riverscapes Romero Pools, Coronodo National Forest, Arizona

Your thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks, Don Paulson

I like this idea very much, and the picture is nice. I'm just a beginner, but I wonder just a bit faster exposure to give some detail to the white water swirl would be nicer? Anyone agree, or is it just me?

I like this very much, Don. For me, the slow shutter speed is fine here; it allows shapes to emerge from the water-covered rocks, introduces leading lines and makes the golden reflections visible. I have one nitpick - IMO too tight crop at the bottom on the maple leaf - I would allow a bit of space around it. I attach my suggestion after some PS. Best wishes. Peter

...I would agree with Dave. Misty waterfalls generally don't do it for me, I normally prefer to see some detail in water. The usual reason given for very long exposures is that it makes water "look like it's moving", but shorter individual streaks of light and dark do this much more for me.

 

That said, this is not what this picture is about, I think. To me it is more about the abstract pattern created by the flow and the white whirlpool, rather than saying anything about the water itself. In this respect, it doesn't quite work for me, because the composition seems rather biased to the left, due to the positioning of the leaves and the whirlpool in the frame. My eye expects more balance, which I think could be achieved by framing the leaves further to the right, almost centrally (i.e. moving slightly left), with the white whirlpool remaining where it is, or perhaps even a little further left.

 

Alternatively, a vertical crop of the left half of the picture would also, with a more minor adjustment, satisfy my eye's craving for balance. I think it could be possible too keep enough of the flow so that it would still work at the level I think you are trying to make it.

 

Enough blathering. Hope you find my comment of some use.

Very nice image, I agree with the Peter above the shutter speed is very nice. I like your image and think the golden hues are very soothing and not to harsh. Matthew is dead on (he posted his comment before I could get mine out there!).

 

izes

Amber

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments. They are very much appreciated. I made several compositions of this image - some vertical some horizontal like this one. I also took some with a polarizor and some without. All the images I took, however, were slow shutter speeds since I liked the way the foam on the water blurred into leading lines. A few of the other compositions may have a better placement with the leaves - I'll take a look now that I've read your comments. THANKS AGAIN! Don

Love the long exposure here ... the flow of the water and the foam gives the image wonderful motion ... yet there is a truly calm effect that it has. Nice!