Large Waterfalls

There were many aerial view submissions in this contest but this was one of my favorites. Between the immense nature of Victoria Falls and the fragility of the aircraft, there is a special dynamic sense to this image that makes me feel like I am actually therewith them.

Sometimes a portrait oriented image of a waterfall as huge as Godafoss can lose the sheer drama of the central feature, but not this image. The foreground draws the eye into the scene and the water's color and movement are very important to the overall feel of the scene. The dramatic skies just add more to the story of the powerful waterfall. There is energy from the top to the bottom, well done!

This image is proof that you don't have to show the entire subject of your image to communicate the sheer energy and size of the whole waterfall. Niagara Falls is all about the energy, power and sound of the enormous amount of water movement. The longer shutter speed adds to the power in the image as well. Wonderfully done.

I really liked the artistic rendering of Yosemite Falls in this image. The granular effect along with the misty scene give a true sense of the moment in this beautiful location. There is a sense of mystery to the surrounding forest that adds to epic power of Yosemite.

Because I live here in the Niagara Falls area, I was very sensitive to not allowing any personal bias to cloud my judging. Having said that, I have experienced standing on the edge of the Horseshoe as the sun comes up many times, and the drama and power of that location is truly awe-inspiring. This long-exposure image captures that so well. Great job!

Seljalandsfoss is one of the many truly remarkable waterfalls to be found in Iceland and it offers many interesting compositional opportunities. To me this view is one of the most powerful. The eye level is about one third of the way down the falls, with someone in the cave and also on the pathway to the left to give a sense of scale. The colors are muted and the skies are dramatic, adding to the power of the waterfall. Great job.

This photograph is a perfect example of the "rule of thirds" in all it's best use. Vertically you have the warm green zone on the left, cold blue stone in shadow on the right, and action filled center with all the drama of the water and sky. There is so much to explore in the scene with the strong colors and movement inviting the viewer into the moment. Wonderful image!

I really liked this image as it is probably the only image of the amazing Victoria Falls that was shot under magnificent light. The golden-orange light brings out the power of the falls, and the distant rising mist draws you into the gorge. It might be even more impactful if you cropped out some of the sky (maybe a 5X7 or 4X5), placing the sun halfway between the horizon and the top of the image.