My first outing of the new year was to a waterfall I've wanted to photograph for the past couple years, Punch Bowl Falls. Its source is Eagle Creek, which is also one of the most popular trails for hiking in the Gorge, but it had been 13 years since my last time on this trail.
The "punch bowl" waterfall classification was coined after this particular falls. In summer it looks like a ladle gently pouring liquid into a bowl. It's winter however, so there is a lot of extra water. The falls was more aggressive today.
Punch Bowl Falls
And a few images I took along the way.
Snack Time
Eagle Creek Canyon
Eagle Creek
Regarding the last image. One of my goals this year is to really improve on landscape shots that have foreground and background sharp and clear. Maybe I have the wrong idea, it happens a lot (I had DoF backwards for a year in my brain for some reason), but I figured to get those kind of shots I would need to have a wide DoF, so I should close aperture as much as I can.
I had very little wiggle room because of how dark it was at the bottom of the canyon with overcast skies, but I honestly expected a lot more clarity than what I came up with. The camera was on a tripod and I used a cable remote, but it looks like by trying to get foreground and background in focus I got neither. I can't even tell where the camera focused. I don't even get that problem when I use the lens for waterfall shots.
Whatever the reason, this was probably my last outing with this lens, I've never really liked it. The Sigma 17-70 I ordered should be here within the week. It'd be nice if the problem was the lens and not my lack of skill. I have a feeling this will not be the case though.
