When ever I set about taking a landscape image I start with a mental question: What am I taking a picture of and why am I taking it? This does not mean my answer is "the Grand Canyon" because it is too grand (pun intended) and because that can't be captured in a single image. So maybe the answer Steamboat Rock. So once I decide the "what" then I can address the "why". When I decide why, then I must figure out how to convey that feeling.

Below is my thought process for the accompanying image. I know it is long winded but I hope it provides an insight to how I think. I offer it as a discussion starter.

PURPOSE: This photo was taken in Watkins Glen, New York in mid November. My first thought as I walked into the gorge carved by Glen Creek was “this place is old”. I was struck by the layers of bare rock and the way the creek had cut its way 150 feet down through the rock over eons of time. I wanted to capture this feeling that so encompassed me. I chose to shot this gorge in the fall with the dead leaves on the bare rock because I felt the leaves lent to the feeling of the passage of time. I included the fading yellow/green leaves on the left because they too showed the passage of time. I chose this singular location from the many views in the mile long gorge because of its narrowness and the way the swirling waters had twisted their way through the rock and the various pools and channels it had created. While the water level in the fall is less than in spring this time of year allows the viewer to see what has happened to the rock. I included the lower pool because I felt it looked like the water was biting away a chunk of rock with sharp teeth. While I would have preferred to get closer to the floor the sharp cliff drops make it impossible and still maintain life and limb. This was taken while standing on a rock ledge.

PROCESSING: Because of the narrow nature of the gorge the best camera orientation is vertical. This necessitates cropping off portions of the upper cliff walls that I felt took away impact. I needed the long shutter speed to increase the appearance of the water coming over the high falls on the left. The photo was taken on an overcast, misty day (this was planned on my part) so as to remove highlights or spotted glare from the sun. I increased highlights to brighten the whites in the water that were duller in color. I also increased clarity and sharpness on the falling parts of the water and lightened a few shadows. I purposely kept detail in all the dark holes on the rock walls.

CAMERA SETTINGS: Nikon D810 with 24-70mm lens.
ISO 64: Low ISO to reduce noise and obtain the greatest quality
Aperture 20: To allow for maximum depth of field
Shutter 13 seconds: I took the image at several different all to get the "feel" I wanted from the moving water
Polarizer: to reduce glare
Tripod and Cable Release to reduce camera shake
Image from Nikon RAW file to obtain the greatest amount of digital information for when I processed the image.


Please enjoy this image in the download.