taking a Hike...

[jgredline]

Hi Folks...
I took these while on a Hike..I tried to be more careful in my composition.. Here are 4 photos.. Anyway, here are a few...Lets here the advice..

[Frog]

I think the first is too cluttered. Needs a focal point. Perhaps less depth of field would help isolate the falls but then you'd probably have to use a faster shutter which would take the soft water appearance you were after.
The second one is better to me as I do like flowing water stopped more. Might have been good chance to go vertical and having the little falls cutting diagnolly across the screen.
I do like the soft water effect in the third. The green hill distracts my eye and I wish the foreground and falls were more isolated.
They all have good colors and seem to be good and sharp.

[gahspidy]

I think your first is the best because you have isolated the area of interest very well and the soft flow of water is a good treat. the many rocks are an interesting element in this white water scene.
The second and third are the same except the third is a darker contrast and the second has the slower shutter speed. I like the lighter one best and the softer water looks better but I do not like the fallen tree laying across in the fg

The fourth is pretty good too but I feel including all of the big rock would have been better, if that were possible.

[GB1]

Javier - They do all seem somewhat busy to me. I think you tried to get some supporting characters in the shot so that it wouldn't just be a plain old water. But there's just too many distractions. The angle on the top one is interesting to me, and the bottom one you may be able to crop in to isolate the water and make it a cleaner shot (might want to fix that slight tilt also). Interesting spot. -GB

[MB1]

Ahhhhh....that first one is a almost. I really want to like it but the bush on the upper left throws everything off.

I do like the last one.

That stream has some real potential. What I like to do on a hike is get pix like these, think about them for a while afterwards then go back for a real photo shoot.

[jgredline]

Frog, GB1
Thanks so much for the comments!!!..
The busyness of the pic was a problem and this was after I cleaned it up as much as I could get to.. I was simply not equipped to get into the water...I added the second and third photo to see what style is more appealing to the eye..Next time I will go back with a tripod instead of using a Rock as tripod..Thanks again.

gahspidy
Thanks so much!!!
I did try and get the whole rock, but with the lens I took, it was not possible. I was using the Tamron 28-75 F/2.8...I needed my DA*16-50 F/2.8

MB1
Thanks a buch!!!
I will be going back this weekend and will be better prepared...There is 40 foot waterfall at the end of the trail, that I will try and get to. I could not make it there last week, because the main trail was a river..Hopefully I will make it through this time...

Again thank you all for the great advice...I really appreciate it..
javier

[jgredline]

Here is another photo from that set...

I tried to use the rocks to frame the pic, but then that tree got in the way..
Would this picture benefit more from Cropping or a wider lens? Perhaps the cloning tool?
There was no room to step back in this pic.

[brmill26]

The second and fourth are my favorites. I really like the lighting in the second. Personally, for my taste, I would prefer the shutter speed be just a touch faster, such that the water is still blurred, but that it still has just a little streaky definition - much like you did on your 5th picture above. But that's purely a style thing. Great photos though; they really convey the feeling of peaceful nature.

[jgredline]

The second and fourth are my favorites. I really like the lighting in the second. Personally, for my taste, I would prefer the shutter speed be just a touch faster, such that the water is still blurred, but that it still has just a little streaky definition - much like you did on your 5th picture above. But that's purely a style thing. Great photos though; they really convey the feeling of peaceful nature.

Brad,
Thanks for the comments. It really is a nice place to hike. About a 5 mile round trip...Since we don't get allot of rain around here, when we do we pay for it..
But anyway, I will be going back again this weekend.

[Dylan8i]

i think on the last one, i would have tried to slide to my right and use a vertical composition. would be able to eliminate the tree, and the rocks would frame the sides more.

[jgredline]

i think on the last one, i would have tried to slide to my right and use a vertical composition. would be able to eliminate the tree, and the rocks would frame the sides more.

Dylan
I thought the same thing when I posted it...So simple a thought, I will be going back.
Thanks for the comments.

[Loupey]

I think your 4th shot is the strongest. I LOVE the quality of light on the two foreground boulders.

I would offer, on that scene and if possible, to slide to your left and recompose on the waterfall. By shifting to the left (and probably up a little), it would pull the two boulders closer and, at the same time, pull that cluster of 3 trees off center to the left. The result should be an interesting zig-zag pattern that the eye can follow with the waterfall still being the central element in a more subtle manner.

[jgredline]

I think your 4th shot is the strongest. I LOVE the quality of light on the two foreground boulders.

I would offer, on that scene and if possible, to slide to your left and recompose on the waterfall. By shifting to the left (and probably up a little), it would pull the two boulders closer and, at the same time, pull that cluster of 3 trees off center to the left. The result should be an interesting zig-zag pattern that the eye can follow with the waterfall still being the central element in a more subtle manner.

Loupey
Thank you for comments. I wish the light were really that good their, but most of the stream is in shadow. Really if not for the lens and slow shutter speeds, I would not have been able to get anything...I could have cranked up the ISO and perhaps I should have done that, but I was more after the soft water flow. I will be printing this page and taking it with me on Saturday...Hopefully, I will be able to find the same spots and apply much of the advice..
Thanks again,
javier

[AgingEyes]

I'd pick the first one. The 4th one seems to have some potential though.

[MrEastSide]

Personally, I like the first and last one best.

[jgredline]

AE, Mr East Side
Thanks for the comments...i have been looking forward to Saturday all week and this time I will be better prepared.

[bindows]

I like the last picture because it is a little more unusual than the typical slanted flow of water. I like how it comes at the viewer.

Where is this? Malibu?

[jgredline]

I like the last picture because it is a little more unusual than the typical slanted flow of water. I like how it comes at the viewer.

Where is this? Malibu?

Bindows
Thannks for the comments.
This is a part of the many trails along the Angeles national forest. This particular one is next to JPL in Pasadena.