Glufurafoss


Posted by E.J. Peiker on Thu Aug 14, 2014 11:53 am

All times are UTC-05:00

Reply to topic  
 First unread post  | 15 posts | 
Image
Glufurafoss - Iceland
a7R, 24mm, ISO 100, f/13, 12 exposures

This is the single most difficult landscape photo I have ever taken.  To approach Glufurafoss you have to wade through the outflow of this waterfall and into a slot canyon.  Conditions in this slot are about a 40MPH wind that is funneled through the canyon and a wall of water from the spray created by the waterfall.  Every thing gets completely drenched in under a second.  In 5 seconds, you see absolutely nothing in the viewfinder due to water.  In order to photograph this, I had to take 4 separate photos at three different exposures each to deal with water on the front element and the dynamic range.  Between each individual exposure, I had to block, with my body the front element and wipe it clean.  I then had to keep the front element covered until the moment of exposure, take the shot and then do the process all over again 12 times.  I then combined the 4 shots at each exposure using the Photoshop Darken blending mode since this retains the darkest pixel and ignores the rest in order to eliminate water spots.  Once I had 3 relatively water spot free images at the three different exposure levels, I then combined them using the Interior blending mode in Photomatix with some adjustments.  In the final outcome, there is still some evidence of reduced contrast due to water spotting but it has been largely minimized.

I went back to this spot three times after looking at the individual images at the various hotels and then refined the technique each time in order to finally come up with this.  It's not perfect, far from it, but I am relatively pleased I was able to get something this clear given the circumstances.

User avatar
Posted by:
E.J. Peiker
Senior Technical Editor
Location: Arizona
Member #:00002
Posts: 86761
Joined: 16 Aug 2003

   

by John Spreitzer on Thu Aug 14, 2014 12:12 pm
John Spreitzer
Forum Contributor
Posts: 1189
Joined: 1 Sep 2004
Location: Ridgewood, New Jersey
Bravo EJ!! Amazing work!!

This is an amazing place to experience. To come away with what you have here is quite an accomplishment!
John
 

by Dave Pluimer on Thu Aug 14, 2014 9:23 pm
User avatar
Dave Pluimer
Forum Contributor
Posts: 182
Joined: 13 Apr 2009
Location: Indiana
Stunning! I just love the detail and colors.
 

by John Labrenz on Thu Aug 14, 2014 11:43 pm
User avatar
John Labrenz
Moderator
Posts: 17071
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304
Love it!
Hats off for the work involved to achieve this!
 

by CactusD on Fri Aug 15, 2014 2:33 am
User avatar
CactusD
Forum Contributor
Posts: 2449
Joined: 14 Dec 2008
Location: Ideally, halfway up a Greek mountain, or in the northern British landscape; otherwise, Banbury, UK
Tremendous! Really excellent result from all the effort.
"The Sun is God."  J. M. W. Turner

Large Format Photography Website
 

by Markus Jais on Fri Aug 15, 2014 9:16 am
User avatar
Markus Jais
Lifetime Member
Posts: 2888
Joined: 5 Sep 2005
Location: Germany, near Munich
Member #:01791
Well worth the effort. Stunning shot.
It is the extra work that results in good shots!

Markus
 

by Wade Thorson on Fri Aug 15, 2014 5:12 pm
User avatar
Wade Thorson
Forum Contributor
Posts: 1536
Joined: 8 Apr 2010
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Excellent, way to preserver. Great back story, and wonderful result.
"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
                 -Shakespeare Troilus and Cressida


Alpine Imaging | Wade Thorson Photography
 

by Carol Clarke on Fri Aug 15, 2014 6:35 pm
User avatar
Carol Clarke
Chief Forum Administrator
Posts: 73058
Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Location: Lincolnshire, UK. In tune with Nature.
Member #:00067
A fantastic reward for your efforts, a wonderful image in every way! I also love the screaming head in the left side rock face!
Carol Clarke
Chief Forum Administrator.


"When the power of love is greater than the love of power,
the world will know peace"....Jimi Hendrix.

NSN0067
 

by Magnus Persson on Sat Aug 16, 2014 6:34 am
User avatar
Magnus Persson
Forum Contributor
Posts: 719
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Nice!
Hats off for the work involved to achieve this!
Best Regards
Magnus Persson
http://www.vastkustenfoto.se
http://vastkustenfoto.wordpress.com/
Elected to the nature photography society: http://www.photonatura.se
 

by rnclark on Sat Aug 16, 2014 8:19 am
rnclark
Lifetime Member
Posts: 864
Joined: 7 Dec 2010
Member #:01978
E.J.
Very impressive, and no one would know the image was made from 12 frames under difficult conditions unless they read your explanation. The portions with lower contrast look natural and add to the mood. Beautiful and well done. How cold and deep was the water you waded through?

Roger
 

by E.J. Peiker on Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:01 am
User avatar
E.J. Peiker
Senior Technical Editor
Posts: 86761
Joined: 16 Aug 2003
Location: Arizona
Member #:00002
Only about about a foot to two feet deep deep and probably about 40 degrees F. You can maneuver on rocks and keep your feet relatively dry with watertight boots unless you misstep like I did and then you get a real wet foot :)
 

by Chris Kayler on Sat Aug 16, 2014 12:55 pm
User avatar
Chris Kayler
Forum Contributor
Posts: 8840
Joined: 31 Mar 2004
Location: McLean, VA
Thanks for the explanation of your technique here, E.J. I am eager to try my hand at reducing waterspots this way ... cool! As for the image, wonderful. My only complaint here is that I'd like to see the very tippy top of the waterfall a bit brighter. Seems that some of the exposure of the sky blend crept into the top there? I do really like the way that the arch frames the top. Overall, really nice E.J.!
 

by E.J. Peiker on Sat Aug 16, 2014 3:15 pm
User avatar
E.J. Peiker
Senior Technical Editor
Posts: 86761
Joined: 16 Aug 2003
Location: Arizona
Member #:00002
Thanks Chris, that's a great observation that I missed, the top of the water should be brighter to render a more photo-realistic look. Easy to fix :)
 

by Keith Bozeman on Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:05 pm
Keith Bozeman
Forum Contributor
Posts: 445
Joined: 27 May 2013
Location: Alabama
I love the detail in all the moss and rocks.
 

by crw816 on Sat Aug 16, 2014 10:00 pm
User avatar
crw816
Forum Contributor
Posts: 1942
Joined: 23 Jul 2011
Location: Colchester, VT
Amazing
Chris White
www.whitephotogallery.com
 

Display posts from previous:  Sort by:  
15 posts | 

Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group