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Broken Overlook

© Beth Spencer

Broken Overlook

Uploaded: February 04, 2013

Description

Canon 7D, Canon 70-200mm 2.8 lens, ISO 400, f/11, 1/640, processed in LR 4 and Nik Color Effex Pro 4 using the detail extractor and contrast filters

Exif: F Number: 11, Exposure Bias Value: 0.67, ExposureTime: 1/640 seconds, Flash: reserved, ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 135.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 7D

Comments

Beth Spencer February 04, 2013

This is the overlook to Blackwater Falls, it is closed at the present from the damage done by Sandy! Notice the big tree down and the piece off the overlook. #1512898

Stephen Shoff February 04, 2013

Fascinating, Beth, but I can't get my head around this one. The relative proportions just don't come together for me. I guess that much snow and ice is out too far outside my experience.

That, and the concept of rivers of tea...hemlock tea no less! #10554268

Peter W. Marks February 05, 2013

Similarly to Stephen, I was puzzling over what what exactly I was seeing here, Beth. Although we have almost identical overlooks in a small nature reserve just across town, I was fooled by the scale of it looking so small compared with the icles and trees. This is outside my experience too but that adds to how intriguing images such as these can be.
Nicely done Beth but roll on summer! #10554563

Dale Hardin February 05, 2013

I disagree with the boys on this image Beth. I like it and am so glad I live in Southern California.

I have no trouble with the overall look of this image but do agree that it can be improved upon. For instance, try changing to black and white but maintain the blue cast. This will take care of the "tea" issue. It will also stop the eye from going to the dark area in the lower right.

You could also try some cropping scenarios such as a 4x6 horizontal format starting in the upper left with the right side stopping just short of the large branch hanging over the falls on the right.

Another look can be achieved with a square crop starting in the upper left and then flip the image horizontally resulting in a strong diagonal composition. #10554869

Jeff E Jensen February 05, 2013

Yeah, I'm with Dale, I like this a lot. We've had some pretty big ice build up around here this year. Pretty crazy stuff. #10554924

Michael Kelly level-classic February 05, 2013

I am afraid I am with Stephen and Peter on this one. The shot just does not seem to click for me do to the issues they mentioned. I do think the 2nd post works much better and Dale's suggestions seem to be the way to go to make it even stronger. #10555063

Rita K. Connell level-classic February 05, 2013

Wow Beth this is amazing seeing all this ice and snow. I had just told Jim I would like to take a weekend and go see what Blackwater Falls would look like. I didn't know it was closed.

in the first image its amazing seeing how small the look out deck looks to the over all scene. the tree that has fallen only shows you how tall it must have been. I agree that there is all to take in. I would try a few different crops to see if it would make for a stronger image.

now the second image is the stronger of the two. I really like it. I really like seeing the falls and the discoloration in the water it adds and element to the image. over all I think they are a tad dark.

I really like your second posting it telling a story for sure. when was this taken Beth #10555186

Beth Spencer February 05, 2013

Dale I tried some different crops and I will post them. I tried a flip but just can't do it, it is so unnatural to see it that way. I did try a black and white in Silver Effex Pro 2, not too sure I got the tones right. Dale the tea color is the trademark of the Blackwater River. I will post some more pictures later as I work on them.
Stephen and Michael the ice sickles are as big as they seem. The deck is probably 4-5 foot high, just lots of ice from spray off the falls.
Rita, the falls are still open, you just can't walk down the 200 and some steps because of the damage from Sandy, they just redid those steps and the walkway probably in the last 5 years. I took this picture from the Handicap overlook which is on the other side and no steps!! Rita, if you and your husband, or anyone else, ever want to come this way let me know, I can show you some really gorgeous places to get pictures. #10555210

Beth Spencer February 05, 2013

Peter, I forgot to say I am with you on rolling in summer. The groundhog did not see his shadow, but so far I think that was a lie!! #10555271

Rita K. Connell level-classic February 05, 2013

you can count on letting you know Beth this is one place I have wanted to visit since my sister that there 7 years ago in the winter.

I like your 4x6 crop the best #10555537

Stephen Shoff February 05, 2013

Like Rita, I think the 4x6 crop and conversion to monotone helped the originally posted image [for me]. The proportions are more comprehensible to me and the more natural colors provide less distraction.

Your Blackwater Falls SilverEfex Pro conversion is also nice and the picture itself has a more recognizable theme as a landscape picture. I agree that the tones may not be quite right. I think the snow needs to be whiter. And it appears that you might have some toning applied. So check that setting and see if there isn't a tone that you find more pleasing.

There was a picture of these falls posted to the group a year of two ago. I had much the same problem with that one. I could never figure out the size of the platform in relation to the trees and the apparent size of the waterfall.

I can certainly relate to your desire to show the natural color of the water. I have two pictures in my gallery that had the same colors in the water. In the first, "Aros Falls", I didn't like the water color to start with, so I used some desaturation to reduce it to just a hint. In the second, my recent "Pecca Falls" B&W conversion, my photographic intent had been to capture and leverage the rich amber color in the water. But as I worked it, I just couldn't get it to look natural. Then when I saw it in B&W I concluded that that was the direction I wanted to go. My goal is often to maximize the aesthetics of an image, oftentimes at the cost of photo realism.

In your case however, the elements that I find distracting are the same elements that you most want to communicate...hence your difficulty with a "flip". In this case, you seem to be wanting to show a recognizable location, reinforce some of the unusual characteristics of that location (using Color Efex) and the storm damage from a recent event, more as an item of human interest than as an exercising in creating "wall art". I think you did a pretty good job of that. #10555607

Susan M. Reynolds level-addict February 06, 2013

I think the reason why it looked so disproportionate the original post was that until I read it was a downed tree from Sandy, it looked like a tree branch which made the outlook are look like dollhouse furniture, but finding out the story behind it, brings it back into perspective. Nicely done :)
I like the 4x6 crop the best....and as for wanting summer....not me...to dang hot, but then again I don't live in snow country! #10557092

Debbie E. Payne February 07, 2013

Beth - this is storytelling at it's finest. I would not change the "tea" color on the falls if this is its trademark. I love the squared "Blackwater Falls". We just haven't had much snow this year at all. Yet, that is!! We usually get pounded in April. The magnitude of Sandy really hits home with that first image. You've got some great shows here. I believe I like the natural pictures better than the Silver Efex ones. Just a personal preference. #10558410

Beth Spencer February 08, 2013

Thank you everyone for you comments. Stephen I will try and find a picture of the falls that really shows the perspective of it. There are usually people on the platform so maybe I can find an old one and it will help.
Susan I am ready to see green and blue skies. I feel like I live in a black and white world lately.
Debbie, thank you also.
I posted this on face book and got a whole bunch of likes and comments, but the editor of the local paper asked to run it in the paper next week. I am excited about that, so time to move on. #10559838

Debbie E. Payne February 08, 2013

Wow --that is really great news. You ca n now say that you have been published. So cool. Congratulations. #10559866

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