Milky Way, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

This picture was taken early in the morning on the bank of the small river down stream of Bridalweil Fall, which was shown in my last post. Not far from this point, this water flow merges with Merced River. Under the heavy shade, this area was still fairly dark. The water flow was very fast and dynamic in this area. With F/22, the shutter speed was 1/3. Without tripod, I pushed my camera against a tree on the bank to stabilize the camera.

PP: reduced size; sharpened a little after resize reduction; saturated. +5 brightness.

Another shot at the same place with a faster speed and a different camera position is shown in WS. You may compare these two pictures to see the camera low speed effect.

papagolf21, Luan, elihesamian, aloyho, Fixfocus, quantabeh, ChrisJ, nwoehnl, alvaraalto, cam, jjbach, singuanti, Didi, kent_s, Emile, andchew, robiuk, berek, MLINES has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Zanni (6108) 2005-05-21 2:27

This kind of picture always amaze me. I haven't yet had the opportunity to take a similar picture. For the momento I admire this one. I like the contrast between the "milky way" and the dark enviroment. Very good exposure

Michael (277) 2005-05-21 2:35

Hi wes,
it seems that you choosed the right title for this one. it's amazing how the river seems to be milked with the 1/3s exposure time. i realy like the good light and the dynamism of your picture.
Well done (and without tripod !)
Michael

stefi (1230) 2005-05-21 3:40

A very dynamic effect of the water with a deep contrast with the steadiness of the rocks! It really gives me the sense of being immersed in! (and without tripod...wow)

papagolf21 (152607) 2005-05-21 3:45

Bonjour Wes,
J'ai regardй avec attention les deux images, celle publiйe est une vйritable petite merveille de beautй. L'idйe de trouver un arbre comme trйpied est excellente. Le rendu photographique est superbe.
J'aime beaucoup la sinuositй de la riviиre.
Trиs bien fait.
Amitiйs.
Philippe

Luan (12971) 2005-05-21 3:48

Hello Wes,
as you said it looks like milk, how many cows could provide such a quantitie ;o)...It's a very nice picture, you have choosee the good exposure time, the water effect is amazing.
Good job.
Luan

oellepi (165) 2005-05-21 4:22

Complimenti un ottimo scatto.E' una delle poche fotografie viste con un tempo d'esposizione veramente buono.

Complimenti Wes Wang

danyy (0) 2005-05-21 5:25

Bonjour Wes,
J'aime ce genre de photo et celle-ci est particuliиrement rйussie.
Compliments.
Daniel.

Leonie (8809) 2005-05-21 6:06

Hello Wes!
Great photo....it really looks like milk! And in a second I am going to get breakfast...with yummy irish country milk that I love...lol Just the right photo to make me start the day..;o) Congrats, it's beautiful! Cheers, Lйonie

elihesamian (26149) 2005-05-21 6:40

Milky way but not in the sky ,in the earth:)
and what result you reached!...excellent,Wes!
You didn't say that you use tripod,but without it could be very difficult in 1/3 seconds,anyway,I see the shot that is very beautiful,and a fine effect of the water you reached,great contrast and a nice place,too.thanks for sharing,nicely composed,Wes!
Regards
M

aloyho (6798) 2005-05-21 8:16

Hi Wes,
I can hear the noise of this powerful flow. You have captured it very beautifully. I find the dark tones powerful as it helps to stablized this composition and provide the needed contrast to bring out the flowing water to its best. Splendid shot! Congratulations. Have a good weekend.

jrj (34843) 2005-05-21 8:27

Another good one in your water series Wes- The velvet impression from the slow shutter works very well and creates a dreamlike mood. Good job.

MvS (4163) 2005-05-21 8:36

Hi Wes,
Always fun to experiment like this and your outcome is a success! Apart from the good effects I like the light in the BG.
Thanks,
Magnus

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-05-21 9:26

The long shutterspeed creates a great effect on the water,Wes!I like your clear composition,good capture of the natural light mood here.
Good work!

quantabeh (5205) 2005-05-21 10:00

Hi Wes,
this is a superb shot. The quality is phenomenal, considering you had no tripod. the angle of shot is superb and the mood conveyed here from the forest is unique and so calming. thanks for sharing. It's a great work!

maurajn (902) 2005-05-21 10:12

Excellent catch Wes. That is fantastic, I love the slow speed effect, particularly with the lower light. Have you tried converting it to black and white? I think it is almost there anyhow, and has good potential in B/W also with so much texture in the shot. Looks like things were melting fast in Yosemite Park at this time, that is a lot of water.

Tue (92328) 2005-05-21 11:08

Hi Wes,
Wow, a river of milk! You captured it very well, I like the contrast with the dark trees too, very well done! :-D
Groetjes,
Lars

CliffW (2381) 2005-05-21 11:30

The slower speed paid off really well on this one Wes. You managed to wesge yourself pretty well, as I can't see shake at all in the tree forms. The water crashing down through the trees looks great, especially with the brightness brought down so that the water is the highlight of the scene.

premels (2400) 2005-05-21 11:50

Wes this is great. There is water everywhere. The slow shutter is a success indeed.

jhm (211736) 2005-05-21 13:08

Hi Wes,
A splendid depth because of the lovely waterfall, the white stream give a nice contrast against the dark forest. Good composition Wes.
John.

nwoehnl (122) 2005-05-21 16:04

Hi Wes. I think 1/3 was a brilliant choice here - at least I like the subtle softness you got so much more than some of the clichй results we sometimes see at 2 or more seconds shutter speed and which just make me yawn ;-) Also a really fine job steadying the camera in absence of a tripod. Last but not least, the vantage point is really cool with the cascades of water zig-zagging towards the viewer in between the trees. This goes to my favorites.

alvaraalto (42804) 2005-05-21 17:37

Hi Wes,
Great shot of this milky way.It should have taken quit a lot of cows to fill this rapid.
Good experiment in the WS to.
Groet Rob

cam (9043) 2005-05-21 19:28

Hi Wes.
Bravo for this superb photo.Spring has a lot of water and you were there to take care of the situation(I am not sure I am making myself clear).Well I like it a lot.
Charles

jjbach (9326) 2005-05-21 19:34

What a nice picture is this Wes !! Great use of slow shutter speed giving to the water a milky texture!! The atmosphere you captured is great. Excellent work !!

Regards John

sarju (5324) 2005-05-21 21:46

Hi Wes
very impressive shot ... I have taken these kind of shots many times ... but nothing really compares to this one .... great work man .. cheers .. sarju

maphoto (8082) 2005-05-21 22:35

Very well done Wes, excellent title to descride the scene you are offering. We can feel the noise and at the same time tranquility in the woods, thanks for sharing, great result.

Aazragi (1927) 2005-05-21 22:58

Wow, Just say the greates one. Every thing is perfect. Well done.
Latif

singuanti (15250) 2005-05-22 0:04

Wow Mr. Wes this is awesome! This is a stunning use of your cameras abilities to get this great shot. I think you found the perfect shutter speed. If you really want to get crazy with this sort of shot you want a neutral density filter, but you did admirably without one. Good job of holding it up against the tree. Now you've got me of thinking of going up to the mountains around me tomorrow to see if I can do anywhere near as well as you did here. Excellent shot Wes!

john_c (24666) 2005-05-22 1:57

Quite a capture, Wes. I am amazed at the difference too between the WS version and this one. Your result is a wonderful portrayal of the rushing water. Aside from the smoothness of the water, what makes this shot a real winner is the varying colour hues in the milky water. The water has texture. The POV is also excellent, taking the eye up the river. The dark, well defined trees complete a masterful composition. Well done, Wes.

ChrisJ (171822) 2005-05-22 3:59

Hi Wes

Superb graphism, & use of blur in the water, to convey movement. This would also convert well to b&w. Good work!

Didi (61589) 2005-05-22 5:25

Bonjour Wes
J'apprйcie beaucoup la maоtrise de l'exposition avec cette lente vitesse qui a donnй ce bel effet bouillonnant а la cascade.
Le cadrage est parfait.
Avez vous reзu mes copies d'йcran ?

Hello Wes
I appreciate much the control of the exposure with this slow speed which gave this beautiful effect bubbling to the cascade. Framing is perfect.
Did you received my screen printings?

kent_s (1911) 2005-05-22 11:58

Hi Wes
Now you're doing it again, posting a pic that almost make me freeze in my bones. This flowing effect of the river coming thru the forest that's in a mysterious haze is amazing

Well done
Hдlsningar
Kent

Emile (20352) 2005-05-23 13:39

This is an impressive photo Wes.
Excellent. Number one. One of your best.
Wow,,very good.
Congratulation.

cessy (13647) 2005-05-23 22:30

woww..... wes
am so speechless
this is so beautiful, my favorite

kclai (2267) 2005-05-23 23:24

Hi Wes
Love the misty river falls. It's wonderful.
Great angle and spot. Breathtaking..
Well done.
Eric Lai

andchew (476) 2005-05-24 8:49

Hi WES, I missed your photos while I was away and I'll try to catch up. I love the dynamic effect of the water flowing looks so peaceful and it certainly looks like milk flowing. Very well composed with good POV. Regards, Andrew

faubry (35447) 2005-05-29 9:15

like milk... yes, a great picture, i like it with contrasts with the dark and the white of the water, bravo
francine

mumek (20226) 2005-05-29 13:13

Good afternoon Wes!
This is a really wonderful shot Wes! Super colours and nice details. Very lovely view at the stream!! Excellent work! Congratulations
ziggy

guliz (438) 2005-06-03 10:04

It looks almost milk! Excellent compostion and colours. I like it!
Well done
Cheers Guliz

danielswalsh (13597) 2005-06-09 3:56

Great shot Wes!

I like how the river just seems to run freely through the forest, and isn't restricted to a common riverbed. The long exposure is great- in my opinion- this is the only way to shoot rivers! Great effect! Bravo!

Cheers,
~ Dan

Stepan (27210) 2005-07-01 15:42

Your title is a good one and the exposure time is very pertinent.
Well composed.
Stйphane

robiuk (10807) 2005-07-07 18:09

Excellent and very attractive, Wes!
Congrats!
What I like here is not only the effect of the longer exposure that you had cleverly forseen and executed, but the overall light that creates that certain 'misty' and humid atmosphere.
There's also a great amount of magic lingering around because of the fantactic location.
Robi

joseelias (0) 2005-08-05 18:04

Excellent effect. Considering that no tripod was used it is a very successful shot. The somber tones and almost BW create a special, mystical atmosphere.

MON (135) 2005-08-31 12:04

Without tripod you have got a perfect shot, and an amazing water effect. I also like the contrast between white water and dark forest.Congratulations!

imrek (4) 2006-02-06 7:45

Very well done, excellent shot and intresting compo! thanx for sharing!

imre

berek (50518) 2006-05-29 10:07

Hi Wes,
this picture is magnificent. incredible power sense and colours. I like it very much my friend. Congratulations. Have a nice week.
B.Erek
Meaning Sense :-)))
Framing :-)))
Idea :-)))

MLINES (12516) 2006-06-06 18:09

Hi Wes, This is a very good stream photo. The way the water flows over the black rocks among the black trees is excellent. TFS. Murray.

Yves-triga (5149) 2008-11-15 9:28

Bonjour Wes,
Trиs belle prise de vue.
j'aime cette photo.
Yves