p.1 #1 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
***I updated the images to display how they should look. They were a little too contrasty and saturated from the color space conversion.***
Some time ago, I spent several weeks in the gorge to photograph waterfalls. While it is a very photogenic place, I find it incredibly difficult to find shots not done before in the usual locations.
Here is my best attempts at old subjects with hopefully unique captures. I know the processing isn't for visual scientific accuracy. It's for emotional accuracy, which matters more to me.
A famous and well photographed subject, Punchbowl Falls is very difficult to capture with a unique touch. This shot has a special value due to the two ducks sitting on the rock, and the slightly different perspective gained from shooting far back with a longer focal length. Most people are probably not willing to risk standing in the rapids above the second waterfall, but if you can stand there without getting swept to your death ( or wetness ) then this causes the waterfall to look larger in relation to the surrounding rocks. Most people stand way too close where it is safer.
This little area is cool, but doesn't offer many choices for something unique. All of my landscapes are done to show all of the details with no out of focus areas, so I decided to put the bokeh of the 16-35L II to the test and defy my usual trends. It still has a waterfall, but the whole image is now less busy and more elegant. I will have to try this shallow DOF more often when appropriate.
This image is from the same area as the previous image, but with more DOF and a little action in the water pool. This reflection shot has been done to death, but the movement I think is something unique I have not seen before.
The easiest and most classic shot in the gorge. I took this shot off to the side for a better balance with the foreground. When doing this though, the bridge above tends to look tilted from being off center. I corrected the distortion to level out the bridge and get something that is a slightly unique perspective, without the detrimental distortion.
This waterfall has a very tiny area for shooting and is also well traveled. Setting up a tripod can be a little tricky. There isn't much unique here, but I have yet to see anyone else take a panoramic photo here.
p.1 #3 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
Hi Johan, I think you definitely managed to put your own vision into the Gorge here! Really well done and quite unique photographs. I quite like the one with the whirlpool action, though I would bring down the highlights just the tiniest bit and also desaturate the greens or do selective color and take them just a bit away from Cyan. I know, the Gorge is green . I really like the pano format of the final image, though I do wish there was a bit more space at the bottom. All around really well done. BTW, are those harlequin ducks?
p.1 #4 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
Thanks for giving feedback! I agree with all things mentioned. One problem I am having, is that I process everything in aRGB with a calibrated monitor, for printing. When I convert it down to sRGB, I get weird changes to the green+red channels and some loss in the highlights. I think an sRGB photo needs to be processed as sRGB all the way through to get best results or it could be that converting using Photoshop is not being done correctly.
p.1 #6 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
Beautiful serious John! I hope to visit there one day!
Why are you converting to sRGB for print? That doesn't make any sense. I work in 16bit and ProPhotoRGB for the widest gamut of colours and never convert anything before sending files to print. I used to covert (not assign profile) to sRGB for online images but now covert to AdobeRGB. Any half-asses serious photographer on this site is running a good display with calibration. If not then I question why one would spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on high end camera gear to NOT work on a calibrated display for a couple hundred? Any way. I would never in a million years recommend anyone work in sRGB when editing photos. You'll be working with so much less information it would limit your editing control. Only convert to sRGB for web if needed.
p.1 #7 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
Scott. sRGB conversion is for posting on the web. I use flickr for my images, which I think works best with sRGB. I print in aRGB because I don't have a monitor with prophoto display capabilities for post processing. I don't think there is even one that exists, and if it does I can't afford it. If I didn't do any post processing work, then I would be more tempted to use pro-photo.
Just so people know, I don't process my photos to have such intense reds and greens when working in a different color space. I need to work on better web conversions.
p.1 #11 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
Very nice captures. I like that you've created unique images from heavily photographed locations. The fortune of having water fowl, let alone harlequin ducks, in the Punchbowl shot makes that one very unique. I'd second the ID as Harlequin Ducks BTW. We occasionally see them around the Puget Sound during the winter months but they certainly aren't common. I've never seen them as far south as the Gorge though.
p.1 #12 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
plubbry wrote:
Very nice captures. I like that you've created unique images from heavily photographed locations. The fortune of having water fowl, let alone harlequin ducks, in the Punchbowl shot makes that one very unique. I'd second the ID as Harlequin Ducks BTW. We occasionally see them around the Puget Sound during the winter months but they certainly aren't common. I've never seen them as far south as the Gorge though.
Thanks for sharing.
The ducks actually followed me up the creek/trail from way down below near the parking lot. They seemed incredibly skilled at working river rapids and flying up tight areas. For whatever reason they wanted to hang out with me, and then later took off when other people showed up. I get all sorts of animals from elk, deer, bears, foxes, and goats who like to hang out as long as my attention is not focused on them directly.
They are slightly blurry in this photo. I have a faster shot with them more clear, but I think it adds to the authenticity by not having it perfect. Otherwise they look photoshopped into the image.
p.1 #14 · Several weeks in the Columbia Gorge - (updated)
Nice different takes. I love the geranium that you have in your second photo and I loved seeing them in the girge until I learned they are not native and are an invasive species. :-/
. I really like the pano format of the final image, though I do wish there was a bit more space at the bottom. All around really well done. BTW, are those harlequin ducks?
? Any way. I would never in a million years recommend anyone work in sRGB when editing photos. You'll be working with so much less information it would limit your editing control. Only convert to sRGB for web if needed.
