Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

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Archive 2009 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Ben Horne
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p.1 #1 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

After shooting a shot at Subway, I headed down to the crack for a late morning shot. I got there just in time. Just after taking the shot, the sun peaked from behind the trees, putting this area in direct sun.

This was also taken with my 8x10 camera and Velvia 50. I have not tweaked the color on this one. It's straight from the transparency. The combination of wet sandstone, reflected light, and velvia makes for bold color. I used a polarizer to reduce the reflections.

I know that many people prefer to use a faster shutter speed so the water looks more like water. In order to get the necessary DOF, as well as take the polarizer, bellows over-extension factor (nearly a full stop there alone), and reciprocity failure into consideration, I was at 20 seconds @ F/45. I didn't want to open up the aperture any more, because I would likely start to get some soft corners.

I was attracted to this section of the crack because of the sinuous nature of the water. It reminded me of a serpent. The super slow shutter makes the water look rather ghostly.

I used rear movements on the camera to enlarge the top of the photo. That way, it gives the feel that I'm looking right down at the rock, rather than the oblique angle that the camera was at.

I posted a detailed writeup of my day at Subway on my Blog. I won't bore everyone here with all the details, but some might find it to be an interesting read. I have some behind the scenes shots as well as a video posted. http://benhorne.wordpress.com

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Edited on Nov 16, 2009 at 09:43 PM · View previous versions

Nov 16, 2009 at 07:41 PM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #2 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Ben, that's lovely. The richness and detail in that chrome must be extraordinary.

I'd like to discuss something with you, and I hope you don't mind if I share it with everyone reading this. I had nearly the same experience, and at the exact same location. I was fiddling with my 4x5, my legs straddling the crack. I was adjusting the movements to achieve sharp focus throughout the image. Meanwhile, I was contemplating what I wanted the water to look like and hoping to select the correct shutter speed to get what I wanted. I finally had the camera set to full focus (which wasn't hard to do since the redrock surface was flat), and seeing that I was doing this with a wide open aperture (probably at f5.6) I realized that I didn't need to use the aperture to achieve DOF any longer. So I was free to use any aperture that would provide me the shutter speed I wanted. In my case, I chose something around .5 second (or close to it). So, looking at your image, seeing the identical conditions, I'm surprised that you 'needed' to go down to f45 here. Of course, there is the creative decision to desire the extremely soft water look (or not), but I think I'm seeing a trend in your recent LF work where you are stopping down substantially and perhaps denying yourself shorter shutter speed opportunities. Maybe your lens is soft in the corners? Even if so, I doubt it is enough to detract from such a scene. Just my thoughts here.......,

Nov 16, 2009 at 08:18 PM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #3 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Thanks for the comment Jeffrey. With all of the rock texture shots I have done (both 4x5 and 8x10), I have found that I still can't get away with using my lens closer to wide open because of getting some corners or side of the photo that would be a bit soft due to a shallow DOF, especially when shooting closeup scenes such as this. The lenses are very sharp, but it's still possible to lose a corner (especially in the foreground) due to a DOF that might be only a few mm.

As you know, this shot maybe represents 3 feet top to bottom, but the DOF on the 8x10 is pretty much razor thin when used anywhere near wide open. I likely could have gone down to f/22 or so, but I was worried about losing DOF down in the crack (even though the water will be blurred by the SS anyway).

If I had a few sheets of film with me, I likely would have taken one at f45 (a very safe aperture on that lens if I want to make sure I get everything sharp) as well as something in the range of f/16 or f/22. That would help out a bit, but I would still be in the range of several seconds, and I'm not sure the water would have been much different. I had one sheet of Velvia 50 left, and I wanted to be safe so I went to my "go-to" aperture that will get the job done with a tack sharp photo.

I was quite surprised at how uniform the water ended up looking. It has so much form in this part of the crack. It has defined edges and is catching the reflected light in places rather than just being white mist with no form.

That might also be why I chose to keep the lens stopped down. Since I saw the form of the water, I knew that it would register as something linear rather than mist. I found it interesting how the water is twisting and folding as it shoots through there. It reminds me of a rocket launch or something.

If I end up printing this one big, I'm sure many people will ask me what the white thing is. I get that a fair amount of questions even with my seascape photos where it should be obvious that it is water (usually a 2 second exposure or faster)

Nov 16, 2009 at 08:37 PM

bshamilton
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p.1 #4 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Striking image, Ben. After reading yours and Jeffrey's disertations I'm glad I use CF cards!

Did you by chance get any with a diagonal arrangement?

Barry

Nov 16, 2009 at 11:12 PM

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p.1 #5 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Very nice, Ben! I like the eerie, uncertain feeling of the water. It could be water, it could be smoke, it could be fog! It could be a ghost! The leaves were the only thing that truly clued me in that it wasn't a vertical surface with a "serpentine ghost" writhing its way upward through the crack.

Bev

Nov 16, 2009 at 11:13 PM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #6 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

bshamilton wrote:
Striking image, Ben. After reading yours and Jeffrey's disertations I'm glad I use CF cards!

Did you by chance get any with a diagonal arrangement?

Barry

Thanks Barry. I tried diagonal, as well as off center, but I found that breaking the rules and centering the crack looked best on the ground glass. It is a bit unlike my usual style, but I have found myself centering certain subjects lately. With the amount of detail that I can capture with that camera, sometimes a simple, straightforward presentation of a subject has been the best solution. Also, this particular angle made it easiest to minimize the reflections. Thanks again!

Nov 16, 2009 at 11:45 PM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #7 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Cloudbow wrote:
Very nice, Ben! I like the eerie, uncertain feeling of the water. It could be water, it could be smoke, it could be fog! It could be a ghost! The leaves were the only thing that truly clued me in that it wasn't a vertical surface with a "serpentine ghost" writhing its way upward through the crack.

Bev

great hearing from you Bev! I didn't expect the water to have quite as much form as it does here. I am use to shooting seascapes where the water is far more random in appearance. If you check out the short video on my blog posting you can see how the flow looks on video. It is such a cool location to visit.

Nov 16, 2009 at 11:58 PM

Ray Still
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p.1 #8 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Ben

Beautiful image here love the details and vivid colors of the Velvia 50, just gorgeous. I have to thank you for the video on your blog I watched every second with great anticipation a very cool video. I gotta get there next year if nowhere else. Beautiful work here Ben

Ray Still

Nov 17, 2009 at 12:12 AM

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p.1 #9 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

I never cease to be amazed at the level of detail you get in your shots Ben but after reading the discussions above I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the results given how much attention you pay to the shot setup.

Like Barry I'm awfully glad I carry lots of CF card space although I must plead guilty to not being quite as meticulous about my shot set up knowing I can always shoot another.

Great work as always.

Alan

Nov 17, 2009 at 12:24 AM

Bart Carrig
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p.1 #10 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Ben: I really like this shot. I'm one of those that really like's the smooth water, especially here, where it's richness matches the rock color and texture around it. The water did seem just a bit lower in the crack than other times I've visited, so I can see why you would factor in the depth of the crack to the water and the reflective light showing there.

And while I enjoy the angled view of the crack along the image, knowing the scene so well, the vertical view makes more "sense".

Beautiful image, executed perfectly.

I also enjoyed the blog with your fine report. Looks like you made excellent use of the full 10 days in Zion.

Bart

Nov 17, 2009 at 12:36 AM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #11 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Abiciriderback wrote:
Ben

Beautiful image here love the details and vivid colors of the Velvia 50, just gorgeous. I have to thank you for the video on your blog I watched every second with great anticipation a very cool video. I gotta get there next year if nowhere else. Beautiful work here Ben

Ray Still

Ray: As much as some people say that Velvia is a cliché film for landscapes, I just can't get over how beautiful the transparencies are. When I shoot this film, I don't have to spend any time tweaking the color to my liking in photoshop. It also scans quite well (assuming a contrasty, saturated print is the goal).

I like to document my trips with video because many of the trips are solo. It is fun to bring home some snapshots as well as a video to give a behind the scenes view. Speaking of videos, I have another one that you might get a kick out of (at my expense). This was taken by my girlfriend when her and I went to Yellowstone in August. We were at one of the geyser basins, and a Male Elk approached us from the other side of the geyser basin. We tried to stay away from it, but it crossed the boardwalk, and confronted us. I'm holding my 8x10 in front of me, and it lowered its antlers at me several times... within a foot and a half of my face. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m2p6zTRtUs

Crank up the audio and enjoy. :-)

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:36 AM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #12 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

alichty wrote:
I never cease to be amazed at the level of detail you get in your shots Ben but after reading the discussions above I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the results given how much attention you pay to the shot setup.

Like Barry I'm awfully glad I carry lots of CF card space although I must plead guilty to not being quite as meticulous about my shot set up knowing I can always shoot another.

Great work as always.

Alan

Thanks Alan. I am getting to be reasonable fast setting up these shots. After this trip, I am a heck of a lot more confident in my abilities with the 8x10 and my lenses. Also, my metering skills have greatly improved from past trips. It is a very methodical process, but that is why I enjoy it so much.

I end up with a bit of a photo OCD when I am setting up a shot. I usually double then triple check all my settings. It is so easy to have something set improperly. After I take the shot, I usually question my judgement, and assume the worst. Did I forget to set the aperture properly? Did I lock down the tilt? Did I..... I try not to let that get the best of me though.

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:40 AM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #13 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Bart Carrig wrote:
Ben: I really like this shot. I'm one of those that really like's the smooth water, especially here, where it's richness matches the rock color and texture around it. The water did seem just a bit lower in the crack than other times I've visited, so I can see why you would factor in the depth of the crack to the water and the reflective light showing there.

And while I enjoy the angled view of the crack along the image, knowing the scene so well, the vertical view makes more "sense".

Beautiful image, executed perfectly.

I also enjoyed the blog with your fine report. Looks like you made excellent use of the full 10 days in Zion.

Bart

Thanks for the kind words Bart. It's amazing how fast 10 days can go by. I remember waking up one day, and realizing that I was a third of the way through my trip, then it seemed like I was leaving the next day. I'm always on the move on these trips. I can't stand to stay in one place, unless I am waiting for the necessary light for a shot. I would get up every morning at 4AM and go for a drive to try and find subjects to shoot. I'm looking forward to heading back there next year.

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:53 AM

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p.1 #14 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

There's no such thing as being too OCD with your format Ben - anything less means blown chances to take home the shot and your don't that many opportunities to write off. In days of old this is how good photography was done.

When I first got a DSLR I used AP for almost everything with auto bracketing and auto focus alongside of image stabilization and was just delighted I could easily shoot upwards of 2-300 shots per day. Then one day while scanning some old slides it occurred to me that my actual success ratio was far better when my camera had no automatic controls whatever and I had to actually do a more calculated job behind the lens in the first place. I shuts off every automatic control on my camera entirely and get far more good exposures now than ever.

For me the field camera always represents the true art of photography - if you don't pay attention to every detail it simply isn't going to work. Thanks for keeping the candle burning on the Real Thing(TM) while the rest of us play with our digital toys.

Alan

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:54 AM

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p.1 #15 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Very cool Ben. I love the form the water has taken here. Your write-ups on your blog are enlightening as well, so thanks for that

Nov 17, 2009 at 04:28 AM

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p.1 #16 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Enjoyed the photo and the videos Ben, thanks. And I'm one that's in the camp of liking this super long exposed effect on the water here.

David

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:06 AM

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p.1 #17 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Yea, I hate soft corners when I open up more than f/45 ;-) Ha! Great work.

aF

Nov 17, 2009 at 07:20 AM

jsuro
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p.1 #18 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Ben Horne wrote:

I end up with a bit of a photo OCD when I am setting up a shot. I usually double then triple check all my settings. It is so easy to have something set improperly. After I take the shot, I usually question my judgement, and assume the worst. Did I forget to set the aperture properly? Did I lock down the tilt? Did I..... I try not to let that get the best of me though.

As I mentioned at NPN this is a spectacular image and the definitive example of what the 8x10 format can accomplish. As for the quote above, it comes with the territory

. I do exactly the same thing after a shoot. I think this is because there are some many details to think about for each image that I later try to replay the whole thing in my mind and if I made more than one image, as is often the case, those details get all jumbled up in my mind and I end up doubting myself

.

Great stuff!! I'm off to look at your video.

Best,

Jose

Nov 17, 2009 at 12:00 PM

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p.1 #19 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Pardon, but what is the crack?

Nov 17, 2009 at 01:01 PM

Milan Hutera
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p.1 #20 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

This is really beautiful Ben, lovely deep reds and the leaves are a nice touch. I don't mind the water/shutter speed at all, I'd just prefer the crack to be located more to the right and not in the center. Although... even this centered composition is very nice.

Nov 17, 2009 at 02:49 PM

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p.1 #21 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Nicely done! Jarv

Nov 17, 2009 at 02:51 PM

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p.1 #22 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Ben Horne wrote:
Cloudbow wrote:
Very nice, Ben! I like the eerie, uncertain feeling of the water. It could be water, it could be smoke, it could be fog! It could be a ghost! The leaves were the only thing that truly clued me in that it wasn't a vertical surface with a "serpentine ghost" writhing its way upward through the crack.

Bev

great hearing from you Bev! I didn't expect the water to have quite as much form as it does here. I am use to shooting seascapes where the water is far more random in appearance. If you check out the short video on my blog posting you can see how the flow looks on video. It is such a cool location to visit.

Looks like you had a hairy hike back out. Loved your comment: "Anyone who says photography is just button-pressing has not tried landscape before." So true! Some of the cross-country treks we take to get to that perfect spot can be treacherous! Thanks for pointing me to the video. It was interesting to see how the water rushes through the crack. I assumed the subway was a more frequently-visited place and would have a worn path to it, but you certainly weren't on one for your hike back.

Bev

Nov 18, 2009 at 01:53 AM

Tim Hallam
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p.1 #23 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

That's a simply stunning shot. Wow!

Tim

Nov 18, 2009 at 02:40 AM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #24 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

ajkessler wrote:
Very cool Ben. I love the form the water has taken here. Your write-ups on your blog are enlightening as well, so thanks for that

It's amazing how much the water level in this place can change so quickly. I was there the 7th, and the water level was considerably higher, causing a big jet of water to spray all over the spot where your rear tripod leg is positioned in that picture. Such an awesome place.

That's quite interesting to see how much the water had changed in a 5 day window. I think I was quite fortunate to have low water levels. Without that, I don't think it would have been as controlled. It would have been fun to shoot together, but as you said, life calls. I checked out your site, and I really enjoyed your photographic vision with all of the panoramas.

Nov 18, 2009 at 03:19 PM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #25 · Zion: The Serpentine Ghost

Grognard wrote:
Pardon, but what is the crack?

The crack is the feature that I photographed here. The entirety of the left fork stream is funneled through this crack in the sandstone bedrock. It is located about 100 yards south of the Subway area in Zion National Park.

Nov 18, 2009 at 03:21 PM


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