Critique for freeze water
- Thread starter mac66
- Start date
Stoshowicz
Senior Member
Apart from all the camera motion , just talking composition,, visually this image doesn't make sense to me , why would the water be up at the tops of the rocks like that ? It looks unnatural.
LOL!...Because a famous landscape architect in our town designed it that way. Sorry you don't like it, but a lot of folks do. It's one of the most popular parks in town. That said, it may look unnatural to your eye, but it is a focal point for gatherings, weddings and the like.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
You guys kill me, so let me explain further. This water feature or "waterfall," is a man-made sandstone fountain, located in one of our most prestigious parks. Sandstone, is a naturally occurring rock in our area. It is easily quarried, and has been used since territorial times, to construct foundations, buildings and even the old state prison.
This particular waterfall, fountain or whatever you want to call it, is made, as are all sandstone water features in our town. A hole is drilled through the center of the sandstone rock from top to bottom. Water is pumped up from a pond or reservoir, which causes it to cascade up and over the sandstone structures.
Now it maybe, that this type of "waterfall," is only particular to our state, but they are in fact unique to the area.
In other words, we like our sandstone "waterfalls!"
This is how I would shoot this. (bear in mind that I have no idea what the surrounding area is like, so I take it for granted that this would be the best angle I can shoot from)
1st, the equipment, set up.
I take it that you're shooting with the 18-55mm lens. If so from the same spot that you're standing, zoom out some from 55mm. maybe to 35mm, this will give you some room for cropping if it's too wide.
I would use a tripod. If I had no tripod, I would run out and get one. (I've been using a 50 dollar tripod and it's fine, (yes it would be nice to have a 200 dollar tripod with a 200 dollar gimble head, but some of us work for a living.
I would also use an ND filter to get my shutter speed down to at least 1/30th of a second. A good rule of thumb to get the water silky flow, is that the faster the water is flowing, a lower shutter speed is required, and vica versa.
If I don't have an ND filter, I would wait untill late afternoon when it's getting to be twilight.
2nd, the settings.
I would shoot this in Aperture priority mode. This is the "A" mode, and it doesn't stand for automatic.
I would set my aperture at around f/11 or maybe a bit higher, depending on how low I need my shutter speed.
I would then set my ISO at 100. I would also set my metering to Matrix.
At this point the camera will pick a shutter speed. If it's higher then 1/30th I would increase my aperture to lower the shutter speed. If a higher aperture wont get it low enough, that means I still have too much light. So wait till it gets darker, or buy an ND filter.
Then when I'm happy with the setting, camera on tripod I would set my timer to 5 second. I would focus right at that big rock halfway down your image and hit the shutter.
1st, the equipment, set up.
I take it that you're shooting with the 18-55mm lens. If so from the same spot that you're standing, zoom out some from 55mm. maybe to 35mm, this will give you some room for cropping if it's too wide.
I would use a tripod. If I had no tripod, I would run out and get one. (I've been using a 50 dollar tripod and it's fine, (yes it would be nice to have a 200 dollar tripod with a 200 dollar gimble head, but some of us work for a living.
I would also use an ND filter to get my shutter speed down to at least 1/30th of a second. A good rule of thumb to get the water silky flow, is that the faster the water is flowing, a lower shutter speed is required, and vica versa.
If I don't have an ND filter, I would wait untill late afternoon when it's getting to be twilight.
2nd, the settings.
I would shoot this in Aperture priority mode. This is the "A" mode, and it doesn't stand for automatic.
I would set my aperture at around f/11 or maybe a bit higher, depending on how low I need my shutter speed.
I would then set my ISO at 100. I would also set my metering to Matrix.
At this point the camera will pick a shutter speed. If it's higher then 1/30th I would increase my aperture to lower the shutter speed. If a higher aperture wont get it low enough, that means I still have too much light. So wait till it gets darker, or buy an ND filter.
Then when I'm happy with the setting, camera on tripod I would set my timer to 5 second. I would focus right at that big rock halfway down your image and hit the shutter.
One says shoot on a sunny day, the other on a cloudy day. Getting wet is not an option, you can't deviate from the path. It's a protected wildlife area.
First, I couldn't set up my tripod up in the area. I had to practically jump in the water to get that shot. It was a handheld shot using VR. I have since learned that VR is not a good option. Secondly, I do not have a filter, but take your suggestion of a shot later in the day. Today I went back to find another location to shoot from, using my tripod. After searching my home, I came to the realization, that I left my tripod in the park last week! As that wasn't bad enough, the park was too crowded this morning. I find Sundays better, and plan on going back tomorrow. Filters are on my list, but not at this time. Hopefully, I can put some of your suggestions to use tomorrow.
(BTW, I have an old tripod that is broke and wobbly, but will have to do until I can replace the one I lost. I used it today on some flower shots, and they came out OK).
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Vixen
Senior Member
VR is good for handheld. Turn it off on the tripod
To be honest, you'll be able to slow your shutter speed more on an overcast day as opposed to a sunny day especially if you have no filters.
Thanks for the tip Well guys, the weekend was a bust for taking another shot, using your tips. Something was going on, down at the park all weekend. Just too many folks in the way. Even early Sunday (This morning), it was crowded. That said, I found a little fountain Saturday and a man-made waterfall today, so practiced some settings. Will post a similar photo for critique, when I get time.
Still plan on retaking the first shot, but now it will have to wait.
Well guys, the weekend was a bust for taking another shot, using your tips. Something was going on, down at the park all weekend. Just too many folks in the way. Even early Sunday (This morning), it was crowded. That said, I found a little fountain Saturday and a man-made waterfall today, so practiced some settings. Will post a similar photo for critique, when I get time. Still plan on retaking the first shot, but now it will have to wait.
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Stoshowicz
Senior Member
I am serious, Theres no escarpment or elevation behind the falling part ,, So an effort should be made in the photo ,IMO, to try to preserve the illusion that it is a natural feature, like the builder attempted.
I shouldnt be able to see past it on the right or the tippy tops of the trees just behind it,etc. From a closer perspective ,and maybe a wider angle lens, one might get a more dramatic presentation.