Tennessee Waterfall

[JFisher14]

I have a photo contetst coming up and would like suggestions for any changes. Please critique the good and bad things about this picture. Thank you in advance for you help.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[doctorjames]

Did you crop the shot at all?.. on the left side it may have been nice to see the edge of the tree branches against the backdrop of the waterfall.

[JFisher14]

No it isn't cropped, I was on a ledge and couldn't position myself to get the entire folliage in. I tried cloning the waterfall on the left edge, but it didn't look right,

[craigmstevens]

If you could somehow brighten the tree up to see more detail I would like this shot better. But that is only my opinion. I like the smoked effect with the water, but in creating that the picture is lacking detail, but maybe that is the look you were going for. It does have a bit of a mystical feel to it with the smoked water and the misty dark look. It seems by the lighting you could have used a longer exposure to get more detail on the tree and rocks. Usually when I shoot waterfalls my exposure time is between 2 and 4 seconds depending on the light, which you can control by the time of day you shoot. The long exposures allow you to smoke the water AND capture great detail in the shot. This is your picture though and am not sure what look you were attempting. All in all it is not a bad capture.

[digirebelva]

I might not have focused in as close to give you some cropping area..but as has already been said, all in all its not a bad shot

[Sterling]

The large tree trunk that goes from top to bottom is a bit problematic, imho. It seems to create an artificial frame edge leaving everything to the right of it in limbo. My eye is drawn to the lighter areas in the centre and the top left and the trunk sort of blocks it from travelling to the right side where it is fairly dark anyway. Was there a shot available by rotating to the left more?

[doctorjames]

Originally Posted by JFisher14

No it isn't cropped, I was on a ledge and couldn't position myself to get the entire folliage in. I tried cloning the waterfall on the left edge, but it didn't look right,

Ah right, well not much you can do about that now...! and I wouldnt want you to fall off the ledge.

With hindsight I would have taken another frame after panning slightly to the left. Not a full frames width, just a little (to avoid distortion) to catch a frame with the foliage in. Carefully stitch back together (you could potentially use the silouette of the length of the tree trunk to do this quietly).

And now having said all of this. I quite like your original shot. I like the shutter speed you have used (a different opinion to another poster). Its long enough to show movement and flow, yet fast enough that the waterfall doesnt turn into white mist. I like the dividing line from top to bottom.

Its a grower I think

James

[JFisher14]

Thank you to all for your comments. This is a very helpful webiste.