All of these shots are amazing Mark! But I especially love #1, I don't think I have ever seen a better shot of Punchbowl falls as this, and your Wahclella shot is almost as awesome (best one of it I have seen also). I would have never thought of breathing on the lens, adds an awfully nice effect. I also thank you for the info given to get the great shots, very helpful.
Lee Wiren wrote:
All of these shots are amazing Mark! But I especially love #1, I don't think I have ever seen a better shot of Punchbowl falls as this, and your Wahclella shot is almost as awesome (best one of it I have seen also). I would have never thought of breathing on the lens, adds an awfully nice effect. I also thank you for the info given to get the great shots, very helpful.
Lee
Thanks very much Lee.
Years ago (maybe about 5-6 years ago) I began experimenting with breathing on my lens quite a bit and had read that it was a technique that has been used for ages (I read it out of a popular photography magazine I think) but the problem with it was that I could not control it as well as I wanted to and the shots often looked too foggy! Recently I read a post where someone was experimenting with the effect, but breathing on the lens toward the end of the exposure. Duh!!! What an idiot I am (I thought to myself)! I was more often fogging the lens and then hoping it would wear off during exposure! Anyways, I spent some time thinking about the techniques potential with really long exposures 7-10+ minutes, which I do a lot of. Also, with the idea of taking some shots with the breathing technique and then some immediately after of the exact same scene without the technique and then maybe experimenting with various blending... so some creative ideas came flooding in. I have been using the technique, but just got re enthused about it.
BTW, having said all that, with image #1 of Punchbowl Falls the fogging did little to create the atmosphere of that image. You generally have to fog quite a bit longer than a mere 1/7th of your total exposure to really see much going on in the shot. Try it and you will see what I am talking about. The atmosphere you see here is mainly due to a very long exposure (7 minutes) with fog rolling in, rain pouring down, and mist all over the place.
I love the write up on each shot, thank you. It's nice to know what you did to obtain such good shots. Can you send me a pm on workshop information please. Great shots. Thanks for the post. Eric Falk e-mail is [email protected]
Mark..Love the images especially the 1st and #7. You reference a Black ND Filter. Is this different than a regular ND filter or is just a referece to the strength as I had not heard of that terminology before.
John Webb wrote:
Mark..Love the images especially the 1st and #7. You reference a Black ND Filter. Is this different than a regular ND filter or is just a referece to the strength as I had not heard of that terminology before.
Regards,
John
Hey John, thank you for the compliments. I just have a tendency to call it a "black filter" because it is black. "Neutral Density" sounds so sophisticated and sometimes confuses folks! I'm trying to get out of the habit of that.
I've lived in Oregon all 48 years of my life and these are some of the best images of "home" I have ever seen.. really wonderful work.. thanks for the inspiration...
Wow! I'm floored! Thank's for sharing your techniques, both in camera and in computer! It's definitely a learning experience.
The pictures are awsome.
Oregon is one place I would like to visit, but I'm afraid my days of hiking up the river are over! 50 years ago, maybe...
amazing series here Mark! I am assuming this is the same Mark that had the screen name mark80x80 (something like that ). These are just outstanding! I am heading to the coast here in a few days, as my parents are visiting for the first time in 10 years, and want (AND WILL, rather they like it or not) to try my hand at a few 10 minute exposures at the coast (Kiwanda comes to mind). These are inspiring!
zerolimit wrote:
I love the write up on each shot, thank you. It's nice to know what you did to obtain such good shots. Can you send me a pm on workshop information please. Great shots. Thanks for the post. Eric Falk e-mail is [email protected]
Sam tran wrote:
Gorgeous series Mark, but is that you or Nick sleeping on the wheel, eh?
Please let me know next time you/Nick go out so I will stay home or avoid the route you take, ok?
Hey, even that picture s looking good - in a darn humor way too!
Sam
Yes, we were happy, having fun and decided to show some humor here. Actually half the trip was rolling over laughing. I am finding that people don't just want great photos from a trip, and more technical information, but they want to have a full experience and fun! So a balance between fun and "work" is what I strive for on the workshops.
teked wrote:
Beautiful images, Mark. My favorites are the first two. Although it looks like the first could have the cyan in the waterfall toned down to make it even better.
Cheers,
Ed
Hey Ed,
The cyan comment here threw me off a little because I could not see it on my monitor. Then I went and checked a variety of monitors and on some of them I could. The rubber met the road when I recently did my first test print. Yep, too much cyan! Thank you for your eagle eye and help with that tip!
Wow, the first shot had me looking at it for a good ten seconds which is very long these days. I also appreciate you sharing the technical information for your shots.
My brother and I want to have a photo shooting vacation and Oregon is the place to go. After he sees your photos he will agree.
My question is not really a photographic question but looking at the conditions I have to ask. What kind of shoes do you wear when walking in the water? Do you have two pairs of shoes, a pair of water shoes and a pair hiking shoes? Or do you have just one pair of shoes? If it is just one pair, how do you get them dry for the next day?
I don't know about Mark, but i know that alot of people use fishing shoes, ie; knee high rubber (similar) boots. Me, i just hike in flip flops. Yes, i hiked in the Oneonta Gorge in May with flip flops. My feet didn't gain feeling for a day or two
flpicshooter wrote:
My question is not really a photographic question but looking at the conditions I have to ask. What kind of shoes do you wear when walking in the water? Do you have two pairs of shoes, a pair of water shoes and a pair hiking shoes? Or do you have just one pair of shoes? If it is just one pair, how do you get them dry for the next day?
The water here and in any of the Gorge rivers really makes your feet and legs hurt until they go numb (I always say to myself and client: "What would Bear do?" as in Bear Grylls - "Man vs Wild" if you know who he is). If you don't know that they will eventually go numb, some would not be willing to suffer the needle-like pain. I brought hiking shoes, some excessively big hiking shoes (I'll explain in a second) and some running shoes on this trip. On this falls I hiked into the area with the hiking shoes then went running into the water with them, then hiked out with wet shoes, then let them air out for a day while using my running shoes for the next day. I got smarter at Wahclella falls and brought the waders which are just wonderful and go over your feet too. With the waders on I put on my over sized hiking shoes for that grip you will need walking in rushing water on slimy bolders... That worked really well. My client had no waders so he suffered the 3 or so hours, even up to his chest at times, at Wahclella! As soon as he started turning blue and started slurring his speech I decided that he had had enough! The adrenaline got him through it. River sandals might work for some but I find I need a little more rugged shoe because the amount of river trekking I generally do can really beat up the feet. I will often have a few pairs, one I am wearing, and one drying for the next day. As long as I don't have to hike 10+ miles the next day, even if they are still slightly damp I don't mind putting them on and going as long as they are broken in and comfortable. I hope it helps. This great question does bring up the issue of being prepared! I did not think it was going to rain on this shoot and did not bring adequate rain gear. Adrenaline got me through for a while, but then I started to get miserable and started losing concentration. My client suggested me using a large Glad trash bag (making a hole for my big head to go through) and to my surprise in about 5-10 minutes I was warm again! Great tip! Since the punchbowl shot was the last shot of the shoot, I think I might have missed it if it was not for me regaining my strength by using my clients tip. (always have a couple extra trash bags in the pack).Lastly, if you get some waders they will be thick and thus the extra big shoe. Also, you need to know the dangers of waders. I have heard of people slipping in deep water and then drowning because they got filled with water. Mine are really tight like spandex so I don't worry to much about that, but I certainly am careful because I don't ever want to find out.
I'm not usually partial to milky water shots, but I've got to tell ya that #1 ROCKS!!! I have gone back and looked at it at least three times, and I still love it!!! One of the better shots I've seen on here in a while.
What an idiot I am (I thought to myself)! 