Waterfall editing advice

[annamaria]

Hi everyone,

There are two waterfalls that I took a photo of several months ago at Frozen Head in TN. I have uploaded the original as is with no edit and the other waterfall has some minor editing and blurring of the left waterfall. I am using Photoshop Elements, which I am learning and still have a ways to go with it, anyhow I would like suggestions as to editing and improving the photo.

 

[WesternGuy]

I can't see too much difference between them, except the first one seems just a bit "brighter" than the other one. My question is how much have these been cropped from the original? Personally, I do like to see a bit more of the surroundings of the falls than what you have shown here. My only suggestion would be to try and lighten up the rocks in the background underneath the falls. but that may just be my preference and not necessarily anyone else's. Hope this helps a bit.

WesternGuy

 

[Light Guru]

I can't see too much difference between them, except the first one seems just a bit "brighter" than the other one.

Yea not much difference between the two.

I have no editing advice for you on the image but shooting advice.

First I would say it was not shot at the best time of day, it looks to be shot around mid day or early afternoon. The shadows are a bit harsh. Shooting earlier or later in the day will probably give you more even light and softer light.

Second you shot it (or possibly cropped it) too tight. That rock on the top seems awkward being cut off like it is. I would like to see a wider shot.

 

[annamaria]

I can't see too much difference between them, except the first one seems just a bit "brighter" than the other one. My question is how much have these been cropped from the original? Personally, I do like to see a bit more of the surroundings of the falls than what you have shown here. My only suggestion would be to try and lighten up the rocks in the background underneath the falls. but that may just be my preference and not necessarily anyone else's. Hope this helps a bit. WesternGuy

Unfortunately it was shot just the way you see it, I have not cropped it at all so there is nothing I can add to it. Thank you for the suggestion on lightening the rocks.

 

[annamaria]

Yea not much difference between the two. I have no editing advice for you on the image but shooting advice. First I would say it was not shot at the best time of day, it looks to be shot around mid day or early afternoon. The shadows are a bit harsh. Shooting earlier or later in the day will probably give you more even light and softer light. Second you shot it (or possibly cropped it) too tight. That rock on the top seems awkward being cut off like it is. I would like to see a wider shot.

If I remember correctly it was shot after mid day so yes lots of sun. I have not cropped it, unfortunately I was too close, guess I should have stepped further back for the shot. Well I am learning, hopefully I will do better next time. Thanks for the advice will keep it in mind.

 

[AlanKlein]

Messing around with editing afterwards to get the right blurring just won't work most times and it just wastes a lot of time. You got to get it right in the camera. That's a good suggestion regardless of the photos you take. Editing afterwards should be for tweaking. Regarding waterfalls, a good plan is to bracket a number of shots at different shutter speeds. Use a tripod so there is no movement blur from hand holding the camera.

I agree with the other that the crops are too tight. Leave a little breathing room. Also, wait for clouds to provide equal lighting throughout the scene. You have a mottled look due to the sun causing shadows from the foliage in certain places but not in others. Only clouds will get rid of the little shadows. Good luck.

 

[annamaria]

Messing around with editing afterwards to get the right blurring just won't work most times and it just wastes a lot of time. You got to get it right in the camera. That's a good suggestion regardless of the photos you take. Editing afterwards should be for tweaking. Regarding waterfalls, a good plan is to bracket a number of shots at different shutter speeds. Use a tripod so there is no movement blur from hand holding the camera. I agree with the other that the crops are too tight. Leave a little breathing room. Also, wait for clouds to provide equal lighting throughout the scene. You have a mottled look due to the sun causing shadows from the foliage in certain places but not in others. Only clouds will get rid of the little shadows. Good luck.

Well I did use a tripod though it's not a real sturdy one, it was given to me. I did set the settings in camera to blur some, but maybe not enough? Will have to read more on the correct settings. As for bracketing that is something I don't know enough about yet, but will definitely read about it. Thanks for your advice.

 

[astroNikon]

It's not too bad if you don't have ND filters and post processing software like Adobe LightRoom.
You are limited by using your f/22 aperture (or f/32 etc). This will let you increase the exposure to hopefully more than 4 seconds depending upon how bright it is.

See if you have any of these features in Photoshop Elements .. as I use LightRoom.
There are some nice colors in there .. editing in Lightroom:
Exposure +1
Contrast -2
highlights -50 (get rid of bright spots)
shadows +64 (show the details in the dark)
whites + 24
clarity, virbrance & saturation +25 (bring out those greens)

 

[astroNikon]

here's a slightly better edit .. Whitebalance +10 in addition to the changes above
these helped make the water whiter - I have some waterfalls where the water was purpleish lol

 

[astroNikon]

I'm still a post processing newbie but I'm getting better .... I hope so after using lightroom for about a year. lol


The problem with bright sunlight is that it creates harsh shadows.
You are better off early in the morning or late at night or with cloud cover.

Ever watch when it gets darker the lighting gets more "even" throughout and you can see the details that were hidden way in the shadows ?

but sometimes you don't have a choice. I was in Pennsylvania last week taking waterfall pics ... I was waiting for some cloud cover. But the cloud cover that came also including thunder and lightening .. I packed up and split .. though at the car (when it jsut stared totally downpouring) i briefly thought if i stayed 3 minutes more the lighting was perfect. Of course the water on the super steep tree root climb would have been nearly impossible to get up after that downpour. So sometimes .. just take the shot, and later if you get around to that area learn from your first shots and try to improve it.

 

[astroNikon]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...d-filters-anyone-have-various-nds-photos.html


a few of my waterfalls and small streams as I learn more. I'm replacing some photos as they are too dark, and purpleish
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100677477@N08/sets/72157644824427415/

 

[astroNikon]

There's a bunch of tutorials on youtube
here's an example of highlights/shadows

 

[annamaria]

I'm still a post processing newbie but I'm getting better .... I hope so after using lightroom for about a year. lol The problem with bright sunlight is that it creates harsh shadows. You are better off early in the morning or late at night or with cloud cover. Ever watch when it gets darker the lighting gets more "even" throughout and you can see the details that were hidden way in the shadows ? but sometimes you don't have a choice. I was in Pennsylvania last week taking waterfall pics ... I was waiting for some cloud cover. But the cloud cover that came also including thunder and lightening .. I packed up and split .. though at the car (when it jsut stared totally downpouring) i briefly thought if i stayed 3 minutes more the lighting was perfect. Of course the water on the super steep tree root climb would have been nearly impossible to get up after that downpour. So sometimes .. just take the shot, and later if you get around to that area learn from your first shots and try to improve it.

Hi astro really appreciate the time you took to send me some links which I will take a look at for sure. Thank you for all the advice and your edit. I had to laugh when you mentioned about the thunder and lightening, and you split. That was really funny. I will watch the tube vids and check my software and see what I can do as I am a newbie with elements as well.

 

[astroNikon]

I gave you a laundry list of edits
so learning each one will teach you alot.

I bought Lightroom and basically didn't use it at all for a year. I was still learning alot about my d7000 and photography in general.

Then I did a selective color Monthly thing here on TPF. and I learned selective color and how to CROP !! This was my first time using the RAW format. I only did it for that one project.

then a few months later I switched to RAW format exclusively and it forced me to use lightroom .. yes, I added all that extra time just to crop and export. The only 2 features I really used.

Then I started using the Exposure, then later the vertical/horizontal distortion tool (to straighten up buildings), then highlights / shadows and recently the clarity/ vibrance & saturation. So it's a learning process.

Just try to duplicate everything I did. I'm sure it's not perfect to a trained eye but I certainly like it that way.

 

[annamaria]

I gave you a laundry list of edits so learning each one will teach you alot. I bought Lightroom and basically didn't use it at all for a year. I was still learning alot about my d7000 and photography in general. Then I did a selective color Monthly thing here on TPF. and I learned selective color and how to CROP !! This was my first time using the RAW format. I only did it for that one project. then a few months later I switched to RAW format exclusively and it forced me to use lightroom .. yes, I added all that extra time just to crop and export. The only 2 features I really used. Then I started using the Exposure, then later the vertical/horizontal distortion tool (to straighten up buildings), then highlights / shadows and recently the clarity/ vibrance & saturation. So it's a learning process. Just try to duplicate everything I did. I'm sure it's not perfect to a trained eye but I certainly like it that way.

Yikes a laundry list, boy you will have me busy for a year ;-) I will try my best to follow the instructions as per the astro teacher. Thanks so much. Well will be out of town a few days with no internet :-( I will have withdrawals but will have my trusty cam.