Icy Greens

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 29, 2013776 views15 comments

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, January 2013.

Last week I stopped by a few of my favorite waterfalls in the Gorge and was amazed by all of the color. The greens/yellows contrasted nicely with all of the ice around the waterfalls.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35 f/4, polarizer
3 image hand blend for DOF (see notes below!)
0.4 sec at f/16, ISO 200 x3

I have a question for anyone using the 16-35 f/4 on a D800. I find the performance of the lens to be very poor (extremely soft corners and it seems incapable of getting a whole scene sharp in a single exposure even at f/11 or f/16). I end up having to DOF blends just about every time I touch the lens! Does anyone else have this problem? Has anyone compared the 16-35 f/4 to the 17-35 f/2.8? I also have the 14-24 f/2.8 which I find to be much sharper in the corners, so I don't think the problem is my technique

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on January 29, 2013 at 10:00 PM

I like the perspective here, Scott. The ice seems out of place on what appear to be vibrant spring greens - for me that really gives this image some character and uniqueness.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 29, 2013 at 10:05 PM

I like the centered look as the waterfall is a bit off center - the ice is a really interesting touch especially when contrasted with the vibrant greens

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on January 29, 2013 at 10:25 PM

Beautiful and sharp image, so lush and cold looking, a unique combo. I can't comment on your lens.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Martin W. Quinn on January 29, 2013 at 10:39 PM

Very nice image, tons of detail and great color throughout.

I don't have any experience with the 16-35 f/4 but I have owned the 17-35 f/2.8 for quite a while. I definitely see softness around the edges that I had never noticed with any other camera including film cameras. I am very interested in finding everyone's thoughts on 14-24 f/2.8 as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 28 Posts, 189 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on January 29, 2013 at 10:46 PM

Is this the lowest falls on Ruckel Creek? Ordinarily not one of the most photogenic falls, so all the more impressively well done. Beautiful composition and colors. Certainly plenty sharp here, can't comment on the lens.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on January 29, 2013 at 11:09 PM

Beautiful! The frost adds a nice seasonal touch. The greens are lively! Love the comp...w/the shutter speed showing dancing water in the f/g.

I sometimes wonder why I sold my 17-35 f2.8...but the corners and overall sharpness on the 14-24 is solid on my Nikon 800e. I only dislike the lens distortion when going wide. When I don't have close-in objects I just go with my 35mm zeiss and make a pano. Someday a tilt-shift might be nice to try.

Great photo!

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on January 29, 2013 at 11:58 PM

Beautiful image Scott. Those greens just pop off the screen and the little bit of red and white give a nice color contrast.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on January 30, 2013 at 2:43 AM

Wonderful shot, Scott. Love the light spots on the mossy rocks. There seems to be a softness in the upper corners indeed. I also had these issues with my Canon 17-40mm back then. My Zeiss 21mm is much better in that regard now.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on January 30, 2013 at 8:01 AM

Very nice image, Scott. The greens are gorgeous and the frost adds value. flowing water presented very well. Great job.

Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 30, 2013 at 10:22 AM

This is very nice Scott. Really cool seeing the frost with all the beautiful greens and I like your comp and exposure. A beautiful scene! ...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Ben Horne on January 30, 2013 at 3:11 PM

You've composed this beautifully Scott. It comes across very natural, and the ice along the edge of the falls helps give it a bit more visual weight. I wouldn't mind seeing a version with a slightly longer shutter speed. Though the shutter speed you've captured here is very ideal, sometimes the water ends up looking too perfect, and deliberately adding some "flaws" to the image will make it seem more genuine. It's kind of strange, but something I've been thinking a lot about lately. Also, if this was mine, I would consider a very faint vignette to stop my eye from getting lost in the upper left corner. Beautiful work Scott!

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on January 31, 2013 at 6:37 AM

Great shot Scott - love that ice and the fresh look of the shot.

I have no experience with the 16-35, but I own both the 17-35 and the 14-24. It's the 14-24 that I used almost all the time because it's a much better lens. The only time I use the 17-35 is when I need to use filters or if I'm trying something that might destroy my gear.

On the D800 diffraction can be a problem - I don't go higher than f/8 and do focus blends for greater dof.

Marsel

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 31, 2013 at 10:50 AM

Really nice work here, Scott. Excellent colors, comp, and light.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on January 31, 2013 at 11:17 AM

Your centered composition works exceptionally well for me Scott, especially as there are wonderful areas of interest at both sides. I enjoy the mixture of textures and elements with their appealing interplay.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 1, 2013 at 4:02 PM

Nice job of capturing this Scott. I have tried and just did not get inspired by the spot, but you pulled off a very nice shot!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments