Idyllic Iceland + repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 9, 2013816 views18 comments

Early evening light at Hrafnabjargafoss in northern Iceland. This waterfall has some serious power and it was quite an experience standing near the edge.

Hrafnabjargafoss was a bit more difficult to reach than most of the waterfalls we visited during our trip to Iceland. A 4WD with good clearance is pretty much required to reach the falls from the F26.

On this particular evening, I had planned to shoot this waterfall, then move north and shoot Aldeyjarfoss and Godafoss on our way back to our campsite in Myvatn. Everything was looking really good for some nice sunset light above the waterfalls, when all of the sudden the thickest fog I've ever seen rolled in from the north. The fog was so dense that we couldn't see more than about 50 feet in any direction. While the fog was interesting, it pretty much shut down the sunset light. Gotta love the Iceland weather...there is no way to predict it! Luckily I was able to capture this image just before the fog arrived.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm at 16mm, polarizer
2 image hand blend for DOF
0.5 sec at f/16, ISO 100 x2

All feedback on this one is appreciated. Please check out the larger version.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on August 9, 2013 at 12:52 AM

I can almost feel the power of the falls here. I like this composition allowing the eye to sweep from corner to corner. Iceland is definitely high on my list, but will be a very long time before I ever make it there. Great work!

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

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on August 9, 2013 at 1:21 AM

Beauty Scott, bet your trip was a blast. Looking forward to seeing more.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on August 9, 2013 at 8:40 AM

Very powerful shot, and I think your processing is perfect. The mist produced by the falls gives it a magical feel. My only suggestion would be to tip the image left as it feel like the water is angled. While some distortion with the lens is expected, I don't think it needs to be corrected to get a perfectly straight horizon, but just even on both sides of center. Easily corerected if you chose. Ity is a delicate image with lots of power, an interesting combo.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on August 9, 2013 at 9:19 AM

Awesome place, well captured and processed...
Excellent

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 9, 2013 at 9:21 AM

Scott, I really like this!...and what a beautiful image it is. I love the light and the wonderfully natural blue tones. The feeling of power is sure there and yet as Harry mentioned there is such a nice delicate feel. Your comp works great! Excellent work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on August 9, 2013 at 10:34 AM

Well done. At 16mm and ff...excellent adjusting of distortion. Beautiful from corner to corner and perfect shutter speed to capture some action and beauty in the center pool. Soft dusk light on the left side adds much to this.. giving warmth to the dominant greys and whites. Cool.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 9, 2013 at 10:38 AM

Real nice image. I can hear it thundering just looking at the scene. I might want a little CCW rotation? I feel it falling to the right a bit.

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

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on August 9, 2013 at 10:57 AM

My wee son (10 years) is convinced those falls are actually only around 5 or 6 inches tall and that this is a tidal pool. I have to admit it is very deceptive and there is little to give it a sense of scale. The water movement is very beautiful and the light lovely but I am still trying to convince my son that this is huge.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on August 9, 2013 at 11:16 AM

Thank you to everyone for all of the comments. I completely missed the tilted water line. This is definitely one of those situations where technically straight does not equal aesthetically straight. Let me know if the repost looks better.

Ian - the drop here is about 10m (~30 feet). It's not a huge waterfall, but the volume of water flowing through here makes it quite powerful. I'm not sure if you will be able to convince your son or not, but if he thinks the falls are only a few inches tall, that works for me!

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on August 9, 2013 at 11:21 AM

Repost looks great - I think the distortion you left is a nice way to have the water horizon mimic the curvature of the falls and is a bonus for this sort of shot. Hope to see this in person some day.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on August 9, 2013 at 11:25 AM

I like this image, Scott : it has impact for sure. I like the contrast between the endlessly flowing water and the powerful mass of the rock cliffs. Well done. Chet

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 9, 2013 at 11:38 AM

The repost looks better with the appearance of a tilt removed. Still a little too much rock in the left foreground as it blocks the falls. But, I understand perfectly why you didn't get out on that rock to shoot the falls.

I am not a fan of heights at all! The water flow is fairly amazing in this, and the light is nice. Too bad the fog messed up the sunset.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 9, 2013 at 11:54 AM

Neat look at this falls, Scott. I'm especially attracted to all the motion in the outflow at the base and the warmth added by the late light on the distant horizon. While the repost "feels" more level, I can think of several reasons why that's not necessary.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on August 9, 2013 at 1:31 PM

Nice capture.. A "mini Niagara Falls"

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 9, 2013 at 2:06 PM

The water motion is wonderful Scott and the warm light on the horizon nicely compliments the cooler foreground. Excellent processing too.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 9, 2013 at 2:15 PM

Awesome scene! Well done Scott.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on August 9, 2013 at 4:33 PM

Very powerful hydraulics wonderfully presented, Scott. Would love to see this in person. I can almost hear the roar of the falls. Nice job leveling in the second. Excellent work.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Warren on August 9, 2013 at 8:24 PM

Very majestic scene and an excellent capture. I like the composition- you can really feel the strength of this impressive scene.

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