Hamilton Pool (final)

At last, the final version of this image (until I learn some new tricks)! Hamilton Pool is one of the best kept secrets in Central Texas. It took me 10 years to find it but I'm very glad I did. The place is a spectacular circular swimming hole half covered over by the massive remains of the previous cave's roof. It's pretty tricky to photograph and this image is actually a composite of 4 shots taken with different exposures.

I spent a day last week at a fabulous Photoshop seminar by Ben Willmore during which he spent the time talking about various post-processing techniques. Armed with these new tricks, I got back to this image and have now got it to a point that I am happy with it.

For those interested in what's changed, I've added a play-by-play account on my blog here.

Now all I need is to find a cloud that isn't burned out and drop that in..... :-)

If you like my photos, your vote in the 2009 Photoblog Awards would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

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Comments

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

Here's the previous version for comparison....

Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

theavonne says:

Very nice. Heck, I have lived here in Austin for 16 years and I have NEVER visited Hamilton Pool! What's more, I live in SW Austin!! I gotta go there one day!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

supaho06 says:

very nice. the sky is an amazing improvement. looks like those new tricks work. nice subject, as well.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

jrandallc says:

Nice job on this. You just can't beat Hamilton Pool.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

bceichman02 says:

love this place-good work!

Seen in Top 20 Texas.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

KentV999 says:

This place is just fantastic and I'm impressed with your enhancements you describe in photoshop. NIcely done!

--
Seen next to a fellow photo of Top 20 Texas. (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

gatoqueso says:

wonderful work!
Seen in Top 20 Texas.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

jtuason says:

Stunning! Faved. Composition, color, and lighting are excellent.

Seen in Top 20 Texas.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

ednurseathkh says:

I keep coming back to this picture, simply beautiful
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Suarez says:

Love the green water and the cloud.

Seen in Top 20 Texas.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

balval says:

Thanks for the comment on my wisteria...lovely on black! Yours is fantastic...we love Hamilton Pool, and your shot is so true to my memory, even the cloud! We saw a fellow jump from lip into the pool...he made it to the bank...ow!
Seen in Top 20 Texas.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

HiptoBeBop says:

Gorgeous. I actually like the white cloud. The whole image has this surreal quality to it.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

bbmurph says:

That is a breath-taking shot! Amazing job!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Weir_r / (Robert) says:

stunning shot and I will pretend i have a clue what your talking about lol.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

ednurseathkh says:

Congratulations! Your photo has made it to the end in Top 20 Texas. You are now invited to post your photo in our permanent showcase group, Best of Texas.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

Thanks everyone - I guess the changes popular!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Eduardo Z. says:

Wonderfull shot, fantastic place. Great work on the picture. Both are very beautifull.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

I couldn't resist it - I fixed the masking around the trees. I promise - no more mucking with it now (unless I find a better cloud).
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

donald423423 [deleted] says:

Second one is better ,nice shot.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

judy_n says:

Great job! Thanks for mentioning Ben Willmore. I signed up for his newsletter and will take a look at his articles.
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

judy_n says:

You are invited to display your image.

Better Than Good
Invitation Only

If you accept this Invitation,
please give awards to other images.
Invited with SOS!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

Kyle Simpson (away for a while) says:

Your Image Truly Is:

Better Than Good
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

x.ristina says:

Your picture has caught my attention and I find it worthy
of a NATURES BEST AWARD...Well Done :)

NATURE'S BEST
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

andie.smith says:

wow!!! this is beautiful!!!!

Lone Star Photographers
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

gelizas~♥ says:

Great shot!
Lone Star Photographers
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

sRagnar Fotografi says:

very cool!!

I love that spot!

Love the way you have done the post work.
I have done some hdr of that place. incredible place!

good work!!!!!

Lone Star Photographers
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

koons336 says:

Sweet
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

ednurseathkh says:

Lone Star Photographers
Already commented but also deserves a star
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

WayOutTexas says:

Wow!

Seen in A Country Called Texas Grop Pool
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

pixajen says:

Wow you must have gone after some really good rain! I've been a few times and never seen a fall like that!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

disrupsean says:

GORGEOUS! I swam there more than 10 years ago when I was a UT Austin student, this brings it all back...
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

pocttopus says:

good nature...
and also a god shot
;-)
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

thewildpeople says:

Fabulous use of composition to create a sense of space...and good processing, too!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

F.Harmaly says:

Great shot, love it!!!!!

Please add this photo to Professional Photographers (1Post-invite1), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

aguarneodo says:

genial genila el lugra y tu foto!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

kost80 says:

Amazing shot and postprocessing!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

Realms(Nathan Williams) says:

very nice composite
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

susanrudat says:

Beautiful photo, kudos to you! As a concerned citizen of Hays County, we really need to be vigilant and protect places like Hamilton Pool from the destruction of developers.
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

Rui Almeida (Portugal) says:

5*

--
Found in a search. (?)
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

Michelleyyy says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Geography of Photography, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

This is such a beautiful photo!
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

susanrudat says:

Spectacular photos! I visited Hamilton Pool last month...only a dribble of water coming over the pool.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

mattdil says:

Awesome! magical scene, very well composed. I will have to go there this summer.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Radiance Of Light . com (GT007) says:

Wow, That is to nice. I wish I can swim in that little paradise

--
[discovered in the SWPB Chat photophlow room] (?)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Enchanted Cactus says:

What a magical place! You presented it very well!! Great work!!!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

bishop_s says:

Love the final effect.

So, where is this pool? I'd be visiting Austin in a couple of weeks and would very much like to see this place. Is there an address that I can find on Google maps, perhaps?
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

@bishop_s Thanks! The easiest way for me to tell you where this is would be to ask you to click the map link under "Additional Information" on the right of the screen (assuming you're not viewing this via Flickr Mobile, of course). The picture is geotagged.

Hamilton Pool can be found about 20 miles south west of Austin. Head out highway 71, turn left on Hamilton Pool Road and keep going until you see the signs for the parking lot on the right. It's further than you think so don't turn back too early.

--
Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

bishop_s says:

Thanks, David... will certainly look the place up when I am in Austin.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

subarcticmike says:

fav'd your thematic (!) image (!) a while ago
stopping by to add
all your learning of new tricks
well worth the effort
kudo's!
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

Bruce Lemons says:

Marvelous!
Posted 4 weeks ago. ( permalink )

the 4 headed lion says:

one of the best swimming spots around
Posted 31 minutes ago. ( permalink )

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Some rights reserved Anyone can see this photo

Taken in Hammetts Crossing, Texas (map)
Taken with a Nikon D70.
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Taken on June 13, 2004
Viewed 15,006 times
Replaced on April 5, 2008

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Hamilton Pool (final)

Comments

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

theavonne says:

supaho06 says:

jrandallc says:

bceichman02 says:

KentV999 says:

gatoqueso says:

jtuason says:

ednurseathkh says:

Suarez says:

balval says:

HiptoBeBop says:

bbmurph says:

Weir_r / (Robert) says:

ednurseathkh says:

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

Eduardo Z. says:

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

donald423423 [deleted] says:

judy_n says:

judy_n says:

Kyle Simpson (away for a while) says:

x.ristina says:

andie.smith says:

gelizas~♥ says:

sRagnar Fotografi says:

koons336 says:

ednurseathkh says:

WayOutTexas says:

pixajen says:

disrupsean says:

pocttopus says:

thewildpeople says:

F.Harmaly says:

aguarneodo says:

kost80 says:

Realms(Nathan Williams) says:

susanrudat says:

Rui Almeida (Portugal) says:

Michelleyyy says:

susanrudat says:

mattdil says:

Radiance Of Light . com (GT007) says:

Enchanted Cactus says:

bishop_s says:

DaveWilsonPhotography says:

bishop_s says:

subarcticmike says:

Bruce Lemons says:

the 4 headed lion says:

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