Gloria Grandolini
May 2025 - Towers of Luck
About the Image(s)
I shot this image in a trip to New Zealand several years ago. I am now choosing the best 4-6 shots. Unfortunately I was not shooting RAW at that time. Hope your advice can help me improve these shots.
These are Fantail Falls in Mount Aspiring National Park in the South Island. In the background is the 23 meter fan-shaped cascade, resembling the tail of the native fantail bird. The foreground shows the popular tradition of stacking small smooth river rocks into little towers for good luck.
Shot with Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xti
28mm (lens EF 18-55 f/3.5-5.6)
1/400 sec at f/14 ISO 400
2 comments posted
This is a really pretty setting. I like the rocks in the foreground and the waterfall with foliage on each side. I like the slightly off center water fall. The quality of light is a negative. Maybe a polarzing filter would take a bit of the edge off the harsh light. My preference is for straight horizon lines even if not factually true. So I implemented what I could and added a very slight vignetting. You could actually dodge and burn separate layers to direct the viewer where to look. This is a time consuming process in PS but worth exploring. This may give the image a bit more pop in the beautiful rocks. Looks like a very nice memory! Posted: 05/01/2025 10:57:49
Gloria, my first comment in this group, so if my say something not in keeping with group etiquette, do forgive me!
Lovely memory and you probably will not be going back there. My first thought really was that does this fit the definition of a phototravel image. The waterfall could have been anywhere really, but the stone stacks in the foreground, do give an indication that this is some precise location, rather than just a waterfall.
Photographically the light is harsh,and you probably could not do much about it. If you were carrying an ND filter, I would suggest shooting from a very low angle, so the foreground rock stacks became prominent, camera on tripod if you had one available, otherwise rested on some rock to allow enough stability for a slow shutter speed.
Just my thoughts on how I may have approached such a nice scene, acceoting the harsh light.
Regards
Som Posted: 05/05/2025 11:49:14
Lovely memory and you probably will not be going back there. My first thought really was that does this fit the definition of a phototravel image. The waterfall could have been anywhere really, but the stone stacks in the foreground, do give an indication that this is some precise location, rather than just a waterfall.
Photographically the light is harsh,and you probably could not do much about it. If you were carrying an ND filter, I would suggest shooting from a very low angle, so the foreground rock stacks became prominent, camera on tripod if you had one available, otherwise rested on some rock to allow enough stability for a slow shutter speed.
Just my thoughts on how I may have approached such a nice scene, acceoting the harsh light.
Regards
Som Posted: 05/05/2025 11:49:14