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Paradise Found + RAW
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Paradise Found + RAW

by Zack Clothier

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 18, 2014415 views11 comments
During my two week visit to the Columbia River Gorge I had the opportunity to get into Mossy Grotto Falls with fellow forum member Dan Kearl. After our visit I decided to return about a week later under different lighting conditions for another shot at it, since it's such a unique area. This time I brought my waders since the water levels had risen so much during that week.

For this shot I was standing in the rushing stream and had my camera quite close to the water, trying to come up with something a bit different from this location. Constantly dealing with water spots on the lens is really not my idea of fun but I was able to sneak in a few images without them. This is a blend of two exposures for dynamic range. The diffused light was really nice so I decided to enhance the effect even more by breathing on my lens during the exposure. This created the dreamy glow you see here.

Also got to meet a few other fine photographers that day, Alex Noriega, Michael Bollino, Tj Thorne, and David Kingham.

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Dan Kearl on May 18, 2014 at 7:32 PM
Nice glow and very nice POV, Zack, it was nice meeting you, hope you enjoyed your stay, which was a wet one!
Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on May 18, 2014 at 10:20 PM
I love the sparkles in the water, but the glow and saturation up top is just way too much for me. It's so far removed from reality that I just can't relate to it anymore. The rest of your portfolio is much more "real", and I would suggested going more in that direction for this one as well.
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by John Mumaw on May 18, 2014 at 10:22 PM
Exactly what Floris said.
Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on May 18, 2014 at 11:59 PM
Pretty amazing glow. Your positioning work out well for a fine composition.
Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Kearl on May 19, 2014 at 12:14 AM
The "glow", is certainly within believable light given any moisture on the lens.
Having been there several times, in sunlight, the canyon above the falls is pretty vivid and tough to expose in one exposure.
In two exposures, it can easily appear this way.
Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on May 19, 2014 at 12:30 AM
Thanks for the feedback, Floris. I do realize the glow is pretty intense here and certainly not for everyone. For comparison I've posted the original RAW file with minor edits, and before I blended for the highlights up top. I really did not add any glow, just worked with what I had already from the condensation on the lens. I do have another image without the condensation and will probably process that one as well.
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on May 19, 2014 at 11:24 AM
Sweet and serene. :wink:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Sairam Sundaresan on May 19, 2014 at 11:48 AM
I really this image Zack, and the condensation on the lens really gives a dreamy look to it. I'd recommend darkening it a little bit, which would give the image a surreal mood.
Registered on March 14, 2013, 100 Posts, 643 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on May 19, 2014 at 7:19 PM
Hi Zack :wavey: I live in the country. next to a small hill. and wish i could get a rushing stream on my land. like your excellent image depicts. thanks for sharing Paradise Found with us. to me. its a super image :toast:

Albert Darmo

Quebec Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on May 19, 2014 at 10:20 PM
I think you did quite well, Zack. If I were confronted with a scene like this I would hope to do as well. Very nice.
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Andrew Waddington on May 25, 2014 at 11:54 PM
I shot this myself just a few weeks ago, I wonder if you found the easy way in or you went the hard way. I love the misty light above the falls, your breathing method really worked.
Registered on February 11, 2014, 44 Posts, 183 Comments