[bowenjones]

As a way of getting rid of the stress that's been building up in me over the last few weeks, I went for a nice long walk along the river with my camera in tow. My wife dropped me off by the Dinas Rock in the Vale of Neath and I walked the 11 miles or so to my dad's house. Feeling it a bit now though
I was hoping to catch a few climbers at the rock but there was no one there
Here are just a few from my day out.....

Dinas Rock

River Mellte

River Neath

The next two are of Scwd Gwladys or Lady Falls which is on the river Pyrddin

I might add some more once I've recovered

[SweetGirl]

Really like 2,3 and 4. Puts my water photo to shame.

Can i ask what camera setting you used to take these.

[bowenjones]

Originally Posted by SweetGirl

Really like 2,3 and 4. Puts my water photo to shame.

Can i ask what camera setting you used to take these.

Thanks Anita.
I haven't had a chance to catch up on other threads yet but will take a look at your pics later.
The settings for the three you mentioned were f/22 @ 1/8 sec for no.2 which was taken with the nifty fifty, f/11 @ 1.3 secs for no. 3 and f/11 @ 1.6 secs for no. 4 which were both taken with my 17-85 IS. All were at 100 ISO.
I had a polarizer attached to my 17-85 so that helped get a slower shutter speed and the fact that they were taken in the shade.

[jonnypb]

nice pics, i must say i'm quite a fan of water pics

i like #3 how it draws your eye to the bottom left then you work your way up the river

[vulkan75]

Love the last two mate How long did it take to walk 11 miles? and stop of for some photos Very brave.

[Beachball]

Nice pics. I like the visibility underwater due to the polarizer on No4.

[bowenjones]

Originally Posted by vulkan75

Love the last two mate How long did it take to walk 11 miles? and stop of for some photos Very brave.

I was out of the house for about six hours in total. To be honest, after getting to the Lady Falls it was just a matter of climbing up a steep bank and heading across some fields and making my way the mile or so to the main road. Saying that, it seemed a lot easier when I was a kid

[senu]

Awesome... was wondering if you'd gone into semi -retirement!
Evidently not : those water shots are very well done in deed that "milky" look is spot on

[bowenjones]

Here are another four. A bit the same but the first three highlight the problems with using a polarizer if, like me, your still getting to know them.
The sky in the first shot is way too dark a blue for me, the second shows a good example of not adjusting the polarizer correctly as the sky is very uneven (it also provides me with some vignetting on my wide angle lens too ) and the third shot has a lovely purple flare right above the middle which only seemed to occur with my Canon 10-22 although I didn't have the hood on at the time. The fourth pic is just another variation on my first river Neath shot....

[bowenjones]

Originally Posted by senu

Awesome... was wondering if you'd gone into semi -retirement!
Evidently not : those water shots are very well done in deed that "milky" look is spot on

Thanks mate.
I've been quietly running myself into the ground with work commitments. Going to try to spend a little more time just chilling out from now on though

[ksten]

Excellent images! Really well done.

I find the water ones more interesting than the rock ones but I really do like them all. Very difficult to pick a favourite.

I actually like the changing shade of blue in the sky of the second image in the second set - caused by the polariser. Very pleasing to my eye.

Right, off up to Cambridge now to relive my youth and enjoy the fantastic BH weekend weather we were promised. Oh, maybe not.

[Holowlegs]

Hi ya

This looks a lovly place. Some great pictures here. Don't know what it is about it but I like No 1.


Cheers Holo

[bodoman]

Ecellent photos and scenery, what a wonderful location

Hope you are feeling less stressed now BJ.

[T0MAT01]

An excellent set of photos Bowen, time well spent!

Best for me are River Mellte and the Lady Falls ones.

[Liquid101]

Nice work.

Nothing l like an 11 mile walk with the camera to blow away the cobwebs and de-stress.

Nice waterfall pics, It's a struggle o find any water around here at the moment - still, some rain next week should sort that

[bowenjones]

Thanks for all your comments
I'm aching a bit today but it was worth it.
I'll be doing more of this photo therapy lark from now on, that's for sure

Originally Posted by Liquid101

Nice waterfall pics, It's a struggle to find any water around here at the moment - still, some rain next week should sort that

The water is extremely low in the rivers for the time of year. The Lady falls when in flood are quite spectacular, about six or seven times the width it is now.

[Gizmo 76]

Really great selection of shots bowenjones

Love all the water shots, wish there was some flowing water and falls near me

[Tobers]

River Neath Nice shot, lovely composition, good water. Top stuff.

[geofftelforduk]

#3, #4 & #5 are brill!! Very sharp and moodfull (if there is such a word)!!

[bowenjones]

Thanks again guys.
Tobers, it was your shot that inspired me to have a go at the long exposure water effect yesterday. I had planned to do some landscape stuff around the Brecon beacons but the river was a bit closer to home anyhow so cheers mate
I'll be definately having a go again when the river levels are higher.

[Biscuit761]

All up to the usual standards Bowen, take it easy

Bill

[bowenjones]

Originally Posted by Biscuit761

All up to the usual stndards Bowen, take it easy

Bill

Thanks Bill, will do

[Soundgeek]

All Beaut shots
River Neath is my favorite.

[Fozzybear]

They're really nice shots, although some of them have an odd look, like flare or something. The mid-tones on some, the first in particular have a bit of a washed out look? Lovely deep blue sky though.

[bowenjones]

Originally Posted by Fozzybear

They're really nice shots, although some of them have an odd look, like flare or something. The mid-tones on some, the first in particular have a bit of a washed out look? Lovely deep blue sky though.

There's definately a touch of lens flare in all my waterfall shots. The sun was setting behind the trees just above the falls and I hoped at the time that it wouldn't cause too much light getting through. I also think that the polarizer accentuated it slightly as well.
I thought the mid-tones looked ok to me but I do need a new monitor. Very little pp was done to these. A few small level adjustments in Rawshooter that's all. I can see what you mean by washed out though. Again, I put that down to the polarizer. Sounds like I'm dissing my polarizers but far from it. I can see for myself the benefits of using one and and I'm really looking forward to shooting with them again but I can also see the problems that can occur. All a big learning curve for me and, with a bit more experience, I'll hopefully start to understand when and where they can be used properly.