Clear Brook Falls

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 7, 20171,103 views8 comments

This is one of my infrequent posts to the landscape gallery, though I very much enjoy taking them. This little waterfall is about a two minute walk from my home in the Northern Sierra foothills. This stream has been drying up each summer during the recent years of drought, but in good rain years it is a perennial stream. Our area has received about 100 inches of rain since October, so I suspect the stream will run good all year.

I tried a number of different crops with this image. I obviously settled upon this one for posting, but would greatly appreciate any feedback concerning alternative crops. Are the brighter areas near the bottom too distracting? Thanks for any comments or critique. D800e, 28-70 @ 38, F16, 1/5 second, ISO 200.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on May 7, 2017 at 4:11 PM

Jim,

What a lovely, quiet little scene. Lucky for you to have so close to you. And yup, all that water we've received in CA this year will go a long ways in filling those buckets and reserves. I hope your little stream runs all year and for a long time to come.

The pool and little cascade are the center piece, but I'm really enjoying the surrounding greenery. And no, I don't think the brighter spots along the bottom are detracting. You've handled them well.

If anything, I wish there was just a wee bit more of the leaves in the LLC, but that's minor.

Well done, beautifully composed as well.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on May 7, 2017 at 8:40 PM

Hi Jim,

A very nice comp with bright green leaves to frame the waterfalls. The light on the pool is awesome--good eye for spotting this and kudos for getting the shot devil

........................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on May 7, 2017 at 10:33 PM

They really don't bug me either Jim, and I agree with Lon about the green. I do wish there was a little less of the dried vegetation around the waterfall, but I suppose that's my "Pacific Northwest eye" being greedy for green.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lowe on May 8, 2017 at 4:26 PM

Jim, my thoughts echo Lon's about the leaves in the LLC. I like the shot and I don't think the bright spots are distracting. It's probably just a good interpretation of the dappled light.

Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 9, 2017 at 2:42 AM

Jim, it's a beautiful look at this little step falls. The clarity of the splash and the flow detail look great as does the view into the pool. I think the greens, bottom left are an important addition. I do think I'd burn them down a bit so that their brightness matches better the rest of the green on the left hand side (or dodge the greens above so they get a bit more attention. I wouldn't change the crop at all.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on May 9, 2017 at 7:34 AM

The greens on the bottom don't bother me at all. I like how the foliage surround the pool. There is a small bright area encroaching on the top above the falls that I might remove, but don't think any other cropping options would improve it. Like it as is.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on May 10, 2017 at 10:21 AM

Fine little waterfall scene. I am finding the leaves in the lower left to be an eye magnet. My eyes lock on there and pretty much stop. Based on the comments above, most people find they work for them. Nice place to have so close to home!

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

Comment posted by Kathy Snead on May 11, 2017 at 12:27 PM

Jim

This is a lovely image of this little waterfall. I like the detail, the color and the motion in the falls. Unlike the others, however, I do find my eye going toward the brighter areas on the lower right, basically causing my eye to leave the area of the falls. Maybe using a brush down in that area to knock those down would help or maybe cropping a little on the right? Cropping a little on the right would eliminate that branch on the LR as well.

Registered on April 6, 2017, 104 Posts, 397 Comments