glacial potholes for two Photo

Photographer’s Note

Shelburne Falls is one of the cutest little towns I know, with two main attractions - the Flower bridge and the glacial potholes. despite the fact that we have visited the town on several occasions, I haven't had any luck with trying to get an interesting photo of the Flower bridge, and up until recently the same went for the potholes (I even had this photo posted here to share my frustration). now I have a photo that at least show the potholes - the round cavities in the rock.

over 50 glacial potholes in the Deerfield River [the area was known as "Salmon Falls" in Indian days] is one of the largest known concentrations of these natural sculptures, ranging in size from as small as 15 cm (6 inches) diameter to the largest pothole in the world on record - 11,7 meters (39 feet) across. I have read two different versions of how these potholes were created. the first version claims that potholes formed when stones trapped in cracks in the riverbed were twirled and vibrated in the fast-moving current, drilling their way into the river bottom. on the other hand, the information on display in the Glacial Garden in Lucerne, Switzerland, states that the theory of rotating stones is "antique" and that according to the modern theory potholes were created when sand and gravel eroded the rock in the place where melt-water plunged through crevasses on glacier’s surface and created whirlpools, since in such places the water was under very high pressure and travelling at up to 200 km/h.

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RAW, ISO 200, 50mm focal length, spot metering, auto white balance.

belido, japiey, dareco, Floydian, fulvio52, zmey, plimrn, gunbud, ktanska, Angshu, zeca, steliosk, AiresSantos, Waylim, feather, trekks, Wanda1, MayaG, wishlist, jean11-3, crhieatt has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

japiey (9545) 2008-07-02 4:22

Hi Kristine,

When the world was born with man, he was free.. and then, the delightful and the divine happened.. LOVE.. There was everything hidden in it.. the peace, care, smile, touch, and all..
So he relaxed in heart, and waited for the moments since..
This composition, giving him the touch of peace and calm nature is excellent, sensible. Let him think free, let him be him, and let him understand why life smiles at him.
Nature always was his deepest passion, and to be there when a tear droped in him, is a tale that lasts ever in life.
Every story written, every word told about love, has this mood of life. That's the moment we desire. Here, it's a sensible capture where the characters are seen in the middle ground, and the smiles of nature flowing in musical around him, in the foreground and background.
Thoughtful and sensible.
You paint a poem with lens !!
Enjoy the moments.

jp

aadilj (17950) 2008-07-02 4:23

Wow thats a lovely and very beautifully composd scene with intense textures and stone colours. great composition with great hues

dareco (17104) 2008-07-02 4:25

This is incredible!! I've never seen anything like it. I can see why you wanted a picture of this so badly. I like the bonus of the people sitting there in this heavenly atmosphere! A beautiful picture!! TFS and have a great day!

fabio_ts (13674) 2008-07-02 4:31

A really evocative picture from a wonderful place Kristine, the couple add a great atmosphere to it, compliments!!

have a nice day,
Fabio.

Floydian (30970) 2008-07-02 7:06

Kristine ;-)
The couple sitting in the middle is wonderful focuspoint in an also very good composed image. Even without the two it would work very good, but for me personally they add great interest in viewing and composing this one...very nice work.
Small remark....more waterfal in the composition, was that possible?
Regards, Henk

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-07-02 7:38

Hello Kristine,
evocative? Yes!
Meditative? Yes!
Lovely? Yes!
That couple sitting out there is a great bonus to focus on, but this shot would've been excellent even without them.
More waterfalls? Maybe I'd like to see a bigger chunk of them, but I don't know the location therefore I can't speak, he he!
Have a great day. I'll see you later,
Fulvio.

zmey (7296) 2008-07-02 9:06

hey there, dear :)) your driver here :))

i see, finally we see the fine result of those three or four long drives to the pot-hole spot. i must say: a chrystal clear illustration you have managed here. the character of the place is exact and the couple serves as just the right 'icing on the cake' for the mood of the shot. my compliments!

hugs,
K.

Greg1949 (8641) 2008-07-02 10:23

Kristine, very educational note you have here to go with this really great shot. The people are definately needed to scale the scene and the colors and moving water are just wonderful. I'll have to go see this one soon I think.

Greg

Polonaise (5640) 2008-07-02 12:57

Gee... It has to have some anti-frustration qualities within, because my frustration is gone completely...

Charming place, even more charming photograph (incredibly well edited and finished - immaculate quality)... !!!

The couple back in there...
That's what evokes the smile on the people's faces...

Thanks, pani Malinovska...
Great chunk of a good nature photography...

g.

...........

plimrn (20101) 2008-07-02 16:57

Hi Kristine,
The three differnt state of water, forthing while, rippled and t\reflective yet transparent really make this photo for me; as Henk note, even without the couple this compostion works well, with them, it's over the top.
HLJ, Pat

gunbud (28813) 2008-07-02 19:39

Hi Kristine,
One of my all time favorites too. Used to be hundreds of people gathered here on a summers day now you have to sneak in.
Beautiful reflection with excellent clairty and sharpness.
The young lovers add nice scale to this lovely summer image.
Regards, Tom
PS Nearby is Zoar Gap on the Deerfield River which is another lovely spot in this area.

rodgerg (27003) 2008-07-03 3:11

Hello Kristine,

A superb place, a very beautiful photo with composition well balanced, goed colors and contrasts. The two peoples gives a little of life. I like especially the contrast between the white of wter and the colors of rocks.
Regards of belgium,
roger

ktanska (17083) 2008-07-03 3:13

Hi Kristine,
Stony landscapes often give false first impressions of scale. Here too I would think this is much smaller place without that couple sitting there. Impressive signs of erosion caused by water on those rocks. And wonderful to see white water rushing diagonally across the upper left corner.
Kari

Angshu (34841) 2008-07-03 21:04

Hello Kristine
In the thumbnail, the couple was not visible. There are so many things to see & absorb here with the stones in the FG leading our eyes to the couple enjoying moments of solitude. The stones in the FG has been smoothened due to the water flow & also created the potholes (or was it the glacier? I read your two theories with interest). The waterfall is a great add in the top of the frame. Fine work indeed!
Best Regards
Angshu

steliosk (4784) 2008-07-05 4:06

Nice minimalistic shot, the thing I like most in your photos besides those "different" POVs is the clarity and the quality.
I can't find a technical flaw here, like being too black or too white, nope! excellent.

However I don't know why did you chose that POV here, but after reading your reply to Henk, I said ok, your scene didn't helped to capture that waterfall.

Although I suppose you worked on that and have captured many POV, with different framing horizontal/vertical because this scene worths a bit more work capturing.

Regards
Stelios

toto (18919) 2008-07-05 4:31

Bonjours,
belle photo de cette rivière ou les très gros rochers permettent de passer de l' un a l' autre et de s' aprocher dezs chutes.
Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté de l' ensemble.
Belle prise plaisante a visionner.

Amitiés Thomas

Wandering_Dan (3375) 2008-07-05 12:48

Hi, Kristine -

Hope you're enjoying our American holiday!

This is a nice photo of the potholes, with the couple in the distance to give sense of place and scale. The waterfall on the diagonal is good, but I think a little too close to the edge of the frame; it throws it off balance for me. Perhaps a crop from the lower right? Although I see that Henk raised the same question, and Kristaps already answered for you.

Best,
Dan

zeca (20026) 2008-07-06 17:46

Hi Kristine!
Its a beautiful place, you found an excellent perspective of view and was lucky to have the couple to include in the composition! Very nice work on everything!
Regards,
Zeca

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-07-07 18:46

Hello Kristine:

He would like to be in a scenario like this, full of beauty, naturalness and appreciable atmosphere.

The shade of the rocks, contrasted beautifully with the intense glare of producing water, and the couple of people, gives warmth to the jack.

John

Signal-Womb (11771) 2008-07-08 3:58

Hi Kristine, very pleasing composition with good clarity and sharpness. Love the colour of the rocks and water. The couple add interest to the scene. Very well done.

albertz (2414) 2008-07-08 7:56

This is a well composed shot Kristine, it such a beautiful place to be alone with your love ones. Excellent atmosphere.. Well done.

belido (17932) 2008-07-08 9:30

Hi Kristine,

you combined two nice themes in the same image: love and landscape. Very beautiful place...this could be an attractive view by itself but your idea for this couple enhances the composition bringing a lovely atmosphere. I like what I see here. Very well done!
Regards,
Carlos

Butterflyka (518) 2008-07-08 14:55

Hi Kristine
Wonderful composition with good perspective.
Nice colors and light management.
Excellent sharpness, clarity and depth.
Regards

Karina

Waylim (11943) 2008-07-08 18:33

How sweet, that just so romantic and a perfect setting for it. the couple is a great focus point and you creat a good composition out of the scene, First I thought I like to see more of the waterfalls, but than I really like the caml and still water in the pool and potholes. So I think you made the right choice. I'm sure you probably have another shot just like it with more waterfalls included. Anyway, great shot once again, very beautiful and lovely. Thanks Kristine.
Way

AiresSantos (44510) 2008-07-09 0:46

Hi Kristine
Fine picture with the couple enjoying the place. Magnificent sharpness and great natural colours.
TFS and greetings
Aires

feather (51026) 2008-07-09 9:04

After reading your interesting note I can say how well your persistence paid off. The high POV not only shows the potholes but the unusual shapes of the rocks themselves. The vague reflections in the pools are also a good feature of the scene, and of course the couple soaking up the atmosphere are the icing on the cake. Well done
Kath

trekks (14340) 2008-07-09 17:05

hi Kristine

So many fine features in this place that I can see from your capture. But the draw is definitely the pair that gives dimension of scale and presence to this fantastic rock formation. The element of water and fall makes it more attractive.

tfs, bill

Wanda1 (11195) 2008-07-09 22:34

Hi Kristine,
The two people give a good idea of the size of this beautiful place they are sitting in, and they are framed so nicely in between the waterfall and the large rocks. Great sharpness and details throughout for this lovely image.
Regards
Wanda

MayaG (2393) 2008-07-10 0:35

Wow Kristine, what a lovely photo!
Its so sharp I fear it will cut the monitor! ;)
An absolutely lovely scenery and the moment. I like so much the way their white shirts match the water foam in the background. The dark, calm water in the right bottom part thrills me!
great one!
regards
Marija :)

marietom (32694) 2008-07-10 4:38

hello Kristine,

Bien vu, avec ces deux personnes incluses dans la photo, qui donnent l'idée de la taille du site. Superbe composition.
Bonne soirée
marie

crckt (7116) 2008-07-10 12:16

Hi Kristine,
Is this a shot of you and Kristaps taken with a tripod? ;) Lovely framing! I like a lot.
Thanks for sharing,
Shaeri

ricochet (4940) 2008-07-10 13:39

Bonjour Kristine
Un très joli point de vue de ce lieu très pittoresque que tu as trouvé là avec un excellent rendu des textures et j'apprecie beaucoup la présence du couple qui apporte beaucoup à la composition, bravo à toi c'est du bel ouvrage!
Amicalement
Eric

wishlist (4133) 2008-07-10 14:02

Kristine,
it took me a while figuring out a song for this picture. Yes, as soon as I seen it (almost a week ago) I said "there must be a song for this picture, it's so beautiful"..and I truly like it. Now, a few moments ago a great French White Wine inspired me and the song for this picture is Somebody, one of the greatest Depeche Mode song, live version which is so beautiful and full of mood and atmosphere. The couple enjoying the stunning view, the location so evocative..who knows what they were thinking, the frame of mind...beautiful composition, I just like it!
Regards,

Igor

jean11-3 (2799) 2008-07-15 11:54

Hello Kristine, the couple sitting on the rock give a good idea of scale, as well as a good focal point.I like your choice of composition, concentrating on the potholes and the different 'moods' of water.
The colours are lovely.
Interesting notes.
Tfs, regards Jean.

dawekato (1990) 2008-07-24 19:21

Simply beautiful, Kristine. Well composed with the pair at the upper right "intersection of thirds". Good sharpness throughout, yet there is just the right blurriness in the waterfall to show motion. Rich colours well exposed. And of course, what a stunning place. Bravo!

crhieatt (5145) 2008-08-29 15:12

Kristine,
I could spend all day hanging around this place - photographing pot holes and rushing water - it's like heaven! ;)

I guess we'll get to the bridge at some later date - but frankly, I'd take a good pot hole in preference any day of the week - even Wednesday!

Regards
Colin

foozi (4819) 2008-09-02 8:07

Hello Kristine,
a very interesting shot for me. It quite a new subject. Very informative and educational.
the shot is very clear and sharp. Beautiful clear water ans rocks. well composed and thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Foozi

Photo Information

Copyright: Kristine KM (avene) (11722)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-26
Categories: Daily Life, Nature
Camera: Nikon D 200, Nikkor 18-200 3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR, Nikon CircPolar II 72mm
Exposure: f/8, 1/80 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-02 4:13
Favorites: 2 [view]