First waterfall... C&C please :)

DeVerm

It's the first time I seriously shot it and the first time I post-processed this. I guess I have a clue because I read lots about it, but I do not know how this picture would be rated so please shoot

I used a 5d2 with 17-40L on tri-pod, and Photomatix and Lightroom4. It was in the shade and a polarizing filter darkened it enough at f/22 for a 4-5s exposure.

#1

thanks.

DeVerm

Was it *that* bad?

I think it was, I seem to have camera shake on my tripod... here are two more versions with faster shutter:

#2
(rejected, over-processed)

#3
(rejected, over-processed)

Sam

OK, real quick. I like the first one the best, although you could add some additional color and maybe some increased brightness and or contrast. I do like the water color and detail. Perhaps try shooting at
f11 or f16 rather than f22.

#2 and 3 are over processed to me.

Sam

DeVerm

Sam wrote: »

OK, real quick. I like the first one the best, although you could add some additional color and maybe some increased brightness and or contrast. I do like the water color and detail. Perhaps try shooting at
f11 or f16 rather than f22.

#2 and 3 are over processed to me.

Sam

Hi Sam,

Thanks for that, I'm trying to find that line between dull and over processed. I took your advice and took the captures of #2, gave it the processing of #1 and added some color, contrast and brightness and call it #4; this is f/5.6:


What do you think, still over processed?
thanks,

kdog

Nice shots. I think in this case I prefer the original shot with the longer exposure. It gives it more of a surreal look. Processing looks good.

DeVerm

kdog wrote: »

Nice shots. I think in this case I prefer the original shot with the longer exposure. It gives it more of a surreal look. Processing looks good.

Thank you kdog. We have just returned from our trip into the mountains and I'll scan to find the best set of exposures

EDIT: Okay, here's the same set of exposures of #1 but processed differently... more natural... which translates into changes in how the water looks. I guess I'll have to make multiple versions, surreal ones and natural ones because this is kinda in between and thus a compromise.

NedZ

In my opinion original one is still the best. The only thing is I'd crop right side where the small waterfall is, I think it would bring attention to the main waterfall.

anwmn1

I too prefer the first image. It looks much more natural than the other two. The last too seem too warm and the green is almost Incredible Hulk like.

My only nit pik - I would like if the image was composed a little more to the ground. I would like to see more foreground and feel the first level of the waterfall could be eliminated.

DeVerm

Thanks for the comment guys!

I'm currently traveling without my photo editing computer and I'm thousands of miles away from the waterfall so no new exposures But I do have exposures from a different angle which is also lower so I'll have a go at those.

Cropping: will try that too... composition has been a weak point of my photography and for these captures I really concentrated on that and didn't crop them at all yet... I'll try both suggestions as soon as I can!