Grotto Falls
Along the Nebo Loop Road in Payson Canyon, Utah, lies a great little water fall which is popular among the locals and very easy to get to:
After 5 visits to this spot to get it right, I’ve gotten some exercise, realized that a waterfall doesn’t need to be big to be good looking, and learned that I can screw-up a shot more often than I thought possible.
If you happen to show up without battery packs and lights (but doesn’t everyone carry these?), it looks more like this:
If you have a favorite out of these, I would enjoy reading your comments!
Martin van Hemert
Tags: Grotto, Nebo Loop, Payson Canyon, water falls
By Linda Slack, 07/19/2010 @ 11:02 pm
I actually like the one with all the color; the second 3D titled grotto-falls-thumb as opposed to the darker one titled grotto-dusk-thumb. The striations in the soil show up and the green lichen jumps off the rock in that 3D photo.
Very nice, thank you! I enjoy seeing these because I am from Utah and it makes me a little homesick. Utah is beautiful.
Thanks,
Linda
By Charles Raymond, 07/20/2010 @ 2:49 am
Martin:
As for a favorite, I can’t help you there. They are simply two pictures of the same place. Both are equally good, just different. I enjoy all your “spherical” pictures. My brother lives in Tooele and I have traveled much of Utah’s wildlands with him, so I often see a place through your lens(es) that I have seen before in reality.
I have a million questions about your camera and using it. Viewfinder? (just kidding) But it must be quite a trick to keep yourself and even the tripod or whatever supports the camera out of the picture. The seamlessness of the images is amazing. You mentioned lights, another mystery.
Let me guess… the entire sphere of images is made sequentially with a single lens, probably very short focal length, and the stitching is done with software, probably with a lot of attention from you.
Regardless of how it is done, I thank you for doing it. I enjoy each new picture as you send them out.
Charles
By Randy Fath, 07/20/2010 @ 3:36 am
I am a very big fan of your, and continually challenge myself to excellence seeing your work. I happen to like the first panorama posted for the simple reason that I respond better to images that appear to have less going on with the HDR processing. I am a commercial photographer who specializes in furniture, so I make my living on the details as well. Keep up the superb work.
By martin, 07/20/2010 @ 6:41 am
Hi Randy, Thanks for your note. I know what you mean about HDR processing, some of it can go over the top.
Have a great day!
Martin
By martin, 07/20/2010 @ 6:48 am
Hi Charles, you are right on all counts in your post! The lens is a very wide fisheye, and the image is made from a sequence of shots. The camera support gets retouched out. You can read more on the Panorama Tools page of this blog section.
Martin
By martin, 07/20/2010 @ 6:52 am
Hi Linda, thanks for taking the time to comment! Sometimes we live in a bubble (or bubbles I guess), and it’s nice to have feedback.
All The Best,
Martin
By Kim, 07/20/2010 @ 8:26 am
I like the lighted one better just because everything glows like a magical place! Your work is such fun!
By Ed Davis, 07/20/2010 @ 9:13 am
All of you shots are great. I have been to some of the locations. I favor the second shot of the Falls as it is so natural. Thanks for sharing these beaytiful locations. Ed
By Roland, 07/20/2010 @ 12:57 pm
Another mind blowin’ picture. Since I’m a big fan of yours and google earth,have you ever considered contributing? The street view in earth is about the same type of camera,isn’t it? If you have a gps, maybe you could give me the lat-long and maybe I can find it in earth. Looking forward to seeing more. If I were younger,I’d give this a shot as a hobby. R
By Star, 07/20/2010 @ 2:12 pm
I like both shots. The first one is mystical, I feel like I am in a candle-lit cave. The second one looks real. I think this is the one I can see a footprint in the sand to the right of the falls.
Keep making great photos, I enjoy sending your website address to friends and relatives!
Star
By martin, 07/20/2010 @ 5:09 pm
Hi Star, thank you for taking a moment to comment. Your impressions echo mine, and that’s why I’ve included both.
Martin
By martin, 07/20/2010 @ 5:25 pm
Hi Roland, the Google street view cameras are contraptions with multiple lenses that shoot all directions at once, while I use a single camera and shoot a sequence of photos that are stitched together, with higher resolution. Obviously, each has its place.
Martin
By martin, 07/20/2010 @ 5:30 pm
Hi Kim and Ed,
Thank you both for viewing and commenting. I’m glad I included both versions.
Martin
By Ryan, 07/20/2010 @ 6:03 pm
I like the darker one with the lights, sure only some colors come out with sunlight but the mood is unbeatable with the dark sky’s and lighting of the darker one.
Keep the photo’s coming, very enjoyable.
Ryan.
By martin, 07/20/2010 @ 10:44 pm
Thanks Ryan, I’ll keep them coming!
Martin
By K V MOHANAN, 07/21/2010 @ 1:18 am
Utah3D PHOTOGRAPH IS BREATH-TAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL.
By Elisabeth, 07/21/2010 @ 3:14 am
Both are great!
By Steve Eichorn, 07/21/2010 @ 5:24 am
I am a fan of natural light photography, so that would be my favorite. Either one is spectacular though. Next year, I plan a cross country road trip on my motorcycle. sleeping bag and camera equipment, what else do you need? lol
By martin, 07/21/2010 @ 9:03 am
Hi Steve, Elisabeth, and KV,
Thank you for viewing and commenting! I appreciate the feedback. Motorcycle would be a great way to see this land indeed.
Martin
By Robyn, 07/21/2010 @ 10:18 am
I love to take pictures. I don’t have any formal training, but I love to look at beautiful photography. I really like both of your pictures. One at dusk and one during the day.
They are really beautiful. Thanks for setting up this site for people to see and enjoy God’s creation. Have a blessed day!
Robyn
By martin, 07/21/2010 @ 10:19 pm
Hi Robyn,
Thanks for your note. It is quite a creation (the earth), isn’t it!
Martin
By Donyln Hanson, 07/22/2010 @ 6:10 am
Martin,
You are going to go down in history as a pioneer in this field. Your work is truly amazing. I’ve become addicted to pointing at the sky and spinning the scene, it’s a great way to start a meditation session. I’m having a blast sending this to family and friends, feedback is 100% positive. Thanks for sharing all your hard work and this unique aspect of photography with everyone. A simple little waterfall becomes a work of art. Can’t wait to see what you ‘see’ next. Blessed Be. D.
By martin, 07/22/2010 @ 6:57 am
Hi Donyln,
I am very honored by your comments. It’s become an obsession with me as well. All The Best,
Martin
By Dot, 07/22/2010 @ 5:26 pm
Love your work, and liked both waterfall groto shots, but am more partial to the 1st one with lights, etc. Thanks so much for sharing your talent and art with us.
By Ernest, 07/22/2010 @ 8:29 pm
Wow is all i can say . Same picture but at different times they are both great . keep up the good work, I have been to Utah. but would like too one day. I live in Georgi and really enjoy all your photos. Thanks
By martin, 07/23/2010 @ 9:39 am
Hi Ernest, and thank you! Hope you are able to visit sometime. Martin
By martin, 07/23/2010 @ 9:42 am
Hi Dot, you are very welcome. The privilege is mine. Martin
By Kim B, 07/26/2010 @ 12:32 pm
I like the darker one because it looks there is the mysterious “butterfly” in the stone across from the waterfall. I like the lighter one because it shows a more natural positioning of the log and rocs beneath the falls. Both are fabulous. I enjoy getting to see your shots! Keep ‘em coming!
By martin, 07/26/2010 @ 4:12 pm
Hi Kim, It’s interesting that you mention the logs and rocks. The daylight version was shot several days before the final dusk version. When I arrived for that last shoot, I was surprised to find this mini dam that some previous visitors had made. There wasn’t time to dismantle it before losing the right light, so I let it be. Now I think it adds an interesting element. Thanks for your visit and comments! Martin
By Thane Rogers, 07/28/2010 @ 8:53 am
I prefer the natural light shot because of the detail revealed although I can understand others preference for the mood in the lighted version. Would have liked the “natural” one even better with black point set a little darker. But, both shots are inspiring. Must have been a great place to pause and soak it all in. Glad you mentioned the rearrangement of rocks, I wondered about that. Great work, can’t wait to see what you do next! No pressure, huh?
By Eric G., 07/29/2010 @ 5:10 pm
Martin, I prefer the artificially lighted version, but they are both wonderful as are your other magnificent panoramas. I particularly liked the night sky at Great Basin. I recently visited Great Basin and made a repeat visit to Capitol Reef. I spent a night outside at Capitol Reef and tried to describe to my friends the amazing night sky there (complete with Milky Way). Your panorama from GB was a as close as I could find to show them, though the sky at Capitol Reef was even darker with no light pollution – isn’t everything in Utah just a little better? The night sky at Capitol Reef would be a terrific addition to your collection. Please keep them coming, they are beautiful!
By martin, 07/31/2010 @ 7:27 am
Hi Eric, Thanks for posting! The night sky at Capitol Reef is indeed good. I hope to do some more night sky images in the coming months (with less image noise). – Martin
By martin, 07/31/2010 @ 7:31 am
Hi Thane, thank you for your comments, and I think you are right about the black point. I find, as I am sure you have as well, that when I revisit an image that I haven’t looked at for a bit, I see things I should tweak. Have a great day. – Martin