Sony Alpha 7C R Sample Pictures

Do you have go-to locations to use when you must bring home high-quality images?

Three new cameras (Sony Alpha 7C R, Alpha 7C II, and Alpha 6700), two new lenses (Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lens and Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens), and some new accessories needed a workout. When many good images are needed, that go-to location is called upon, and it the success rate at Ricketts Glen State Park in the fall is high.

The optimal (cloudy) weather forecast selected the day choice, and the above gear (plus some additional gear and food) went into a MindShift Gear BackLight 26L for a big day in the field.

I have many favorite photo locations in this park and often revisit them as it seems new angles that create different, often better, results can often be found. In this case, Triangle Falls was the revisited subject, and I wanted a slightly lower-angle image than the last one from here.

As I said when posting that image, sometimes the picture does not tell the full story. While this image appears to be a simple capture, you don't see that the rock I'm standing on is slippery and the RRS TVC-24L Mk2 Tripod is in the fast-flowing water. Learned was that the tripod flowing downstream during exposures creates interesting motion blurs.

Fast-flowing water meeting a stationary object causes splashing, and in addition to forcing recomposition, the fast-flowing water also splashed onto the camera and lens from the tripod legs positioned forward of the camera. The mentioned lower angle perspective positioned the lens close to the water, and the splashing water was hitting the circular polarizer filter (responsible for this image's deep saturated colors). Thus, wiping the filter with a microfiber cloth between every shot was part of the process, with hope that the next exposure would finish before the water drops reappeared or the tripod washed downstream again. The cameras' weather sealing was appreciated in this scenario.

Fortunately, patience and repetition prevailed, and there were sufficient good images to select from.

The a7C R and FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II got the call for this image. This full-featured compact camera delivers incredibly detailed images, and this lens has the optical quality to support that extreme resolution. This combination is an outstanding choice for landscape and travel photography.

Consider focusing on something in the foreground of what would logically be a primary subject. In this case, the small falls fills a considerable amount of the frame, while the large falls adds a layer of interest to the background.

The Sony Alpha 7C R and FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lens were a perfect combination for capturing this scene in incredible detail.

Sometimes, a scene gets better with age. In this case, a large tree fell into what was formerly a beautiful composition.

In time, the log grew moss, turned green, and became an interesting element in the frame. This shot required awkwardly squating under another large tree that fell over.

The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lens was just wide enough to take in this perspective.

Tuscarora Falls, with a split at the bottom, is always worth a photo stop. Not visible in this image is the tangle of downed trees that had to be navigated to clear the foreground.

When working through the available compositions, consider where you can get a camera positioned.

The normal waterfall viewing location is somewhere below the falls. However, there are often other good options, and you and your gear might get wet accessing some of them.

Variations in waterflow can change a streams look, sometimes significantly. In this image, a somewhat low flow enables more intricate water details in the Harrison Wright Falls

What is better than a waterfall in a fall landscape image? Two waterfalls. And, three are even better.

In this location, the two more distant falls have opposite flow directions, with the foreground falls flowing in a range of directions, creating an overall balance.

Don't forget to rotate your camera to create a different look from a scene. Not all scenes support both orientations, but some reward this alternative.

Not all waterfalls are photogenic, but this one is.