DJLee

Frozen Kirkjufellsfoss

Section of frozen waterfall. I was fascinated by the shapes and textures.

Section of frozen waterfall. I was fascinated by the shapes and textures.
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NIKON D850

settings

Aperture f/11 ISO 31 Shutter 4/10 Focal Length 1900/10

location

Iceland

Feb, 2019

Views

2130

Likes

+403

Awards

Spring 21 Award

Judge Favorite

9Teen Award

Celebrity Award

Contest Finalist in The Shapes Of Ice Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 48

Contest Finalist in Winter Long Exposures Photo Contest

Peer Award

+546

Superb Composition

+15

Absolute Masterpiece

+13

Top Choice

Outstanding Creativity

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Superior Skill

Genius

Emotions

Impressed

Relaxed

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at Kirkjufellsfoss, on the Snæfellsnes peninsula of western Iceland.

Time

I took this photo in the late afternoon, during the golden hour. However, it was an overcast winter day lacking interesting light, and so I decided to focus on close-ups of the frozen waterfall.

Lighting

The sky was overcast and the light flat--not good for a grand landscape but just fine for nature detail and macro work. Overcast lighting is smooth and gradual light, which helps to minimize harsh highlights and distracting shadows.

Equipment

I took this photo with my Nikon d850 and 70-200 f/2.8 lens. For the feeling I wanted to capture (see below), I needed a long exposure and so a tripod was essential. Because of the low light situation, I was able to get the longish exposure I wanted without using a filter.

Inspiration

The layers of frozen water over time had created an intricate, almost gothic architecture. At the same time, the days were warming, and the elaborate structure was beginning to melt. The entire structure seemed on the verge of collapse, and I felt as though I was witnessing the transmutation of ice into water at a pivotal moment in the natural cycle of this waterfall. That was the moment I tried to capture--structure and the collapse of structure, differentiated form giving way to a more fluid state of being.

Editing

I shoot in RAW and thus all of my images need some post-processing. A RAW file is an image file created when the camera takes image data from the sensor and saves it in an unedited and uncompressed format on the memory card. This allows the photographer to interpret this data and also to more easily recover detail from shadow and highlights. I edit in camera raw and photoshop, and for this image lifted some shadow, added some highlights and contrast, a bit of dodging and burning, some midtown curves adjustments, and sharpening. Since I posted this image, I have reprocessed it to eliminate a bit of greenish color cast on the left hand side of the image and cropped in a bit more on the right to eliminate a stray piece of ice that I found distracting.

In my camera bag

For a day of landscape shooting at various location, I carry one of my full frame Nikon cameras and three lenses: 14-24 mm f/2.8, 24-70 mm f/2.8, and 70-200 mm f/2.8. If I think there will be macro opportunities, I add a macro lens. The bag also includes extra batteries and memory cards, a remote shutter release, lens filters, lens cloths, camera and lens rain covers, an Allen wrench (to tighten or adjust tripod or L-bracket on camera), cell phone, and snacks (usually some chocolate and nuts). All of this make the bag rather heavy but it is totally worth having what I need when on a hike I arrive at a spot I want to photograph.

Feedback

If you have your mind set on capturing a grand landscape in great light but the light fails to arrive, don't leave the site without spending some time looking around to see if something else captures your eye and interest. Nature close-ups often provide compelling alternatives to a grand vista, and nature detail, which often displays intricate patterns and wonderful textures, can be visually compelling even in low light, overcast situations.

See more amazing photos, follow DJLee

DJLee

DJLee

Frozen Kirkjufellsfoss

Section of frozen waterfall. I was fascinated by the shapes and textures.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow DJLee

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