Michael Weatherford
About the Image(s)
It was a tough two-mile hike in the rain down Dog Slaughter Creek in Daniel Boone National Forest (Eastern Kentucky) to reach Dog Slaughter Falls. I was a little disappointed when I saw it because a large tree trunk was wedged across the falls. I looked from several different perspectives but the tree trunk just looked too distracting to me. So I finally decided to work with instead of against it. I climbed to near the base of the falls and shot a close up from the side, hoping the tree trunk would serve as a big ass leading line. Did it work? I say "yes" because I worked hard to get that shot!
Nikon Z7ii; Nikkor Z 20mm f1.8 S lens; mounted on Platypod. 0.6 sec, f16, ISO160. Processed in Lightroom; light crop, slider adjustments to exposure,highlights and shadows, sharpened, used "Transform" to straighten perspective, Used adjustment brush to further lighten up the dark area behind the water. Finished in Luminar 4 to brighten the total image a bit and bring out more detail.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
Some times Mother Nature just throws obstacles in the path of intrepid photographers---you got the log. On a positive note--it will be there for years so you get the satisfaction other photographers will have to deal with it. :-)
I agree however, that is is just best to give in and work with it. I'm not sure I see it as a leading line as much as I see it as a frame. To that end may I suggest using the crop on the attachment I've provided. To my mind this does two things. The bright area in the upper left corner draws the eye away from the subject so by cropping from the left you emphasize the frame aspect of the log and eliminate most or the eye catching bright area as well.
Your treatment of the falls itself is really nicely done. The water has just enough detail to make it feel transparent and sort of mystical.
Did you use some sort of treatment when processing this image? To me this just feels sort of flat and lacks some contrast. I'm wondering if this is something you elected to do or if there is another reason for this appearance.
I still think the image is well worth the 4 mile stroll.
  Posted: 05/09/2022 10:01:42
(Groups 4 & 15 & 58 & 59 & 72)
I used one of the Topaz Adjust presets fro daylight (after the rain, I guess)   Posted: 05/11/2022 09:21:28
Love the waterfall. Silky tendrils of water snaking from the rocks to the pool! Very nice.   Posted: 05/12/2022 12:54:29
Such are the travails of a nature photographer! nature throw a log at you!!
To me the biggest distractions in the scene are the somewhat flat light and the sky on the left. I like what Isaac dis to crop off most of that sky and to enliven the colors.   Posted: 05/13/2022 10:28:35
I agree with previous suggestions about a tighter crop and eliminating distracting upper left sky. And I think a BW treatment might better highlite the combination of your subjects (dark jagged log and smooth white water), while playing off the texture and contrast between them. Two very quick examples below: the first basic BW.   Posted: 05/16/2022 16:54:22