Ian Cambourne
September 2023 - Empress Falls Lookout
About the Image(s)
This image was taken in August when a friend and I wanted to go to Empress Falls in our Blue Mountains. Just as you begin the decent down the staircase that takes you to the base of the cliff and falls, you come to this lookout. The journey down (and back up) is quite a challenge and I'm told the equivalent of about 35 stories. Details: Nikon D810; 16 - 80 lens @ 16mm; ISO 100; F2.8 & 1/350. Processed in LR, PS and a touch of Nik.
Sadly, this is the classic image that shows and convinces me that I must increase my post processing skills. If I could make the time to learn how to stitch images together, I could present more of the landscape to the side.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
That looks like a great location with the framing of the cliffs and the valley disappearing off into the distance with some nice recession on the distant hills. I agree that a bit more cliff on the left would balance the one on the right. Stitching images in Lightroom is very easy, just take a series of images with a good overlap, select them in Lightroom, right click and select Photo Merge--> Panorama. It usually does a very good job, and there are options to stretch, fill or crop to produce a rectangular image. Just try it and practice! Posted: 09/15/2023 06:24:04
Thanks for your comments Gordon, I'm definitely going to make time to learn more PP skills. Posted: 09/24/2023 07:16:41
Beautiful image. More on the left would be an improvement, I agree. I like the multiple layers of distance. What was it like at the bottom? Posted: 09/21/2023 16:32:43
Thanks for your thoughts Sanford. The bottom was a long way down and the climb back up the path and stairs really was exhausting. Down the bottom was much like Henriette's image this month, except for the waterfall, which was the whole purpose of that venture. I'll probably put up one of those next month. Posted: 09/24/2023 07:19:27
Beautiful image Ian. I like the contrast between the sky, fog, and trees in the mountains. The diagonal and leading lines of the cliff also add to the photograph. Are those buildings in the distance on the top of the mountain on the left side of the picture? Posted: 09/24/2023 06:55:30
Thanks Jay, I did try to bring some depth into this image by using the cliff lines and the distant ridges. The structure you refer to is not a building, it's a remote communications tower. Posted: 09/24/2023 07:25:27
What a beautiful view and I can just image what it must have been like at the bottom with the waterfall and ferns. I look forward to seeing your other images from this hike to the bottom to see the waterfall. The implied triangles and diagonal lines in the forest really emphasize the hillsides that the trees cover. The receding terrain in the background provides a nice backdrop to the wonderful foreground as well as the foreground walls that frame the whole scene. Is the staircase earthen or made of wood? The cloud formation in the overcast sky adds a nice texture to the overall scene. Well done Ian. Posted: 09/26/2023 11:55:15
I love the depth of this image, the spread of planes from the sky to the rocks and trees.
Despite the NIK setting, I find the image a little dull. But I'm used to pushing the sliders a little too much.
As I said, you have to practice and try again. Now I'm going back to old images to see them differently. Bravo, I'll never see what you see. Posted: 09/27/2023 04:10:09
Despite the NIK setting, I find the image a little dull. But I'm used to pushing the sliders a little too much.
As I said, you have to practice and try again. Now I'm going back to old images to see them differently. Bravo, I'll never see what you see. Posted: 09/27/2023 04:10:09