Cedar Falls

I've never been much of a landscape shooter. I mean, I love a great nature shot as much as the next guy but I just seem to gravitate more towards portraits...people...face to face stuff. If I pick up a National Geographic I'll oooo and ahhh over the gorgeous landscapes but what I'll turn back to over and over again is to the shots with people in them.

Though I love Ansel Adams, I'd much rather thumb through a Richard Avedon book. I just love the story that faces have, or at least trying to figure out the story.

I also don't like using tripods...just too lazy.

So it was a little out of character the other morning when my family decided it was about time to head to the Hocking Hills and see what we could look at...and for me, Heather and Jade, see what we could find to photograph. It's been a very wet spring, it was a little overcast and so we were pretty much guaranteed great light and moving water. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I was at Cedar Falls, Ash Cave or Old Man's Cave when the water has been moving good enough to make me wish I had a camera with me. It's always beautiful to see, even when it's just a trickle, but I have to admit I was a little excited about what we may find. The conditions seemed perfect.

When you're dealing with moving water the main thing that you need to get "THE" shot is slow shutter speed. When you click that shutter button you want that shutter to stay open absolutely as long as possible to allow all that water to flow and blend into a beautiful, silky whiteness. That's why early in the morning, late in the evening, or when it's cloudy makes such a difference. For the above shot, my set-up was as follows :

Camera : Nikon D7000
Lens : Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8
ISO : 100
Speed : 2 seconds
F-Stop : f/22
Mounted on Tripod
Fired with cameras internal 20 second timer

Those 2 seconds of exposure were critical. I actually wish it could have been a little longer, say 4 seconds, so that the pool of water in front would have gotten a little silkier, but without adding a neutral density filter (which is like putting sunglasses on the front of your camera) I was at my D7000's maximum slowness in that light. If it would have been any less cloudy I would have had to add the filter for sure. Maybe 2 of them.

The other thing that is a must is using the timer. It is almost impossible to push that shutter button without introducing at least a little shake to the camera and thus blurring the photo. Set the timer, hit the button and keep as much human error out of the photo as possible.

So anyway, what was a little out of character for me turned into quite a blast. Actually made me want to do more of it as time and the right locations present themselves. Portraits will always be my first love, but I do think I may have to see a few landscapes on the side from time to time...

Jeffrey