In Yosemite with Northside Drive closed off, unless you wanted to walk for a mile, many of us got to try out some new locations. Now Henry, and Edie and I know others have shot from this point at Southside Drive, but lot's of us hadn't. Now of a few of the shot's I had seen from this location, I had seen some shot's of Horsetail Falls on fire being reflected in the Merced. But those shot's seemed to be pretty rare, so to get a reflected shot was one of my goals going up there this year.

And so as dozens of us were gathered around, some scattered up on the banks, others of us were down on the edge of the river, but almost everyone was shooting closeup's of the falls, just as we would if we were in the picnic area. So now, a few of my friends laughed at me, but I went in there set up with 3 camera's... 1 that was focused on a closeup of the falls, #2 was with my wide angle, so I could get a super wide shot that would include the reflection. Both of these were on tripods with remote releases. My 3rd one was set up with Nikons 18-200mm VR lens, and I was handholding it, figuring I could use the VR to help, and it would allow me the flexibility to go either wide or close on the spur of the moment.

So as others laughed... I hope I got my shots...

Here is one that was with the Handheld at about 18mm using the VR to stablize the shot. While different, I hope it is pleasing.

Comments are welcome!

What a very cool view, Jim. Fantastic work getting it! Looks like you're standing right in the middle of the river!!!
I think you captured the lighting perfectly, looking up and out of the shaded valley! Really nicely done!

Barry

Jim
You got your icon from an unusual vantage point. Great comp. You did miss the large slab of crimson stone found in the closseups. I'd call it a worthy compromise.

That is a neat view indeed, I with the highlights weren't quite as white by the tree tops. Sure is a lovely shot.. now show the others!

Well done Jim! That's a difficult shot!

Hey Jim, that's a groovy shot! I'm curious what it would look like with the levels in the top half brought down some.

Edited by TeamSK jay on Mar 06, 2008 at 08:26 AM GMT

A very lovely shot, Jim. This is all the more appealing because it allows for viewers to gauge the size and scale of Horsetail Fall against the face of El Cap.

I have shots from this vantage point over the years but this year (with the picnic area being more difficult to get to) when I tried to shoot from this location the banks were overflowing with fellow shooters and I didn't want to do so much clone work!

Beautiful shot - get it up in the wall of your living room ASAP!

bshamilton wrote:
What a very cool view, Jim. Fantastic work getting it! Looks like you're standing right in the middle of the river!!!
I think you captured the lighting perfectly, looking up and out of the shaded valley! Really nicely done!

Barry

Thanks Barry! I was one of about 5 people down on edge of the river.

Jim

Tim ONeill wrote:
Jim
You got your icon from an unusual vantage point. Great comp. You did miss the large slab of crimson stone found in the closseups. I'd call it a worthy compromise.

Thanks Tim! I do have that in my closeups, but for what I was visualizing of a reflection shot, this does what I was hoping for.

Jim

floris wrote:
That is a neat view indeed, I with the highlights weren't quite as white by the tree tops. Sure is a lovely shot.. now show the others!

Hey Floris, I appreciate that. Yeah, I would have liked for it not to have been so hot too, but that "V" area in the tree's does let the sun through. I will probably go back and work this one a bit more later after I have had a chance to digest everyones thoughts and my own.

Jim

TeamSK jay wrote:
Hey Jim, that's a groovy shot! I'm curious what it would look like with the levels in the top half brought down some.

Edited by TeamSK jay on Mar 06, 2008 at 08:26 AM GMT

I appreciate that Jay. I actually was having the same thoughts as I was looking at it. Some shots when we process them, I think we know exactly how we want it to look, this one as I have been able to sit back now and just enjoy it, I can see a few things I will probably go back and work on, and one of those is to bring down that top half just a little bit more. I was trying to keep it as realistic as possible, and I didn't just want to let it go into a silhouette, which is very easy to do.

Thanks again.

Jim

The strength of the portrait shot is enhanced by that gorgeous reflection you captured, Jim. You nailed the positioning imho of the orange glow on the falls. Masterly captured.

I love it!

Al B

Humm, three cameras only? Figurted you would have more than that lined up for shooting...

Nice shot with the reflection, but as Floris said the whites on the sky by the trees is a tad distracting...

Jim,
Very nice shot.
I will have to wait til next year to try this view, but it was worth it for you.
I have a different kind of suggestion.
In addition to the toning down of the bright sky (one of my weaknesses),
I would suggest trying an abstract by doing a double-flip of the lower half.

Dan

Holymoly!! FrikkinA man...gaaah i knew i shoulda driven out there...i hate you now too.

Hello Jim,

Super composition and excellent use of the reflections. Perhaps a bit of Selective Color - increase the Black Level of the Blue Channel for slightly more blue in the sky? In any event, well conceived and captured.

hugh

dswiger wrote:
Jim,
Very nice shot.
I will have to wait til next year to try this view, but it was worth it for you.
I have a different kind of suggestion.
In addition to the toning down of the bright sky (one of my weaknesses),
I would suggest trying an abstract by doing a double-flip of the lower half.

Dan
His idea of the double flip is interesting. It'd give some definition to the clouds. I'd never have thought of it myself though.

Jim,

3 Cameras! Really I need to show this to my wife because she sometime thinks I'm crazy with all the stuff I set up to get a shot. She'll realize that there are people out there doing anything to get the shot. But you GOT THE SHOT on this one. The reflection is fabulous and is a new view of Yosemite I've never seen before. Great job!

--Gordon

Ha, I do wish I had more than one camera many times. This is a great one and Im sure you've got many others with all focal lengths.

Nicely done, Jim! I never get tired of Horsetail, but it's always good to see these different angles. Dave

Beautiful shot. Love the little highlight and reflections.