Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Nevergreen Falls
‹ PreviousLandscape GalleryNext ›

Nevergreen Falls

by Navin Sarma

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 27, 2012299 views19 comments
The (now) green water of the Potomac ricochets through the dense rock of Great Falls, Virginia.

Another focus stack exercise. This time 5 images stacked at 14mm ~f/14, 1/6 sec, ISO 50. 5dm2 & 14-24

I purposely went a little darker here... perhaps too dark? Your thoughts? To really see you may should view large. :wink:

Comments

19 comments
Comment posted by Neale Dyster on January 27, 2012 at 3:47 AM
I wasn't drawn by the thumbnail, but the image and especially the large image are really impressive Navin.
Your focus stacking worked very well. It's a very dynamic image and I don't find it too dark at all.
Registered on February 19, 2008, 94 Posts, 738 Comments
Comment posted by Danny Laureys on January 27, 2012 at 5:17 AM
Excellent!!!! Like this a lot. :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Hilton on January 27, 2012 at 7:01 AM
Navin,
Really nice.
You consistently come up with different/new perspectives on GFalls.
I really like the low angle and the water capture,of course the location you selected is outstanding also.
I am jealous :wink:
I like your processing and exposure, not too dark at all for my tastes.
Well done.
Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on January 27, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Large is really worth the peek. I like the strong triangular rocks and the mood set by the darkness of the image.
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on January 27, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Nice composition, great energy. The darkness of the L side is less of an issue in the larger version with the details opened up a bit.
Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 27, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Beautiful Navin! Your shutter speed was absolutely perfect IMO. Very nice comp too. On the darkness, it seems a little too dark for my tastes, but everybody has a different idea about that.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 27, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Cool! I really like your low angle here, works real well, and the mood. I think dark is good, but personally i might bring the bright portion up a tad (not the highlites though).
Just my personal take, but i kind of think a 5 image stack for focus might be overkill here. You probably could have hyperfocused at f/16 or so and got 99% of this in focus. The blend almost always causes issues. Im not sure if it's the blend or just the ss here, but for example there is a weird spot on the left side of the lrhc rock that looks like water on the lens or something.
Really nice regardless. :wavey:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Navin Sarma on January 27, 2012 at 1:22 PM
hi everyone, thanks for the comments!!

appreciate thoughts on the brightness of the image. looks to be about a 50/50 split.

stan - thanks for the comment re: focus stacking. while in the field, i tried to determine exactly how many frames i'd need for the most FG rock to the trees to all be as sharp as possible at something of a middle tier aperture (to use the lens at its peak setting for sharpness and limit the CA i often get with my lens -- does anyone else get significant CA with their Nikkor 14-24mm?). i think i was probably around f/11-f/14 in these frames (with the nikkor lens mounted on a canon I can never be sure). i guess what i'm saying is i tried my best to NOT stop down, perhaps tried a bit too much.

Good eye - on the left side of the RHC rock there was a bit of an issue with the motion due to the focus stack. when comparing to the original frame for that focal length, though, it wasn't significantly different so i alleviated it to an extent by cloning. I think i'll take another pass through now that you pointed it out though. overall, i was very pleased/surprised with the way Helicon focus handled the motion throughout the stacked image -- I really couldn't find any other aberrations.

thanks again for your comments...
Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on January 27, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Nice POV! I know that spot well. By the way, I got your messages. If you wanna get together for a shoot sometime, just let me know.

Joe
Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on January 27, 2012 at 2:21 PM
I agree with Stan's comments pretty much Navin. I would like to see this just a tad lighter, but not much. And I do see that spot that Stan pointed out, especially in the large version.

On the positive side, I love the low angle perspective you chose, it makes for a very dynamic comp! Love that green color in the water as well!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on January 27, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Navin, I especially appreciate the way you show the dynamics and energy, as well as you anchore the composition by the rocks at the bottom. Exposure and processing fit in perfectly to me with the atmosphere.

Peter
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Navin Sarma on January 27, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Made a slight adjustment to correct the disturbance in the bottom right. As I mentioned, the original frame isn't much different from the stacked version, but there was a little something. This was mostly the result of the water motion.

You'll only notice the difference in the large file, which I have posted to Flickr (as to not post too large a file on NPN). Additional thoughts welcome:

CLICK HERE
Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Hilton on January 27, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Navin and Joe,
Any interest in doing an outing with DC Metro (MD-VA) NPN'ers?
Or getting together on a somewhat regular basis?
Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 27, 2012 at 9:49 PM
The green is a nice contrast to the more monochrome elements in the scene. Wish it were a bit more centered in the frame.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Andrew Livingston on January 27, 2012 at 11:02 PM
The darkness works with the overcast sky to create a dramatic image. I also like the movement in the water.

I would be up for joining a DC Metro NPN get together.
Registered on November 14, 2007, 12 Posts, 75 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 28, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Navin, I really enjoy looking at ths, especially the large version. The feel of motion here really comes through nice and I think your low angle pov worked great. The green in the water is also a nice touch! Very nice work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Navin Sarma on January 29, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Thanks again for the additional comments. :)

Sure Tom!I'm up for a meetup sometime
Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments
Comment posted by David Chauvin on January 29, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Very nice! The touch of green in the water gives this the kick it needs for such overcast light. :cool:
Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on January 30, 2012 at 12:36 AM
Very moody! Great capture.
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments