Falls

Wow ... that's some intense color! I would not have guessed this is Alaska. The composition is beautiful. My primary critique is that the large expanse of red color in the upper left quadrant draws a lot of attention away from the rest of the magnificent scene. I'd suggest a more intimate crop of about 20% or so from the top and left.

Stunning array of colors Vance! The waterfall ain't bad either...beautiful image.

I was thinking about the same crop Jim suggested, but I assume you framed it this way to capture that expanse of vibrant red color. I do think the crop would work as well, if your so inclined.

An amazing splash of color Vance. The zig zag of color is amazing. Beautiful capture.

Excellent color and detail

Wow that is red! Did you get any images with the grizzly in the scene? This is my kind of scene Vance - I really like it. I could see a slight crop off the top or off the left side (either one, but not both). Anyway you cut it this is sweet.

Michael

That's some intense color! A slight crop off the left seems to strengthen this even more, but very nice as is.

Mother nature has really thrown some beautiful colour out there Vance, the larger version really shows off all the wonderful details.

Gary.

These colors are awesome. A very beautiful scene.

Beautiful combination of colors.

Vance: Pretty smart guy. I know some people who would have seen what you saw as "danger" and your "respect" as an opportunity to photograph the bear. I think I would have been with you :-).

I am "new" to this area. Have been on these forums for several years and have posted an ocassional image -- mostly in the regional areas. I want to preface my remarks by saying that what follows is my OPINION (probably goes without saying, but I said it anyway :-). )

I like the overall "idea" of this image. The wash of color and the varieties is nice. And my personal taste runs to highly saturated images -- these colors appear well-saturated. I am not sure the size and placement in the frame of the waterfall "works" for me. I found myself asking what the "subject" of the photograph was. If it is the waterfall, I would like to see it more "in your face" with the surrounding colors providing "environment." I recognize that there may have been physical limits to doing this, given the distance. I kind of agree with what Jim said. You can portray the colors with "less" of them and still have the same impact. OTOH, if the entire environmental shot is what you are going for, I might even be inclined to make the waterfall a smaller percentage of the overall image.

My other thoughts are FWIW - I work in two different offices, each with a different monitor, use a laptop computer and often its own screen, and have a monitor at home that is the only one that gets regularly calibrated -- so what I see on screen is not always accurate to what you have or what a print may look like. So, on my screen (today :-) ): The overal image seems slightly bright. Especially in the highest tones in the water, but also overall. Also, the detail, even in the larger version, seems slightly soft. I have learned (the hard way sometimes) that increasing saturation will effect detail ( negatively) and have to be careful with saturation boosts. I know there are those here who are much more knowledgeable and talented with PS and LR and there are techniques for accomplishing the saturation result without destruction. Something I am working hard on learning myself.

Finally, I am slightly bothered by the way the waterfall stream exits the image. I am assuming that no matter where you shoot this image from, it will have to exit the frame. Maybe move the lower frame up just a tad and have it widen out at the bottom where it exits.

Having said that, I really like the color. Went to AK myself last year, but in Spring and on a cruise. Would really like to get back in the "Fall." Thanks for posting this and for the chance to comment on it.

Very nice. Love the color and placement of the waterfall.

Wild colors! What a great array, nicely anchored by the waterfall. Well done!

I can imagine the grizzly made you pucker, so to speak.

Great kind of flow also in the vegetation, that makes your image special to me, Vance. An interesting interplay of colors and shapes to my eye.

Peter

I clicked on the thumbnail, and before reading your description, I thought: "These colors look like Alaska". Maybe because of your previous image(s) from Alaska, or because of other images I have seen. Anyway, fantastic color and composition Vance!

Some beautiful fall color Vance! A wonderful waterfall too. I would have been getting some space between the grizzly and myself too. Nice work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

I would have loved to see you "quickly pack up" a 4x5 view camera...
beautiful image Vance...
Well done...

Beautiful image Vance. Definitely unique as well. Only suggestion - a square crop puts more emphasis on the waterfall.

A little hard to wrap my mind around this. Foreground tree in LRC give a sense of scale, but then the rest of the image doesn't seem to match--that waterfall must be bigger than it appears relative to the tree, but it's hard to say, making for an abstract presentation. A less abstract comp would maybe have me questioning the saturation, but it seems OK in this context. Actually, a finger over the falls looks nice too with what remains in the scene.

Thank you everyone for your comments. As always, I really appreciate the feedback on these images. I considered cropping this when I was working on the scan, but decided against doing so because of what Eva mentioned, the zig-zag pattern created by the ridges and the creek bed/ravine. Being one who likes finding patterns in the landscape, this subtle pattern had nice movement. Also wanted to make the most of the patchwork of colors throughout the image. I do see the points of emphasizing the waterfall by cropping, and do like the square crop idea that Justin suggested.
As far as the color intensity and sats, well, you had to be there. The blueberry and what we called bearberry, in the autumn is so red that it was hard to believe; almost neon in places. Together with the yellows of the willow and cottonwoods,its pretty amazing. The autumn color of Alaska is one of its best kept secrets I think.
Being alone (or with others for that matter) in the backcountry of Alaska, one always has to keep a watch for bears and give them all the space they needed. When I saw the grizzly here, I packed my gear away as fast as I could, grabbed the tripod and did a major lung-buster back up the slope, but not running. He didn't seem too interested in me fortunately. I didn't get the shot I had set up for and did not get any pictures of the bear. Maybe I was too cautious but being alone, and far from anyone, I feel I made the right decision.
Thanks again for the suggestions and comments. All the best light to you all.

This is excellent, Vance, especially when viewing the large version! It might be better balanced if you lost a little bit of the top but I can sure see why you kept it too. A beautiful scene and a superb capture of it!

Lovely, Vance! The fall colors are some of the most vibrant that I've ever seen.
Good diagnonal lines in the canyon, and the rock facing to the left has good
texture and detail. Superbly composed and well exposed.
No suggestions for changes from me.

Hey,

I like this scene alot. I wouldn't mind more emphisis on the falls as well, but the beautiful rusty reds on the slope above are very nice too. I've seen many images that the colors seem pushed, well beyond what you have here. It looks juicy, but not too much so, imo. About the bear, that time of year, he probably didn't give a rip about you, but you never can be too sure.

Chris

This is just dripping with color and I think the comp works just fine. Its nice to once in awhile get a reminder that there is still wildness out there, especially when we can live to tell about it.

Hello

Love the colours in the Image and the Waterfall is beautiful .... Great Work ....

Helmut