Elowah Falls (updated!)

[Matt Tilghman]

Elowah Falls is a stunning waterfall on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Even though it is pretty easy to get to, and one of the more beautiful waterfalls in the area, it is relatively uncrowded. Most of the tourists are captured by the larger Multnomah Falls, and old US 30 funnels you back onto the interstate before you pass the trailhead for Elowah Falls. It's really only found by those looking for it. On this late August afternoon, I was the only person there. This falls is both intimate and majestic at the same time, falling 228 feet off sheer cliffs. On this day, the wind was ripping through the clearing, causing the waterfall to take some cool shapes. Most of the shots of Elowah are taken from further down the creek, shrouding the waterfall in foliage and making it look forested. I was downright shocked when I saw how wide open it was, and attempted to capture that aspect of its character here.

Thanks for looking and hope you enjoy!

[luxborealis]

Gorgeous!

[wolfnowl]

Definitely looks like a beautiful place to be!  Glad you mentioned the wind in your description; was thinking the PS on the falls was a little overdone! 

Mike.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Gorgeous!

+1.

[francois]

The (wind-) twisted waterfall, great, wet/saturated colors produce all give a uncommon image.
Bravo!

[Paulo Bizarro]

Beautiful image. I like the dynamics of the water, with the waterfall plus the diagonal in the foreground.

[Chairman Bill]

Really nice image

[Matt Tilghman]

Thanks all!  Yea, the waterfall twist is definitely not due to photoshop... I'm not even sure how I would do that in photoshop, without twisting the cliff too!

[Walt Roycraft]

Love the image and appreciate the story to go with it.
I must get to Oregon to shoot. I've seen some really rich landscapes from there.

[sdwilsonsct]

Wonderful composition and colours. I am less happy about the definition: the water looks sharper than the rocks to me. Was this HDR? It seems to lose definition sometimes.

[Matt Tilghman]

Thanks Scott.  I appreciate that kind of feedback.  It was not HDR.  Which rocks are you referring to: the cliffs, or the foreground stones?  I applied a mild Orton effect to the foreground, which is likely the cause of what you're seeing, if you mean the foreground stones.

[sdwilsonsct]

Foreground. OTOH they should be fuzzy with moss and dried algae.
I try and avoid this in my HDRs, but if you like it, go for it!
Thanks for the tip on the Orton effect. Interesting.

[churly]

Really fine shot Matt.  IMO it would be better without the Orton effect in the foreground but that's just me.

[Matt Tilghman]

Hi guys, adding a new photo. I got some feedback from two of you (thanks!) that the Orton effect I added to the foreground made the sharpness between the foreground rocks and the background cliff a little too different, and distracting.  Here is an edition with no foreground Orton effect... which do you like better?

[sdwilsonsct]

#2 for me.
The sky seems a little brighter and the vegetation up there not as crisp as in #1.
Nits. It's a great image.

[Walt Roycraft]

#1 for me. I have to admit, I never heard of the "Orton" effect before now. I like the contrast and definition it provides in #1.
With all the nit picking aside, it is a wonderful image I would be proud to have captured and processed.