Tennessee Waterfall

[Aldonis]

Greetings! I am new to the forums and very much a beginner at digital photography. I'm taking a few classes and trying to better understand the hobby. Here is my first submission for your thoughts and opinions. This Waterfall is just off the Natchez Trace in Middle Tennessee - it was a very sunny day - mid-50's - about 3pm in the afternoon - waterfall is nestled up into a cliff - Sun is to right of the picture - very bright but not really visible in the little grotto around the falls. I had just learned how to adjust shutter speed to get the silky feel of flowing water - which was the prime think I was shooting. Then trying to frame this nice little waterfall into an interesting picture. This is one of about 100 shots I took - thank goodness for digital!

Specific questions - but open to any suggestions:

Thoughts on the water effect.
Overall composition
General feel of the picture - does it interest you or is it blah - and what could change that feel.






My equipment is old - going to upgrade but want to figure things out first.

Canon 300D Digital Rebel
Sigma 20-80MM f3.5-5.6

This shot was at:
f14
Exposure 0.6 sec
ISO 100
no exposure step
focal length 28mm

First time posting - so if there is something else I need to add or do differently let me know. Hope to add more photo's for healthy critiques ongoing.

Thanks!

Al

[shruggy63]

The 2 trees on the right are blocking the subject but the green algae on the rocks to the left are nicely reflected by the river. The ground to the bottom right, for me, doesn't bring anything to the image & the C shaped, projecting root(?) draws my eye too much. It was warm, maybe you could've moved down to the left even if you got wet feet & got a clear view of the waterfall. You wouldn't have suffered that badly for your art? :-)

[Hill Country Hack]

If your intent of using the trees to frame your shot, it just isn't working that well and is a bit of a distraction. Overall the image is a bit flat for me. Can you bump up the vibrance, clarity and saturation just a bit? The time of day was not ideal, but being shaded helped. I too would have moved to the left and lower. Try straightening the top edge of the falls. The stream of water flowing down the center of the falls is a bit hot, can you cut that back a little?

You did get some silkiness and that was the stated main point of the picture. Your attempt to use the diaginal with the falls was a good choice for me.

[Krusty79]

Welcome to DPS. I also feel like I want to see this from the left more. The ideal composition may be shot from in the creek, as my view feels obscured with the current composition. The colors do look flat to me - maybe a levels adjustment would help.

Levels: Getting the Professional 'Pop'

[Aldonis]

Here is what the front looked like. Thanks all for the comments. Truly the first picture I took after the classes where I learned about shutter speed, aperature, all that beginner stuff. I wondered if the tree added or subtracted from the shot to others - thanks for the feedback.

The above shot - I adjusted with a trial version of Photoshop - any thoughts on that product? it should be a little more to the left - but there was a guy standing there. Was primarily looking at getting that silky water thingy down right - but it really is a beautiful little spot.

[EOBeav]

Compositionally, I'd like to see you get out in front of it. It seems hidden where you've got it placed. Don't be afraid to get a little wet. And don't apologize for your gear. Take good shots with what you've got, then move up as you're able to. Also, get a polarizer for these shots, it would be good to remove some of the reflections. It seems a little crooked, too. You want this shot straight up and down.

And finally, I took some of the blue cast out and bumped up the contrast just a bit.

[Aldonis]

Thanks EOBeav - appreciate the comments and the touch up.

So a polarizer even though not in direct sunlight? I thought those were only for making the sky blue'er! Will need to go find one and give it a try.

Appreciate all the feedback! Have several more that I took that I will submit over the next few days - time permitting.

Al

[Barry Jackson]

i like the second one best but I would take some of the brown background off the top.

This looks like Jackson Falls.

[Aldonis]

Yep! Jackson Falls it is!