Falling Leaves

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 16, 2013471 views20 comments

Elakala Falls - Black Water Falls State Park - West Virginia

This was taken on a rainy morning, so the colors really popped. The circular patterns in the water really provided a great opportunity. The previous day, this falls/stream was flowing at only about 1/3rd as much water. It rained hard that night & the results were worth the wait.

Canon 5DIII, 16-35mm @16mm, F14, 25 seconds, ISO 100, circular polarizer, plastic bag to protect camera from the rain!

Please view larger for more detail.

Thanks to Joe Rossbach for showing me this spot in great light!

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on December 16, 2013 at 9:51 AM

Fantastic location and great photo. I guess you needed the long exposure for the swirl, but I prefer a little shorter for the falls. That's just me.

Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Wesley Picotte on December 16, 2013 at 12:19 PM

Really lovely image. Composed / cropped very well and though there's a ton going on, everything here is so pleasing that I don't mind.

Only tiny nit is the saturation level, which seems high overall, especially in the green on the left side mid-frame. In conjunction with the shutter drag and vignetting, the image has surreal feel to it. I like it, but the perhaps pull back on the sat a tiny bit. My 2 sense.

Great image!

Registered on December 10, 2013, 4 Posts, 40 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Warren on December 16, 2013 at 12:53 PM

Gorgeous! So many great elements. I agree with the comment on perhaps backing off a little on the saturation (mainly green/yellow), but this is just a treat to look at. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 16, 2013 at 1:26 PM

Gorgeous scene, Wick--looks like something out of a fairy tale!

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

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on December 16, 2013 at 2:29 PM

I like this image overall. The processing is how I'd like to think I would handle this shot. And I like the extra long exposure on the falls. However, I can live without the swirl, but don't really object to it being there. We normally see swirls as the main attraction in shots, but in a comp like this where there are so many other things to enjoy, it seems like it steals more attention than it should. Nonetheless, a beautiful image with great processing, providing lots of eye candy from the falls to the foreground leaf-covered rocks. Blackwater Falls SP is on my bucket list, and this shot moves it up a couple of notches on that list.

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 16, 2013 at 3:47 PM

Very nicely composed, Joel. I am on the fence with the swirl. Also, the saturations looks a bit on the high side, especially in the greens. I like how the foreground boulders lead my eye into the scene.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on December 16, 2013 at 6:34 PM

Hi Wick

If i won the loto. I'm constructing this scene on my farm. and with trout in the water

To me. nothing can be more beautiful than a scene like this. I too. would back off on the saturation a wee bit

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on December 16, 2013 at 7:17 PM

Very nice!

Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on December 16, 2013 at 9:06 PM

Probably my favorite image of this waterfall (and that includes several of my own).

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on December 16, 2013 at 10:44 PM

So sweet Wick!!! Love it. Hope all is well.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 16, 2013 at 11:23 PM

Stunner!

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on December 17, 2013 at 6:08 AM

Nice, wonderful place

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

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on December 17, 2013 at 8:38 AM

Beautiful image of an eastern waterfall. The saturation level doesn't really bother me. Having lived back east I really enjoy seeing images like this.

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 17, 2013 at 11:41 AM

Gorgeous image of what looks to be a wonderful place. Love the rich colors.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 17, 2013 at 3:38 PM

Absolutely beautiful Wick. The colorful leaves really make this image for me. Larger version is great. My only nit, and really not so much of a nit, just my personal preference, is that I wish you had used a faster shutter speed to preserve more detail in the water.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on December 17, 2013 at 8:32 PM

Outstanding! Certainly nothing to even nitpick at with this composition. This place must be crowded with photographers most of the time in autumn.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 18, 2013 at 3:49 PM

This is a great take on a fascinating spot. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 18, 2013 at 5:33 PM

Hi Wick! This is beautiful! The falls looks really nice and with the rain the colors really did pop. Looks like a wonderful location for sure. Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Grant Collier on December 21, 2013 at 10:09 PM

Love the long exposure and flowing leaves here. Well executed.

Registered on July 29, 2005, 73 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by Tim Mulholland on January 25, 2014 at 3:20 PM

I love the composition, the swirls and how you've handled the light - excellent!

Tim!

Registered on April 24, 2006, 14 Posts, 139 Comments