Newbs first attempt at a waterfall, looking for advice

[ndpuckhead]

I took this along the road to Pigeon Forge, it was my first attempt of photographing a waterfall. I didn't adjust the photo yet, the colors just don't look right to me, though. I used a ND .9 filter. I may have another chance tomorrow, so any advice/ suggestions will be appreciated. I had to take it from the other side of the road, so I could only do so much with the framing.

Canon T31 EF S 17-85mm
ISO 100, 53mm f/9 1.3s
Evaluative Metering, White Balance set for clouds


IMG_0949 by ndpuckhead, on Flickr

 

[r.j.s]

Try a vertical composition, so that the waterfall fills the frame.

 

[ndpuckhead]

Played around with it a little bit:

IMG_0949 by ndpuckhead, on Flickr

 

[AoxomoxoA]

If you can adjust your white balance, you appear to have a bit of a pink/magenta cast. Very noticeable on the leaves and lightly noticeable on the water. Outside of that I think this is a VERY credible first time shot of 'silky water'.

I personally might crop a little off of the left side, I think you gather a lot of 'messy' detail there to gain that little branch of water in the lower left, but that is an aesthetic choice to me.

Maybe stop down a little more to get a little longer exposure, but this is all nitpicking... what you done is really pretty darn good.

 

[sapporobaby]

Played around with it a little bit:
[url=http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6950703025_f33236808e_b.jpg]Image[/url]
IMG_0949 by ndpuckhead, on Flickr

Me likey.... Nice job....

 

[Macman45]

If you can adjust your white balance, you appear to have a bit of a pink/magenta cast. Very noticeable on the leaves and lightly noticeable on the water. Outside of that I think this is a VERY credible first time shot of 'silky water'.

I personally might crop a little off of the left side, I think you gather a lot of 'messy' detail there to gain that little branch of water in the lower left, but that is an aesthetic choice to me.

Maybe stop down a little more to get a little longer exposure, but this is all nitpicking... what you done is really pretty darn good.

it's a good attempt, but as posted, your WB is off, I don't know what App you are using for edits, but Aperture will adjust WB, exposure etc. On the whole, not a bad first attempt at all..

 

[ndpuckhead]

I adjusted the white balance. Thanks for the suggestions and compliments, this (M) mode is new to me, but I think I like it,lol.


IMG_0949 by ndpuckhead, on Flickr

 

[davidinva]

Nice photo. There is a difference of opinion on whether to blur falling water or to stop the action. It's personal preference.

 

[eric/]

It could be my macbook air, but if you're going for realistic colors I think you need to make the leaves more brown and adjust the vividness of the green grass. It looks surreal. Unless that's what you're going for, then it's pretty good.

 

[driftless]

It could be my macbook air, but if you're going for realistic colors I think you need to make the leaves more brown and adjust the vividness of the green grass. It looks surreal. Unless that's what you're going for, then it's pretty good.

I have pictures from the Pigeon Forge/Townsend side of the Smoky Mountains that have the same hues as does the OP's pictures.

 

[jdavtz]

this (M) mode is new to me, but I think I like it,lol.

You don't need M mode for waterfalls; I find it best to use Tv and take shots with a variety of shutter speeds from about 1/15 sec to 1 sec to see which gives the effect I like best (obviously will depend on the speed of the water and how "silky" I want it to appear).