Linking to:
Monday, February 22, 2016
Inglis Falls
Inglis Falls is not just my favourite waterfalls, but one of my favourite places in the world. I've been visiting it since I was young, as my grandparents lived nearby. My dad tells stories of it from before that, and my great-grandfather carried his grain to the mill here to be ground. And now I've been visiting in all seasons and trying to get better pictures.
Last year the falls was actually entirely frozen over, but this year there's a strong flow of water over the main part of the falls, and tumbling down over the boulders below, all surrounded by ice, with lots of spray frozen on the rocks and trees above. I was trying for those 'slow' pictures, so this is a quarter-second exposure, for which I needed to use both a tripod and a neutral density filter so it wouldn't be too bright.
This is close to the same picture, but at a normal speed of 1/125, where the water is somewhat more 'frozen' in mid-air. You can see that actually the water is flowing over thick ice; it's just the surface that is water. There is undoubtedly lots of water flowing under the ice out of sight though.
These are three closer views all the same, but taken at different speeds. I'm not sure I can even tell much difference, and I'm not sure which I like best. The first is a full 1/2 second exposure.
The second is a 1/4 second exposure.
And the third is a 1/8 second exposure. What do you think?
The last one is a horizontal view, but of the same part of the waterfall, at a normal speed of 1/125 second. I think I"ve learned the basics of using a tripod and the neutral density filter, but I have a lot to learn yet about composition, and lighting. Still, it was a beautiful winter view of a beautiful waterfall.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It is a magnificent sight in the winter. I visited Rideau Falls here a week ago. Very different from earlier visits.
ReplyDeleteStunning! Magical. I love them all, whatever the speed.
ReplyDeleteI think your photos of this winter waterfall are absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, I think slower is better! I have not photographed waterfalls in a long time:)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I guess it depends on what you are wanting to emphasize. If the running water and the spray is the focus, the longer exposures. If it is the contrast between the water movement and nearby stationary objects, the 1/8 seems to have the additional bit of detail but still the sense of movement. Nice experiment.
ReplyDeleteAwesome frozen waterfall! A photo tip - I like to photograph waterfalls on cloudy days and use a polarizing filter. The lesser amounts of light help slow down the shutter speed, and gives less contrast between the white water and dark backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteI've never been quite so devoted to slow shutter speeds and that silky look as some people seem to be; sometimes it looks good, while at other times I like the strange shapes and droplets frozen in mid-air that faster speeds give. In this case the slow speed works best to give contrast between the ice and the flowing water. But, hey, who wants to think about technicalities when faced with such a wonderful scene!
ReplyDeleteI like #1, with the trees, a wider view, and a better idea of the greatness of this. Slow shutter speeds, they are great.
ReplyDeleteShutter speeds are fun to play with, but I think flowing water is beautiful any way you photograph it. And in this case, I would be quick to make a few photos and get back to where it is warm!
ReplyDeleteWow, gorgeous views and beautiful photos of the frozen falls. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteI like them all very much. I think the third one of the closeups is my favorite, though. And the last picture as well. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think I like them all!!! On those three that are the same, at first glance, can hardly see a difference, but looking close I can a tiny bit. But it just not something I see when first scrolling through them. I love all the views!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I can pick a favorite. They are all spectacular!! Wow
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos . I love the sound and smell of water falls ! Thanks for sharing , have a good day !
ReplyDeleteWoW....beautiful, beautiful images!!! i would love to see this but your images sure did give me a great sense of how it feels and looks!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful waterfall, it's easy to see why you like it so much. I prefer the 1/4 second photo, but there's not much to choose between the three slow speed shots.
ReplyDeleteWow! These falls are so powerful. I wonder if the entire area is filled with water mist during spring and summer.
ReplyDeleteLooks cold but beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place. Gorgeous views of the waterfall
ReplyDeleteMagnificent! The ice formations are amazing.
ReplyDelete