterfalls is the cascade itself which is usually big and very bright and drowns out the shadows even if you expose it correctly and at the head of a valley there is a lot of lovely shadow detail. Consequently you're left with a few choices, either throw a lot of light into the shadows with powerful flash heads (not really an option for me anyway), you bracket and use HDR which invariably needs more post processing afterwards or you bracket and hand blend exposures in Photoshop which is my preferred method as you get fine control of which shadow details you include and to what degree.

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Paul. Hope you are fully recovered and glad to see you're back out with a camera. You chose to shoot this waterfall in conditions that are classically taught to avoid for this subject. Yet these are the conditions under which most people view falls and therefore can relate to. I rather like the first image with the water passing through patches of sunlight and shadow.

[Nicks Pics]

The shadows do almost black out some areas in the first picture, but this is one instance in which I like the effect it gives. It's part of your subject now.

[Shadowman]

Welcome back. Nicely captured, a lot of tonal change in that first shot to deal with.

[IzzieK]

You went MIA too, Paul? Well, welcome back...I love ... just love #1 shot. At last, real water gushing through rocks and crevices...I can look at this scene longer and not get sick of it...

[John 2]

Welcome back and fully recovered I hope. Prefer the first shot and love the zigzag of water that forms the lead at the base. The second is less subtle but there is no doubting the fury that you have captured. Two good images.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Paul, I hope you are fine now. I like both of them, IMO shadows add to the composition in #1

[bambleweeney]

Thanks guys. On the road to recovery and will be as good as new in a couple of months or so I'm assured ... thanks for asking.