Ho'opi'i Falls in BW

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 17, 2013832 views13 comments

Reprocessed a favorite location for black and white, motivated by the recent Hawaii work I've scene from Morris and Ted, ( and always you my love, aF ) ;) and all of the work from you on NPN. Oh, boas-vindas Michael Anderson.

I've seen a fair share of tropical waterfalls in my years of traveling. This isolated area still resonates strong with me. (I'm really really trying, really trying to keep the superlatives to a minimum in my future descriptions, no really)

The falls smell lush, sound lush, and are of perfect heights for traversing, and simple frolicking. While we were there, a guy with a 50lb pack with $50K of gear completely slipped at the top, on the slick rocks*, landed flat on his back - like the fall a guy took in the home alone movie. Luckily he had all the gear cradled in front, in his arms; took the blunt of the quick and unexpected fall flat on his spine. He held the gear straight out, avoiding abrupt and tragic impact. He lay there not knowing what was broke or damaged, his women, peering up from her book, amused and not apathetic. She shook her head, and continued reading. Thankfully the camera body, 28mm, and CPL was intact for this shot. ;)

*guy at REI assured me the Teva trekkers I had on, with new super spider grip action bad a$$ soles would NEVER slip on anything in nature, compared to my worn out older versions. He lied with a smile and a wink. I knew better from past fishing in streams. No felt bottom, no grip. I'm still learning....

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on June 17, 2013 at 10:48 PM

I like the composition and the blur of the water works really well. The only nit I have is the rock ledge on the left detracts some from the waterfall. I am sure there was nothing you could do about it because of location. Nice location and shot.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Lace Andersen on June 17, 2013 at 11:04 PM

One of my favorite places to go. Actually pondering shooting there this weekend

I actually prefer the upper falls in black and white. Love the conversion. and yes, no felt = no grip.. learned that one real quick!

Registered on December 28, 2012, 22 Posts, 39 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Warren on June 17, 2013 at 11:09 PM

Love it. No nits from me. A really nice subject and conversion.

Registered on May 11, 2012, 84 Posts, 931 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 18, 2013 at 12:26 AM

This one is just sweet like honey, Matt! Delicious tones throughout. It has to be marked down as Fine Art!

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on June 18, 2013 at 5:23 AM

great image Matt

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 18, 2013 at 9:42 AM

Real nice, Matt. I like it a lot in B&W.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 18, 2013 at 1:11 PM

Silky, Smooth and Slippery! I love the story. I think I've seen that 'guy' with the pack and camera gear around, too. Always sacrificing his body for his gear...

The shutter speed is perfect, the scene has a beautiful composition and I like the vignetting in the black and white presentation. It's great as a straight B and W, but I wonder how it would look with a subtle blue tone added? Just a thought.

Oh, and Obrigado Matt!!! Voce Tudo Bom?

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 18, 2013 at 2:17 PM

Beautiful image Matt, as usual your processing brings out the best in a scene. The tonal range in the falls and rock and just the b&w processing in general is excellent.

Just an observation on my part and question. The upper bg forest area is somewhat dark. I'm guessing that you chose to process this way to help emphasize the falls, almost like a natural vignette? At the same time the plant up front is somewhat brighter and I think works very well to create a sort of triangle with the two main cascades. Anyway, put it all together and that's why I mention your processing and your attention to detail and presentation. Excellent work!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Moore on June 18, 2013 at 4:04 PM

Very nice, I like the BW processing. Took me a second to get the scale of this falls, but it looks like a fascinating place. I'm mixed on the brightness of the plant in the foreground-- I like how you brought out the luminosity and it helps with the framing, but on the other hand my I find my eye going back and forth between the falls and the plant. Minor point, though, overall outstanding image.

Registered on January 12, 2010, 84 Posts, 388 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 18, 2013 at 4:41 PM

Very, very cool!! I think your b&w processing looks fantastic here. Also looks like you picked the perfect shutter speed for the water, at least for my taste...

Nice work Matt!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on June 20, 2013 at 3:44 PM

This is a fabulous image and the conversion is just about perfect to my eyes...tad heavy on the vignette I suppose, but it works for me.

I have to say I don't care for the presentation of this particular image (with so many dark shadows) against a black background. Totally petty thing to say, sure, but it gets in my way of viewing the image because I'm not immediately able to get a visual grasp on the scene. I wouldn't ordinarily say such a thing as it has nothing to do with the image, but it's really bugging me here and I can't help but wonder if others also found it a little disconcerting. After all, this image is deserving of far more comments.