The still of rage (v2.0)

Great image; I really like the lighting, and the water patterns are wonderful. Regarding the crop, you probably have two images here that will appeal to different folks. I'd like to see the stars to see how they add to the image. Without seeing them, I'm in the camp that would favor a crop just above the clouds on the horizon; it seems to focus my attention on this incredible river even more.

just one more thought about the cropping, I think that I would crop the image not because of the open sky but because with this crop the horizon line is right in the middle. Ansel Adams horizon line was at the bottom making the composition stronger.

oh, how beautiful NATURE and Water!!!

Biliana

I'm with Todd on the horizon question. It's not the sky that is the problem it's the position of the horizon. If there are stars in the actual photo then maybe showing more sky would've been better, bringing the horizon down, as in the aforementioned "Moonrise, Hernandez New Mexico".

Also, the light in both lower corners bothers me. Doesn't seem to coming from a natural place.

The colors however are beautiful and are the saviour of the photo for me.

Onyo-

Muhtesem sevgili Mehmet...Tebrikler...

After thinking on horizon and reviewing details on the lower part of the image further, I'd agree that having horizon right in the middle weakens the composition. However, I still believe that cropping the upper one-third would not improve the situation either. I like Tom's suggestion of long term comparison of these two alternatives.

 

On the Adams' Moonrise (hernandez, NM), there are two competing elements, the moon and the horizon. IMHO, his composition is essentially balancing act between these two elements. The image above does not have the same composition elements, and very likely that is the reason behind this cropping discussion. Along the same lines, I think another object(or objects like stars) in the sky will help improve the balance between upper and lower halves. Regardless, I'll move the horizon slightly below the center by cropping out some of the rocky details at the bottom.

Mehmet,

 

Very nice composition. Would like to echo what everyone else has said. Is this on the Virginia side of the falls? How do you get there from?

 

Thanks,

Dave

Absolutely stunning shot(s)! Was the composite done in Photoshop? The previous comments say it all - you may take beautifull photos for all to admire.

I'd like to thank all viewers for their suggestions, comments and encouraging words.

 

Dave: yes it was taken from Virginia-side.

 

Francois: yes, I use Photoshop exclusively for all image manipulations including correction of lens distortions.

Foto�raf 篫 g�zel, T�rkiye'den selamlar.

A.Tavmen

wondeful, wonderful, wonderful 7/7

muhtesem olmus Mehmet... kutlarim=)

superb

Beautiful photo. The colours, the contrast, the perspective. 7/7 points.

NO, not the BOTTOM? The reason you don't want to crop the bottom is because it's more interesting than the blank sky, and it gives you some vignette. Suggestion: Cut the weak, keep the strong; basic cropping strategy. (Means the top should go.)

 

Can't compare to Ansel's, as stated, as his had the moon for interest/balance, you have zippo!

wonderfull...I love the colors :)

Mike, until recently, I would not have argued against cut-the-weak-keep-the-strong cropping strategy.

 

Now, I do.

 

I did, indeed, print several versions, including two different 18"x18" square versions and one cropped version as you and others suggested.

 

I stared at them months. Now, I have one square version of this scene -not the one seen here- is hanging on my wall. Having said this, the sky in the selected version is not as empty-looking as the version seen here.

 

My point is this: I no longer feel constrained by what is captured in a single frame. I can use as many photographs as I need, to create a new image that is stronger than any of the source images considered individually. With this new freedom, I can "improve" the weak in a single shot, rather than simply cutting 'em out. Similarly, if necessary, I can also deliberately "weaken" the strong parts, so long as the composition, message or whatever the key effect desired is improved.

 

-m.ozgur

Very good photo, congratulations.

Mehmet, I took the same shot from a similar point from the VA side of Great Falls (see attachment).

From my personal experience, both sides of the Falls (VA and MD) provide a variety of angles to shoot from. One side is not better than the other, its relative to what you are trying to achieve in your final image.

 

One can get even closer to the Falls to capture a shot like this but by looking at this picture, its difficult to tell if you have never been to Great Falls, VA.

 

Just a few miles north of Great Falls on the VA side, there is Riverbend Park, which provides an even greater challenge, photographically. There are more obstacles to overcome the farther you go into the park near the water.

 

One does not need photoshop to capture this image of the Falls but good work Mehmet. You have a unique eye for capturing landscape.

 

 

Sasan,

 

you do not need much to make good or great images. Big sensors, giant lenses or traveling the most remote, never-before-seen-fantastic places, are no help, if the light does not cooperate, or one cannot see.

 

Yet, software tools are useful to flatten the barriers, in many levels. The image seen here is a 16bit, 40MPixel image. I don't know you, but I would not have been able to take this with any existing camera+lens system at the time - and I doubt one can take this today.

 

If one can achieve results with "$1K system + software" that may -perhaps- be achieved with a $100K camera+lens system, then it should be good idea to start looking into what software really brings to us.

 

I know riverbend. I am not sure what "interesting" photographic options you see there.

 

May the light be with you!

 

-m.ozgur

Mehmet,

Its true, one does not need fancy equipment to create great images or to be at remote locations...... having a certain amount of light is crucial in capturing an image yet many photographers lean on utilizing different software to over-manipulate their landscape images, which does not impress me.

 

This particular location in Great Falls is easily accessible to the general public and does not pose any risks, in terms of falling off a rock. The image I took at this location was during the Autumn season, when the sunset around 6:30-6:45pm. Shooting at dusk was just the amount of light I needed.

 

Since 1977, I've trekked through Great Falls park and I can tell you that this is not the only spot to capture the Falls from.

 

I've seen other photographers in the past create a similar shot such as yours but without photoshop CS2 or other image manipulating software. I am more interested in observing photographs that have been captured without the use of tweaking them with $1K SLR+software. An image like this can not be captured with one take, but your effort in creating this particular image makes even the casual observer with no knowledge of photography say, Wow !

 

In regards to Riverbend park, you would have to travel beyond the general entrance location by canoe to actually get closer to the remote islands. You take a risk doing this but if you seek a little more adventure than just standing on a rock, Riverbend has plenty of interesting spots to photograph from.

There is something red in the lower left hand corner by the rocks that takes my attention completly away from this georgous view. I can not make out what it is, almost seems like back pack grear or something.

Julie, I'm not sure what you refer exactly. But I'll point out couple of things again. One, this is a fall panorama, and in DC we have fabulous fall foliage. There were plenty of red, orange, yellow etc colored leaves everywhere. Second, the additional detail in the foreground made visible by a flashlight, which turn out to have orange color cast. The important thing is that the lighting is not uniform, which is intentional to highlight only certain features. Cheers.

I understand all of your technical details. The only thing I am pointing out to you referes to a distraction in the lower left hand corner. I did confirm with other people in my household and they too noticed this red dot/spot on the picture. It is alone. No leaves or foliage is present that I can see. I read all of the above comments to see if there was anything on this, If I missed something I apologize. The red thing can easily be taken care of. This is just my point of view. I am just a person who really notices details. Take care.