Weekly photo contest - Waterfalls (Aug 31-Sept7, 2021)

[OldMacs4Me]

So I was a bit surprised when my search failed to show Waterfalls as a previous topic. It's possible this will be a bit of a nightmare to judge, which may be why others have avoided it like the plague. Regardless of that here it is.

Waterfalls are one of my favourite subjects, and can be photographed with almost any camera. Any size fall you like. Let's see what you have.

A short explanation is appreciated, especially where the subject or angle is not instantly recognizable.

Judging will not be overly harsh or extensive, but will follow whatever peculiar guidelines I choose to dream up. The idea is for everyone to have a bit of fun.


Standard rules apply.

Follow all relevant local laws regarding stay-at-home orders. If you can't go outside, try and take a photo at home or grab one from the archives.
Note that footing can be treacherous near waterfalls, please do not risk life or limb trying to get just a little bit closer. As my dad used to say: "Safety first. First aid second."

• Do not comment, vote, react or click “like” on images prior to the winners being announced.
• The photographs must be your own work.
• You may only submit one photo per contest.
• This contest runs for one week. If in doubt, check the dates in the title.
• At the end of the week, The Judge will choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photo, providing as much feedback as possible.
• If the Judge is unable to complete the selection within 48 hours of the deadline, then last week's 2nd place has to step in. 3rd place takes over should 2nd place be similarly unable to officiate.
• The 1st place Winner will start a new thread with the topic/theme of their choice, and act as the Judge for that contest. (Winner has 48 hours to create a new theme, after that it defers to 2nd place).
• Be sure to update the Contest Master List as soon as you post a new theme.
• Contest ends 10:00PM, Sept 7, 2021 Mountain Daylight Time.

 

[kenoh]

One from Glencoe from a previous trip - yep dark and moody as per the weather

 

[oblomow]

• Be sure to update the Contest Master List as soon as you post a new theme

please do. So we know that Waterfalls are a nogo in the future....

 

[Hughmac]

Unfortunately there are as many waterfalls in my area as there are in the Netherlands, so I all can offer is a photo of a dripping tap or similar

Cheers

Hugh

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

Still in lockdown here in NZ so once again looking to recent archives for this week's entry. This one from about a year ago, on a trail not far from home.

https://flic.kr/p/2jixyqT

 

[oblomow]

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Unfortunately there are as many waterfalls in my area as there are in the Netherlands, so I all can offer is a photo of a dripping tap or similar

Cheers

Hugh

It rains, doesn’t it? It doesn’t get more falling water than that.

 

[someoldguy]

The Great Falls in Paterson .... taken a while back . Subject to replacement if I can get near there in the next few days while the water's still high .

 

[mollyc]

Great Falls National Park (VA/MD)

 

[tizeye]

 

[akash.nu]

Icelandic frozen beauty

 

[Janichsan]

Akame Shijyu-Hattaki falls, Mie prefecture, Japan.

 

[r.harris1]

Dang those itchy fingers. In-n-out with those likes before getting caught.

 

[Allyance]

View attachment 1826608

The Great Falls in Paterson .... taken a while back . Subject to replacement if I can get near there in the next few days while the water's still high .

I grew up not far from there in Little Falls, NJ. I vaguely remember these falls, long long time ago. Area was prone to flooding all the time, luckily we lived on the other side of a big hill near Montclair.

 

[someoldguy]

I grew up not far from there in Little Falls, NJ. I vaguely remember these falls, long long time ago. Area was prone to flooding all the time, luckily we lived on the other side of a big hill near Montclair.

I went to school next door (Montclair State) .That whole area still floods given enough rain . This time was much worse than usual , though . According to the news last night , it'll be midweek before the water subsides . Feel sorry for those who lost family in this . Think there's still a couple of folks missing downstream in Passaic.

 

[Allyance]

I went to school next door (Montclair State) .That whole area still floods given enough rain . This time was much worse than usual , though . According to the news last night , it'll be midweek before the water subsides . Feel sorry for those who lost family in this . Think there's still a couple of folks missing downstream in Passaic.

Small world, I lived on the other side of the tracks from the campus, I also attended the demonstration high school for student teachers there from 1956 to 1962. (College High) Our house was 3 or 4 houses from the border with Montclair, so I actual went to a Montclair elementary school.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Just a reminder. One more day to submit photos. I am sure there are a lot of great waterfall shots lurking in most of our collections.

 

[deep diver]

Bridal Veil Falls, Provo, UT

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Last day to help make the judges life miserable. Lets see a few more entries!

 

[soulreaver99]

Taken from an iPhone 6S 5 years ago in the Multnomah Falls area in Oregon.

 

[mackmgg]

Sneaking in at the last minute, with a photo that’s a couple years old. Didn’t end up getting to any good waterfalls in the last week

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Entries closed, but I won't get around to announcing winners until tomorrow evening.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Off the top thanks to everyone for taking the time to enter some great images. While it was a difficult group to judge, the overall quality also made it a lot of fun.

@kenoh
As advertised it certainly creates a gloomy mood. Viewed full size I love the litho effect with the shadow detail just barely showing through but exquisitely detailed.

@AxisOfBeagles
Wonderful lighting. You’ve done a great job of pulling out both shadow and highlight detail. I like the dreamy effect from the slow shutter speed.

@oblomow
This one really needs to be viewed full size with a black background. Was a bit on the dark side, until I cranked up the black level on my monitor a bit. I’m guessing you like a brighter monitor than I do. Solid composition, again the dreamy slow shutter and that old tree root is a perfect touch.

@someoldguy
This one feels almost like a cliché shot, but I do mean that in a positive way. It would be hard to improve on the composition and you have captured both ends of the density range. The faster shutter speed brings out the energy of the location.

@mollyc
You have delivered solid composition combined with exquisite detail and dramatic colour. As any good picture should, it makes me want to visit that spot.

@tizeye
A tough subject handled quite well. I really like the lighting. The fast shutter speed works with this one. If I go up to a 9 on the nitpicking scale, I found the blown highlight almost dead centre just a tad distracting.

@akash.nu
You often deliver some great images and this one qualifies. With all that white you’ve managed to maintain highlight details. My only issue is entirely personal; We see way too much winter around here and reminding me of that season is borderline treasonous. Despite that I really do love this image. This is nitpicking in the extreme. At full size there are a few barely noticeable JPEG artifacts in the sky but they are not at all noticeable when the image just fills my monitor.

@Janichsan
I suspect you set your monitor even a bit darker than I do. At my normal setting much of the image was a bit washed out. When I dropped the black level by 10% everything came to life and I really liked the image.

@deep diver
Was not sure if this was scanned from an old slide or print, or if that was an effect you were trying to achieve post image. My first reaction was wishing you had pulled the saturation all the way then gone to a true sepia toning. Then I saw those two eyes to the left of the top of the falls and the mouth below that with another face within said mouth. Love this one as well.

@Soulreaver99
I am pretty sure that is Oneonta gorge. A spot which is the very definition of wicked lighting, and you have handled it about as well as could be done. Again some blown highlights but overall a good capture of a very challenging subject. You brought back wonderful 40 year old memories of magic rocks and wading that stream with my then future bride, and my 4x5. Thanks!

@mackmgg
A completely different approach to the topic and almost monochromatic. I really liked this one, especially after I zoomed in and the fish on the left leapt out at me.

As anticipated this was an extremely difficult topic to judge, and another day or another mood and the final results might change dramatically. Last night I found myself waiting for an allergy pill to take effect, and took advantage of being able to evaluate and judge with no ambient light on my screen. That did have an impact on the final outcome. Even a bit of ambient light and the shadow details of the @kenoh image block out and I would probably reverse the one and two positions.

Anyways here are the final results. Again thanks to everyone who entered.

First Place: @kenoh
Second Place: @mollyc
Third Place: @someoldguy & @mackmgg

 

[kenoh]

Oh wow! thank you. Very humbled. Great entries this week. I particularly like @mackmgg 's entry with the seagull for scale.

OK, I will get a new comp up in the next few hours.

 

[deep diver]

Excellent and thoughtful feedback, as expected, even if you were on drugs. Congrats to the podium winners.

This is not a scan. I played with the rendering of this a lot. I tried for some B&W options but couldn't land on anything I liked. I tried true sepia but it felt a little too cliche for my taste. This is what I eventually got to because of that old film feel to it.