the tunnel

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 10, 2011924 views21 comments

rather than the subway, that icon from north america, this is The Tunnel from the drakensberg in south africa. it lies at the bottom of the tugela falls (apparently the second highest waterfall in the world - possibly image to follow ...). i thought the curves were rather compelling. constrained as i was, using 100ISO film (ilford delta 100), this required an exposure of 2 or 4 secs (I don't recall which) at f22! anyway, i hope you enjoy this image - illustrating that water around the world has similar erosion powers!

thanks for looking - notes and ideas on tweaks or crops or dodges or burns welcome!!

mamiya 7ii, 43mm, delta 100 b&w film, tripod, no filters.

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on May 10, 2011 at 9:12 AM

Funny - my first response before reading your caption was: the Subway in bw, that's refreshing.

But a different subway, that's even more refreshing.

I can't really comment on exposure and dodging and burning as I'm on a laptop right now, but overall this looks pretty neat. That said, the water in the foreground is not nearly as interesting as the boulders in the midground, and I'd prefer to have those in the foreground. I realize that you wouldn't have been able to get the view you have now, but still.

I used to own a Mamiya 7II and three lenses - I don't think I've ever seen anything that sharp and awesome coming straight out of the camera.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 10, 2011 at 9:14 AM

marsel - thanks - the 43mm is an utterly awesome lens!

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Cory Freeman on May 10, 2011 at 9:42 AM

great tones and texture throughout this. maybe open the shadows a touch in the urc and add a slight amount of midtone contrast?

Registered on December 16, 2003, 107 Posts, 1341 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on May 10, 2011 at 10:28 AM

Stuart, I'm becoming a big fan of your B&W work. Like the previous posts, this shows great sensitivity to the visual elements of the place, and superb processing.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 10, 2011 at 10:37 AM

Well done, nice BW conversion. Is there much color to see in this scene?

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Alex Mody on May 10, 2011 at 10:47 AM

This is fantastic! I your unique vision here, and it looks awesome in the B+W you shot it in.

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 10, 2011 at 11:16 AM

Stuart, This is wonderful. I really enjoy looking at this. Beautiful black and white work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 10, 2011 at 11:23 AM

@ james - there wasn't a lot of colour - much better suited to b&w (but i might not be the one to ask!). with some good reflected light and TK's skills, i'm sure that one could produce some colour magic. downstream, the water was an utterly gorgeous turquoise blue!

thanks to all for comments!

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Vijay Raj on May 10, 2011 at 11:53 AM

Your image is such a grounder. As I see innumerable images each one pushing the limits of digital photography with the premise of capturing what the eye is seeing. Your image brings one back to ask the moot question 'Is there purity of the medium? Your image answers that question comprehensively that you can still have images done in a single exposure with absolutely stunning effect.

Registered on November 22, 2010, 29 Posts, 100 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 10, 2011 at 12:09 PM

The tones and shapes just pull me through the Tunnel Stuart. Well crafted B&W!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on May 10, 2011 at 2:03 PM

I cant offer any suggestions for tweeks etc Stuart because I like it as is. The comp is excellent, nice shadow and highlight detail and nice and sharp too.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on May 10, 2011 at 3:07 PM

Does look like the subway. Gotta be honest here--this isnt working for me., but maybe thats because it reminds me of a b&w subway... I think the main problem(s) for me is the water exposure has removed the sense of dynamics from the flow--looks almost more like ice than water. I think a lower perspecive or sharper angle mightt have been stronger as well. Sorry!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 10, 2011 at 4:27 PM

stan - thanks - you're right water isn't perfect (such are the constraints) and maybe a sharper angle may have proved more dynamic. good to have feedback though - thanks.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on May 10, 2011 at 4:54 PM

I think this is beautiful, the textures and tones are wonderful and I love you did this in BW, and on film no less... This image works for me, well done!

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Barry Vangrov on May 10, 2011 at 5:43 PM

Compositionally I think this is dead on. Processing-wise the mid-tones look a bit dark and maybe a bit more contrast for added punch, but both of those could be my monitor. Nice job.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 148 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Chip Phillips on May 10, 2011 at 5:48 PM

Awesome image Stuart. The comp has a wonderful flow and I like the slight sheen on the water.

Registered on November 26, 2007, 128 Posts, 1436 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on May 10, 2011 at 7:56 PM

Beautiful B&W tones. I like this composition, although I can see other nice possibilities.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 10, 2011 at 8:30 PM

You got me too! I was definately think the American Southwest, if not the Subway. I like the tonality here, and the comp too. My only nit is in agreement with Stan about the water. The shutterspeed was too long for this amount of water flow. It basically smoothed it out too much. You could experiment with some dodge/burn to try and bring back some dynamics to the water and this would be real nice.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 11, 2011 at 2:18 AM

This is phenomenal, Stuart. The light and shadow, and the tortuous curve of the water and rock carrying the eye back, simply are superb. The tonality you achieve with black and white is fantastic. Beautiful art.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 11, 2011 at 7:38 PM

Man, I would love to explore such a place! Processing in this one could be improved by brightening the water highlights a bit, otherwise very solid.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 11, 2011 at 11:31 PM

Marc - yes, a place worthy of much exploration ... sadly i was here only for a brief moment but will see if i can get back.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments