Akaka Falls Panoramic
May, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on the jungle island of Kaua'i, Hawaii. Akaka Falls state park hides this massive 485 foot cascade in a brilliant green cove.Time
This photo was captured in the morning around 10 am. The park was somewhere that I stumbled on nearly by accident while exploring the island.Lighting
The mid morning light created a wonderful even light to capture the motion of the water as it fell. A cloudy day gave the opportunity to slow my shutter speed down to a point to allow the motion blur to show the water in a smooth streak through the photo.Equipment
This photo was taken on a nikon d600 with a 24-85mm lens with a LEE Big Stopper filter attached. The 10 stop ND (neutral density) filter allowed me to further slow the shutter speed down to an amount that would allow the water to blur as it fell through the frame. I did not have a tripod with me for this shot so to counter the blur I would get from hand holding at such a low speed I braced myself on a nearby fence to steady the shot. The LEE Big Stopper is an essential piece of equipment for me when I go to shoot any kind of water or landscape.Inspiration
I love nature and the raw power of water is the pinnacle of nature to me. Most of my work involves water in some form or fashion.Editing
This photo required a small amount of brightness and highlight adjustment that is normal for long exposure water shots. I had to make sure to correct the waterfall itself to avoid blowing the highlights while trying to keep it bright as the focal point of the photo. The colors are true to life and the overall tone of the photo is very true to life. The overcast day made white balance easy.In my camera bag
My bag is always built around my Nikon D600. The lenses that I carry can vary depending on the subject I plan to shoot, but for a shoot like the one that produced this photo I had my D600 body, a Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-5.6, a Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8, my ND filter kit and a sturdy Gitzo Mountaineer Tripod. The D600 has a wonderful 24.2 MP sensor that gives excellent contrast and sharpness and the 24-85mm gives a great degree of versatility and there is a reason the 70-200mm f/2.8 is part of the "Nikon Holy Trinity", it is by far the best lens in my bag on every shoot I go to. Not included in this trip was my Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 VR. The reason for leaving this lens out was partly because I did not want to carry the extra weight and mainly I did not see a use for it on a landscape shoot.Feedback
The weather in Hawaii is in a constant state of change, literally by the minute sometimes. Patience and planning are the true keys to success when shooting in a dynamic environment such as this. Just because the lighting when you arrive at a location isn't good or pleasant does not mean that it is a lost cause, be patient and give the light and scene time to develop. I waited on this shot for more than an hour, the clouds were sometimes blocking the direct sunlight and sometimes not. The key is to be able to wait and keep focused to see the right light when it comes available. Watching internet weather reports can aid in choosing the right day to go out and see what the light does, and always remember to adapt to your surroundings. Don't be afraid to go and try to find new angles and new times of day to capture special light.
