Snoqualmie Falls

slflash

This is a shot I got this last week up in WA. I couldn't do anything to control the light on top as it was a powerplant and there was also a spot light that was lighting the falls from over to the left and in front of my shooting point. I planned to hike to the bottom and shoot up while lighting the falls on my own, but that all changed when I found out they are lit from the top and the bottom area was inaccessible to me on this trip.

ian408

I like the light on the falls. Very cool.

I wonder if a ND filter would help with the power plant lights?

slflash

ian408 wrote:

I like the light on the falls. Very cool.

I wonder if a ND filter would help with the power plant lights?

Definately needed a nd. It was also cloudy, so I had to bump my iso higher to get anything without having the light blow things out. Next time I will have the nd.:ivar

dkoyanagi

Hi Sheila

I like the lighting and the star effect on the lights. Gotta love that sun-star button.

I was going to say that the rocks look kinda blurry, but everything else is in focus so I'm guessing it's the mist from the falls that's making the rocks look blurry.

Nice one.

schmoo

Hi Sheila!

Glad to see that your experiment went well. I love the starbursts here, and I agree that the mist (or something) is making the rocks a bit soft. It sounds like a really difficult situation to shoot, but it looks beautiful from here, even with all the negative spaces in the dark. I am waiting for Marc to chime in here with his ruthless cropping suggestions...

leaforte

Nice shot of Snoqualmie Falls. These are great falls to photograph, even though getting to the bottom is a tough cookie to crack. I hear there is a game trail on the other side of the river that one can access if they are feeling froggy (literally), but lots of slick wet rocks. I've never felt that froggy myself. Thanks for sharing.

slflash

Thanks Dan,
I don't know what it was, but I think that high iso had some play into the grainyness. It could be blurry because I had my camera propped up on the fence with a jacket wedged underneath it, as I didn't take my tripod because I wasn't going to shoot it after finding out about the spotlight. So I am happy with my improvising.

S

I was going to say that the rocks look kinda blurry, but everything else is in focus so I'm guessing it's the mist from the falls that's making the rocks look blurry.

Nice one. [/quote]

slflash

Hey Schmooo,
I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for the axe to come down on the chopping block! I told him I would be posting it soon, so it is only a matter of time. I contemplated a tighter crop, but I like the tonal effect of the sky. I would crop it in more on the left to get the light out of the upper left side. At least my camera didn't fall. I had the strap around my neck and my cable release in hand as I stood still for 90 seconds.

S

schmooo wrote:

Hi Sheila!

Glad to see that your experiment went well. I love the starbursts here, and I agree that the mist (or something) is making the rocks a bit soft. It sounds like a really difficult situation to shoot, but it looks beautiful from here, even with all the negative spaces in the dark. I am waiting for Marc to chime in here with his ruthless cropping suggestions...

slflash

Thanks for the trail tip Leaforte! Next time I feel like getting froggy I will try it!!! I thought about hopping over the fence and going down the rocks on the trail, but it was very wet and I didn't think I would be able to get back up them, especially in the dark!

S

leaforte wrote:

Nice shot of Snoqualmie Falls. These are great falls to photograph, even though getting to the bottom is a tough cookie to crack. I hear there is a game trail on the other side of the river that one can access if they are feeling froggy (literally), but lots of slick wet rocks. I've never felt that froggy myself. That power plant could almost be classed as light pollution (imho), but you did a great job bringing it all together. Thanks for sharing.

Roaddog 52

slflash wrote:

This is a shot I got this last week up in WA. I couldn't do anything to control the light on top as it was a powerplant and there was also a spot light that was lighting the falls from over to the left and in front of my shooting point. I planned to hike to the bottom and shoot up while lighting the falls on my own, but that all changed when I found out they are lit from the top and the bottom area was inaccessible to me on this trip.

I'm new here and this is my first post. I really like the night time shot of the falls. nice job even with all the extra light at the top.

I have shot the falls many times but never thought to shoot it at night. great idea.

There is a trail that goes down to the river just past the viewing pavillion, it's not bad but I wolud recommend doing it it the daytime once before you do it at night.

Now I'm going to have to trek out there to try it myself.

unless it is something new the lights at the power station are not always on.

great shot.

P.

slflash

Roaddog52,
I did hike down the trail a few days before. I thought that I would be able to get a better angle. I had remembered it differently from the last time I was there. The best angle would be across the river on the other side, but I don't know the area well enough to find a road to get over to that side and it was a bit colder than I wanted to go wading through the river. If you find a better angle please post a picture and share your location.

I think the next time I am up your way I will be armed with a ND filter and some waders!!

Thanks for the comments.

S

Roaddog 52 wrote:

I'm new here and this is my first post. I really like the night time shot of the falls. nice job even with all the extra light at the top.

I have shot the falls many times but never thought to shoot it at night. great idea.

There is a trail that goes down to the river just past the viewing pavillion, it's not bad but I wolud recommend doing it it the daytime once before you do it at night.

Now I'm going to have to trek out there to try it myself.

unless it is something new the lights at the power station are not always on.

great shot.

P.

Marc Muench

slflash wrote:

This is a shot I got this last week up in WA. I couldn't do anything to control the light on top as it was a powerplant and there was also a spot light that was lighting the falls from over to the left and in front of my shooting point. I planned to hike to the bottom and shoot up while lighting the falls on my own, but that all changed when I found out they are lit from the top and the bottom area was inaccessible to me on this trip.

WHAT NO TRIPOD:smack
However, I must say, great job for no tripod. It is a very interesting image and should be redone if you can pull it off. I like the waterfall more off center and of course the light on it darker.

The image below was darkened in the waterfall and cropped slightly.



Now that wasn't too bad:D

slflash

The tripod that I took was antiquated (20 plus years old, though a ball head and light) I tried it at home thinking that it would work in a pinch to have for hiking, but I wasn't feeling any inspiration after hiking down to the falls during the day, so the night I shot the falls we had gone to Levenworth for the day and I didn't take the pod, as this was a shopping day and driving day. Snoqualmie was an afterthought on the way home. I will attempt to try masking it now that I have CS3. I like how you did that. Thanks for the inspiration. I have been dabbling with masking and curves, but haven't had too much time to play yet! And no, that wasn't so bad. I am sorry to hear about your T/S lens. Ouch....

S

that.

Marc Muench wrote:

WHAT NO TRIPOD:smack
However, I must say, great job for no tripod. It is a very interesting image and should be redone if you can pull it off. I like the waterfall more off center and of course the light on it darker.

The image below was darkened in the waterfall and cropped slightly.



Now that wasn't too bad:D