Silver Falls State Park

[bdosserman]

Currently going back through some of the older photos that I couldn't process well with my old software. LR is doing wonders with them! Here's one of the Upper North Falls in Silver Fall State Park, OR.

Brian

[RobbieV]

There isn't much that grabs me from this photo. Soft waterfalls with even softer, uninteresting light.  Sorry, but not really an interesting capture.

[Tony Jay]

Brian, I can't entirely agree with Robbie.
I feel that with just a little bit of added contrast this image could be a winner.

Tony Jay

[RSL]

Afraid I agree with Robbie. It's about what the average tourist would bring home for a slide show.

[bdosserman]

Hi Tony,

Brian, I can't entirely agree with Robbie.
I feel that with just a little bit of added contrast this image could be a winner.

Thanks for the feedback, I'll give that a try! I'm just realizing how horribly miscalibrated my screen is, so I think I'm going to hold off on posting anything else until I can at least get the brightness setting in the right ballpark.

Brian

[bdosserman]

There isn't much that grabs me from this photo. Soft waterfalls with even softer, uninteresting light.  Sorry, but not really an interesting capture.

Fair criticisms. What draws me to the photo is the complexity of the forms in the falls, despite the long exposure. But I guess it's not for everyone!

Thanks,

Brian

[bdosserman]

Hi Sharon,

It seems I only comment in this section to recommend black and white but I think that a b&w conversion would make this photograph. Subtle changes in the yellow and green sliders will make a real difference and I would add a small amount of warming.  I think for a black and white you will have to slightly open up the shadow areas in the cave-like areas of the cliff.

I like your composition a great deal. You nailed the shutter speed.

Thanks for the compliment, and the advice! I had just started to play a bit with a B&W conversion, but your suggestions make quite a difference.

Brian

[Tony Jay]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll give that a try! I'm just realizing how horribly miscalibrated my screen is, so I think I'm going to hold off on posting anything else until I can at least get the brightness setting in the right ballpark.

Aha, that might explain why this image looks so bland.
I look forward to seeing what you do once your screen is calibrated.

Tony Jay

[RobbieV]

Me as well. I also have to work on getting my screen calibrated. I'm beginning to notice huge shifts in colour from device to device.

[Dave (Isle of Skye)]

Afraid I agree with Robbie. It's about what the average tourist would bring home for a slide show.

Ouch!

[bdosserman]

OK, I think my screen is closer to a reasonable calibration, at least as far as brightness goes.

I'm attaching a redone color and a B&W version. I doubt this will convince anyone who disliked it, but Tony and Sharon, I tried to take into account your suggestions, and I think it's substantially improved. Please let me know what you think (and in particular, if I overdid the changes).

Thanks!

Brian

Edit: sorry, forgot one adjustment to the B&W. Here's the correct version.

[sdwilsonsct]

I like this colour version, Brian.
I love the water. On the other hand, the structure of the falls leaves me feeling unsettled because the water is going right and the bedrock is deflecting it left.

[degrub]

i find the large are of brighter vegetation on the right a little distracting. i would think about reducing the luminance of the vegetation on the right hand side or consider a square framing to focus on the waterfall. But it is a minor nit pick.
Since westerners scan left to right, you might consider flipping the image to place the bright water on the right wide the wide format.

Frank

[Patricia Sheley]

Afraid I agree with Robbie. It's about what the average tourist would bring home for a slide show.

No danger of socially mandated dishonesty here. Meaningful critique is never easy, for either side, but comes to be highly valued if one lives long enough...

[RobbieV]

I think your processing is better, and in my opinion the brighter vegetation balances the water while not doing so too strongly since there is a blue cast (to me) in the falls flow.