Half Dome reflection, B&W film

[dan swiger]

This was taken a few weeks ago & I needed to "rediscover" this spot after recent changes near housekeeping camp. No clouds, but a dusting of snow still showing on the spit of land.
Yes, I know, it's too crowded at the top .
That's the risk with large format. I had it framed correctly in the ground glass, but either the tripod settled OR head moved. Not sure. I guess the best thing I could have done was check after & reshoot if needed.

Shot on TMAX 100, with my plastic 4x5, 90mm

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the scene - looks tranquil. What's down in the water along the near shore? Salmon?

How much does your 4x5 weigh relative to a DSLR with good glass? I have seen my camera positions shift on more than a few occasions in wet soils. It doesn't take much to mess up a comp although it's easier for me to reshoot since I can chimp the shot.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Dan,

This B&W looks pretty good, I agree it would be better had the trees not been nipped at the top, but still the view is nice. The one thing I noticed, and the same with your color ones is that you seem to be exposing for the reflection, which then makes the none reflected areas too bright. You have lost detail in both Half Dome and North Dome because it's too bright. You are better off to shoot for the sky and get that exposure bright and then try to brighten up the reflection a bit more later in post.

 

[dan swiger]

I like the scene - looks tranquil. What's down in the water along the near shore? Salmon?

How much does your 4x5 weigh relative to a DSLR with good glass? I have seen my camera positions shift on more than a few occasions in wet soils. It doesn't take much to mess up a comp although it's easier for me to reshoot since I can chimp the shot.

Alan, not sure what that is in the water but it's not fish! I'm guessing leaves as the shutter speed was about 1 sec.
This was my "plastic" 4x5 & it weighs about 2 1/2 ib compard to my 5DmkII at 3-4 ibs depending on lens.
My guess is now that the forward tripod leg settled in the wet shore. Doesn't take much.

 

[dan swiger]

Hey Dan,

This B&W looks pretty good, I agree it would be better had the trees not been nipped at the top, but still the view is nice. The one thing I noticed, and the same with your color ones is that you seem to be exposing for the reflection, which then makes the none reflected areas too bright. You have lost detail in both Half Dome and North Dome because it's too bright. You are better off to shoot for the sky and get that exposure bright and then try to brighten up the reflection a bit more later in post.

Jim, since i'm shooting negative film, I always meter for shadows, then stop down 3-4 stops. With neg film, don't want to lose the shadows.
This normally works perfectly for either TMAX or Ektar. I think this is more of post process, as I can pull down the brightness to suite what you noted. The negative was fine with all the detail. I just need to be more precise.

Thanks

 

[AlanLichty]

Alan, not sure what that is in the water but it's not fish! I'm guessing leaves as the shutter speed was about 1 sec.
This was my "plastic" 4x5 & it weighs about 2 1/2 ib compard to my 5DmkII at 3-4 ibs depending on lens.
My guess is now that the forward tripod leg settled in the wet shore. Doesn't take much.

I was going to be thoroughly amazed if it was fish. We see steelhead in the streams off the Columbia during spawning season but not in those kinds of numbers. I have seen salmon spawning on the Salmon River in Idaho with a density that was much higher than those streaks in the water in your shot but that was over 40 years ago and the salmon I saw were bright red. I have not seen a spawn that even approached what I saw in Idaho since the early 70's.