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The Ol' Swimming Hole

© Joan E. Hoffman

The Ol' Swimming Hole

Uploaded: March 15, 2009

Description

Banks of the Frio River, near Leakey, Texas

Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: -0.33, ExposureTime: 5/300 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 55.00 mm, Model: NIKON D40

Comments

Jodi M. Walsh March 15, 2009

ooh- this looks like something out of a Mark Twain story. I just love the makeshift ladder up the tree. a beautiful shot but I am finding the background a little distracting. I think I might have darkened it a little but i'll be curious to see what everyone else says.

is this where you're staying? #1098716

Joan E. Hoffman March 15, 2009

I actually cloned out the knotted rope to swing over the water... It was close up and dead center... and yes this is where we are. Is so pretty here we stayed an extra day! (and its cold up north LOL). Actually, I have darkened the trees a bit... they are quite greyish actually! I just bought a new monitor and am having a bit of trouble getting it calibrated! #7288580

Laura E. Swan level-classic March 15, 2009

Oh! Straight into FAV'S with this one Joan! It's so peaceful looking there, like a movie set almost...and I agree. Like a Mark Twain setting!

About the BG, I am not sure what Jodi means? Perhaps the blue tents from the campgrounds? I didnt find anyting distracting. (But I love CAMPING so found it interesting that it was there!!!)

I know I love the trees in the BG A LOT and the reflection of them in the water...I like it Joan! It's very pretty there. :) -Laura #7288669

Jeanine M. Bailey March 15, 2009

This is so pretty!!! I LOVE the colors!!!! It makes me LONG for summer!!!! :):):) I don't mind the background at all....in face I was drawn right to the water the first time I looked at it! #7288749

Anthony L. Mancuso March 15, 2009

I find it interesting that you cloned out the rope swing Joan, unless it was badly out of focus it seems like it would add to the Mark Twainish feel..you could always crop some of the right to get the rope out of the center. You have a lovely image here nonetheless. #7288828

Esther R. Tinz March 16, 2009

Gives me that "good ole summertime feeling". Can't wait til we have that kind of weather around here. A poetic image. Thanks for sharing with us "Easterners". #7290575

Aimee C. Eisaman March 16, 2009

Joan....love this shot! It has an HDR quality to it with everything being so bright! A beautiful story shot.....make me want summer to come all the more! Fantastic work! :~) #7291408

Joan E. Hoffman March 16, 2009

Thank you Laura! That is actually Garner State Park across the river. It was quite busy this weekend because it is spring break here in Texas.

Jeanine... hate to tell you.. but high 70's here today! Down from 85-100's that we were having in the Rio Grande Valley!

Anthony... Thanks... here is the original with the rope. As you can see even when I cropped the rope was caught mid way... It just didn't work for me. Maybe I will try another angle that works better to include it.

Thanks Esther.. but please keep in mind we are headed north, where last week it was 42 below ...ugh!!!!!

And Aimee... funny all morning I've been thinking about the logistics of dragging my camera and tripod down the bank and attempting an HDR shot. I have been messing around with them, just practice shots, but yes, this one has the qualities that I love so much in those shots!

Anyway, I will probably post a couple more shots of this lovely place, hopefully before my connection times out this afternoon!!

We are on the move again tomorrow. Big Spring for a night, then Amarillo for a couple of nights... then travel gets a little more serious!! #7291760

Dale Hardin March 16, 2009

A truly lovely rendition Joan. Great colors, excellent composition, very nice tonal balance, and it tells a story. Very well done indeed.

Wouldn't be me if I didn't mention the tilt though. #7291767

Jodi M. Walsh March 16, 2009

what's HDR? #7291920

Joan E. Hoffman March 16, 2009

Gads, and I even straightened it! But then again... you've seen "the wall"!

HDR.. High Dynamic Range... you (on a tripod) take 3 to 6 or more shots... the first at proper exposure, 1 or 2 under-exposed 1 or 2 over exposed, and combine them into one image. Sounds easy, but isn't! But gives you a full tonal range. They almost look like Topaz adjust (or even Lucis art), without the noise that adjust has! #7292010

Jodi M. Walsh March 16, 2009

oh! now I see. ooh, that sounds tricky. I would have such trouble just getting the correct exposure to start :-) I did think it looked like topaz and I think that's what I wasn't sure about with the background but what do I know :-) very cool and a new technique to try down the road #7292023

Joan E. Hoffman March 16, 2009

This one isn't an HDR... actually other than a slight crop, and a little trick of dales (duplicate, adjust shadow, midtones and highlights) multiply ...merge... its pretty much as taken. (IS that pretty much as taken? anything under 3 minutes work is straight from the camera to me ROFL!!!) #7292816

Joan E. Hoffman March 16, 2009

Whoops make that comment for image two... forgot that I cloned the rope outta number one... that took an extra few minutes LOL #7292824

Aimee C. Eisaman March 16, 2009

Sorry didn't mean to confuse with the HDR comment....just meant that it reminded me of an HDR image because it's all so bright and detailed! I agree with your decision on the rope....just didn't fit to me for some reason! :~) #7292950

Joan E. Hoffman March 16, 2009

Yes the rope has no "beginning", it was a bad angle in that regard. #7292971

Dale Hardin March 16, 2009

Oh no!! Did I goof up?? When I saw the original with the rope it looked as if the rope was hanging straight and I'd made a boo-boo on the tilt. But.. (whew!) I checked and it was hanging crooked.

Love your "under three minutes" is straight out of the camera line. Had me double over in laughter. You were right by the way, to remove the rope.

Super job, Joan. #7293932

Debbra Bailey March 17, 2009

I love the image you came up with Joan! It is beautiful!!! I agree - no rope - although, I think you could make an interesting image with the rope as the foucs :) Great shot and work! #7295668

Debbie E. Payne March 17, 2009

Joan, I haven't tried any HDR shots yet. Maybe a project for summer. This is a wonderfully, nostalgic shot. Love the reflection of the trees and I don't mind the campground sites in the background. Not everything can look like there were never any humans in the picture. And anyhow, with the man-made ladder, you would expect to see other signs of people in the shot. #7296061

Ellen H. Robertson level-classic March 17, 2009

Wow, this could be the poster for KOA's across the country. Beautiful, I like the background detail. You can almost see into the tents. #7296457

Sherry McClead March 17, 2009

Beautiful image Joan... love the treatments too! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Sherrybear #7296708

Vicki Snow March 18, 2009

like everything about this image...the blue green water looks so inviting!! #7300155

Joan E. Hoffman March 19, 2009

LOL Dale... well doesn't that mean you almost aced it hehehehe!

Thanks Debbra, Debbie, Ellen, Sherry and Vickie!! I have a few more of this place... Will probably post after we stop travelling... more time, and (hopefully) a better connection!!! I appreciate everyones comments! #7304324

Candice L. Carter March 31, 2009

Elegant! #7356434

Debbie E. Payne April 03, 2009

Glad you got an EP here, Joan. I really like the feel of this image. I suspect that you are home by now and busy getting everything back to normal. Hope to hear and see more from you soon. #7367891

Daniella Puente June 03, 2009

Beautiful photo! #7594056

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