Bushkill Falls

[Dennis Bishop]

This is only one of many waterfalls in Bushkill Falls, which is located in northeastern Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. When going to waterfalls, I wonder about the volume of water at the particular time of the year. The series of photos that make this up were taken in mid-June of this year.



Nikon D3s, ISO 200, f/22, nine-exposure HDR at 1 EV increments (shutter speeds ranged from 1/6 to 30 seconds), zoom lens at 28mm

processing highlights

• Topaz Simplify -- saved watercolor preset
• Alien Skin Snap Art -- saved watercolor wash preset, Hard Light blend mode, 24% opacity
• two Photo Filter adjustment layers -- Warming 85 and Underwater, each masked differently
• two masked Curves adjustment layers -- one to increase contrast below the rim; the other to decrease it above the rim (for an added feeling of depth)
• blur -- above the rim using the same mask as the one for decreased contrast
• two Kim Klassen textures -- one blurred to keep the tones but eliminate the lines
• four Fractalius layers -- saved black & white presets, three Multiply and one Divide, various opacities
• Snap Art -- saved Line Art black & white preset, two masked layers, Multiply and Divide, various opacities
• Simplify -- saved edges black & white preset, two masked layers, Multiply and Divide, various opacities
• Red Giant Software Knoll Light Factory -- blurred and masked, Lighter Color, 47%
• gradient vignette

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Dennis, beautiful treatment and I like the added foreground so that you can feel the cascading water. My only wish would be for just a sliver for more room on the left.

[Nancy Bell]

Gorgeous, with stunning lighting and your Special Dennis treatment to bring out the effective details and colors! I always read your detailed technique carefully and wonder how you manage and think about all that masking and blending. I picture you as an artist with computer mouse in hand instead of a paint brush, standing back and wondering just what next perfect detail to apply !

[Kerry Perkins]

Love the contrast of the cool tones of the water versus the warm tones of the forest. Nicely processed of course, and I like the rays of light coming from the sun.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

I really like the light and the blue of the water. I looked up Red Giant, and it it expensive. Looks very interesting though. I usually like pretty much everything you do and it is probably just me but I find the one trunk coming off the waterfall at the top a little distracting. Also you are welcome for the tip on the Belle Fleur textures. Which ones did you get?

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . it is probably just me but I find the one trunk coming off the waterfall at the top a little distracting. Also you are welcome for the tip on the Belle Fleur textures. Which ones did you get?

Hmmm. I thought of the tree trunks that rise from near the edge of the rim as an important part of showing depth because of the way they contrast with the area at the top of the image, so I never considered them a distraction. If anyone else has thoughts about that, I'd like to hear them.

At the outset -- probably not too long after you mentioned how much you liked the Belle Fleur textures -- I got the Tea in the Garden ones and the Tintype Garden Relics. Then, along came her Black Friday specials, and I took good advantage of it by adding Aged & Weathered Garden Ornaments, Shades of Pale Deluxe, Fabulous Friday Collection, and Four Seasons in the Cottage Garden Favorites. I've been tempted by the Artist's Palette Collection, but I'm going to try doing my own version of that with Corel Painter (one of these days).

[Paul Lagasi]

Beautiful image Dennis, great work.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Well you certainly got your money's worth Dennis!

[Diane Miller]

This is just gorgeous! I'm undecided about the two tree trunks.

[Anita Bower]

The rays of light coming in through the trees are marvelous. Did you add them in, or enhance what was already there?
Beautiful composition. Beautiful capture of the waterfall: A bit blurred, but not so much that one can't see the water falling--very, very nice.
The sun and shadows are handled beautifully--enough to see them, not enough to cause areas to be too dark or too light.
The tree on top of the falls bothers me a bit as it seems to be growing out of the water. There is a lump of land or rock behind it; I cloned out the very bottom of the trunk to make it look like the tree was growing out of this lump, and I liked it better.
My first impression was that the water in the falls was too blue. I'm getting used to it, but, am undecided.
As always, fantastic work.