Multnomah Falls Oregon
Jun, 2017Views
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anthonyandywilson
May 18, 2018
WOW, Cathleen_Shea said it right, I could not be more impressed....or jealous.
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Behind The Lens
Location
This is a picture of the underrated, and under-photographed Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge Oregon. I like to believe I was one of the first few hundred people to capture it that day. Jokes aside, one of the hardest parts about photographing this particular waterfall is wading through the crowds of photographers while trying to find your own relatively unique spot.Time
I believe this shot was captured between late morning and early afternoon, it probably would have been better to shoot it sometime when it was raining, or at least dreary. But we all know how hard it can be to find cloudy weather in West Oregon in May.Lighting
The canyon walls do a magnificent job of adding an overall smooth falloff of shadow to the waterfall. Obviously this is nothing I can take credit for, but I do think it's worth recognizing when mother nature gifts you with beautiful natural light such as this.Equipment
For this shot, I used nothing but my DSLR and lens. When photographing violent, raging waterfalls, especially one as epic as Multnomah, I typically prefer a faster shutter rate. I like to capture the spray, and the sharp edges. Usually I'm somewhere between 1/20, and 1/50 with this type of waterfall. For Multnomah Falls, I captured this photo at 1/100, and I think that really helped to accentuate the energy of the scene.Inspiration
I wouldn't say anything inspired me to take this particular photo, but I was (and still am) very fascinated with the mood and tone of the Pacific Northwest. I traveled to Oregon With the hope of capturing a photo that could thoroughly describe the feeling of being surrounded by brisk wind and mist. Something that could capture the mood of the mossy cliffs, and the towering rocks. I'm happy to say that for me, this image did just that.Editing
I'm proud to say my post processing on this photo is near non existent. Of course I added contrast, deepened the shadows, and selectively saturated some of the darker green tones, but that's it. It was a stunning scene to witness, and I'm glad it translated so well through the lens.In my camera bag
I almost exclusively shoot with a Nikon d810, and a 14-24 f/2.8, usually on a tripod. I occasionally add ND, and sometimes polarize. I keep my equipment setup as minimal as possible, I try to focus on everything else.Feedback
This photo taught me a great lesson, that photography is still an art form. It's easy to get caught up in the technology, and forget that. I remember running out of lens cloths while taking this photo. I used my shirt to dry the lens, this hardly worked since even my undershirt was wet, and what I did manage to wipe away was almost immediately replaced by the spray from the falls. Irritated, and unable to see the screen of my camera, I took the shot anyway. At the time, I thought it was a wash (pun intended), and I assumed there was no reasonable way with my equipment to photograph Multnomah falls in this weather. It wasn't until I got home, and reviewed my photos that I realized this was my favorite photo from the trip. The way the water cuts across the lens and selectively defocuses certain parts of the image makes it feel so raw, and random. I love the accidental aesthetic I found. Don't be afraid to break the rules, especially when in a location as cliche as Multnomah falls. As technology oriented as photography has become, I find some comfort in knowing that my favorite thing about this image, is the water I desperately tried to wipe away.
