Fall Creek Falls

Several years ago I paid a visit to beautiful Fall Creek Falls in central Tennessee, which is situated in Fall Creek Falls State Park in the heart of the Cumberland Plateau. This area is hugely popular with tourists and visitors for its many waterfalls such as Fall Creek Falls, Rock Island Falls and Cummins Falls. On this hot Summer day I captured this image of the waterfall with the slightest stream of water falling over the rocks.

I chose to repost these images after a minor adjustment I made in Lightroom which I didn't have at that time. Now with the aid of my software, with the shadows pulled back, the beautiful detail in the rocks on the side of the cliff is exposed. When photographing waterfalls, I never leave home without my tripod and with it, the clamp that holds my camera tight, but on this day it failed to make it into my camera gear. So I had to improvise by placing my camera on top of the log railing at the overlook. I wanted that feathery feel one gets with the right adjustments when photographing water. However, I settled for these images and I have to say I don't mind at all. They are just as beautiful. What is that old saying, 'when you have lemons, make lemonade.' ENJOY!

Beautiful Fall Creek Falls

Just outside of Nashville, about an hour's drive east, sits the rugged Cumberland Plateau. The plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains. It stretches in eastern Tennessee from Alabama all the way to northern Kentucky and rises over 1000 feet above the region around it. To say it is a waterfall lover's 'paradise' is putting it mildly. A few of the major waterfalls in the area include Fall Creek Falls, Rock Island Falls, Cummins Falls and Burgess Falls.

The largest and most visited state park in Tennessee is Fall Creek Falls State Park. I spent an afternoon at the park photographing the infamous 256 foot Fall Creek Falls which is the largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Fall Creek State Park has numerous waterfalls, cascades, gorges, streams and even a large lake. There is also an inn with a restaurant and an outfitters shop and general store in the park.

In Fall Creek Falls State Park you can view Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls and Cane Creek Cascades. I was able to take a hike to a suspension bridge and catch a glimpse of Piney Falls through the foliage. It was getting late in the day so I didn't drive to Cane Creek Falls. Photographing Fall Creek Falls with Fall foliage surrounding it is on tap for my next visit. Having forgotten my tripod clamp on this trip, these images were captured while my camera rested on the barrier at the overlook to minimize camera shake. I was surprised they came out as well as they did considering I didn't use my tripod.

This outcropping is situated to the left of Fall Creek Falls at the overlook. You feel as though this beautiful gift of this spectacular waterfall is more than enough, and then you turn and see this gorgeous limestone outcropping jutting far out into the gorge. So beautiful.

This last image of the enormous gorge was taken along the drive through the park. What magnitude this gorge area is. It is amazing to think all of these gorges and waterfalls are situated within one state park, but it's true. This was my first adventure to the Cumberland Plateau, but definitely not my last. What a way to spend an afternoon. There were areas within the park especially around the gorges that reminded me of the Smoky Mountains. ENJOY!