Merry Christmas

Many years ago, on a very, very cold Winter's day, I photographed two of the waterfalls at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio, Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls. As I perused my archives this morning, I happened across this image of Cedar Falls and wanted to share it again. To my amazement when I traveled back in time on my blog, I found I had only shared this image one time way back in 2009. The image is a low resolution scan from slide film, but I love the colors of the limestone rock behind the waterfall and the trees hanging over.

Perhaps one day I will get back to Hocking Hills and take new photographs with my digital camera. Until then, this beauty will have to suffice. I want to leave a note for everyone stopping by my blog this holiday season. May your holidays be filled with friends and family and much peace and joy. Have a Very Merry Christmas. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Weight of Water & Photographing It

Getting up close and personal with fast moving water and getting the shot, well it's not that easy. Here's a few images I captured throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These images were taken over a span of about six or seven years.

It's not just about the water, it's really more about the perspective. You can have too much noise in your image. All that does is take away from the feeling a reader gets when they view the image. It's about the scene itself and the relationship it has with the water. The way the water falls over the rocks is a vital element.

This image is my favorite water shot of all. I captured this image no more than 100 steps in on the Porter's Creek Trail in Greenbrier. It may seem like there's too much noise in this shot, but the way the rocks and the foliage frame the image, and the drama of that water flowing so beautifully over the rocks, well, it's just perfect.

Sometimes the focal point screams at you as in this image. A perfect cascade with water spilling over the rocks and leaving a wake of wispy whiteness all around. It screams serenity to me.

And then you encounter the tallest waterfall in the Smokies. Mingo Falls, in Cherokee, North Carolina, along the eastern most point of the Smokies. It's not only the tallest, but it's also the most difficult waterfall to position oneself in order to get a decnt image. I chose to shoot the top half and then the bottom. The bottom was more interesting with the water falling over the large boulder and  the forest trees hanging over in the foreground.

I had never attempted this type of image before. However, the scenery left and right of the Oconaluftee River in this image was just right. So I shot the water from the back side of the flow. It feels a tad serene.

Couldn't believe my eyes when I happened upon this waterfall coming down off a steep mountainside next to the road leading back to Tremont several years back. It took some maneuvering of the tripod to get this perspective, so much so one of the legs was sitting in the stream below the shot. There's so much green in this image even in the moss on the boulders. So decreasing the density did no good. It's just all green foliage and the water.

Photographing moving water is difficult. I have archives of bad images to show for it. Shots with the water not falling off the rocks nicely, too much noise in the background or no real focal point to grab the attention of your reader. 

Here's a few tips I know helped me. First, perspective is the most important thing. Getting the right water falling off the right boulders with the best scenery around it is essential. Second the flow of the water over the rocks or boulders. If it's not falling beautifully, then there's little impact to your reader. Third is how the water lands as it falls. The best way I can describe what I mean by this is for you to go back to the fourth image. See the wispy water after it's fallen over the rocks. What a focal point. Sadly, you may have all of those things, but no place to position your tripod legs. It happens.

My best advice, just keep at it. I have wanted to share this collection for some time. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm not an expert at shooting water. I'm a novice.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend all and a great week. ENJOY!

It's Official, It's Fall

Fall arrived yesterday at 4:02 pm. In many areas of the northern United States, Fall's leaves are at peak. Here in middle Tennessee, leaves have yet to turn, although I do see the occasional yellow leaf from trees here and there.

I captured this image a few years ago in Fall, as I was making the drive from Gatlinburg to Cade's Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Meig's Falls sits back off the park road, but in full view of visitors. As usual I had my 300mm lens on my camera, so I stopped to take a few photos. The yellow leaves really frame Meig's Falls beautifully. I can't wait to share new images as I venture out this season. I hope you have fun out there photographing this beautiful season. Have a wonderful weekend. ENJOY!

Monet's Bridge at Giverny

In the Waterlily Gardens at Gibbs Gardens' in Ball Ground, Georgia, sits an exact replica of Monet's Bridge at Giverny. You know the one. That famous bridge he painted in watercolor and no doubt hundreds, if not thousands, of copies have been made.

How does one do justice in an attempt to photograph such beauty. After several exposures in one setting, I moved about the pond attempting to take different perspectives. Yet as I culled through my archive, I realized my initial perspective was the best. I especially like the tree in the far left background. I also like the hint of Fall in the tree behind the bridge. It added just the right depth and dimension.

James Gibbs, the architect of this beautiful landscape, delighted in the original Monet's Bridge in the Gardens at Giverny that he decided to replicate it in his own gardens. The bridge, with its steel beams, rails and arbor, was measured and reproduced with the same radius. The island was built over the pond to support the span of the bridge. Gibbs also chose Monet's same color choice. The bridge's Wisteria vines drape over the side of the arbors casting dramatic shadows on the water throughout the day. What a setting and such a peaceful one. I hope you enjoyed my perspective. ENJOY!

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Little River, Tremont

On my recent trip to the mountains this week, I decided to drive the road that traverses the Little River in the Tremont section. Spending time photographing the water along this river is easy, as the river runs along the road all the way back to the end, where several trails pick up. I knew light could be a problem as the river in Tremont is wider allowing the shutter to bring in more light. I try to be mindful of composition when I photograph water, but several settings I chose didn't prove to be the best. There was just way too many rocks, boulders, trees, branches and rhododendrum bushes to contend with.



As for this first image, it shows a close up view of some boulders in the Little River, while the second image shows the full frame. I can tell you I would choose the close up. It's just a nicer feel when you view it. There's just a tad too much going on in the full frame shot. I am really liking the glossy feel of the water in these images. Photographing pools of water where it doesn't appear to be moving, but is, can be difficult to get just right.



Whether you are an amateur or a professional, photographing water is not easy. Here is what I learned this week. Don't take lighting for granted from one setting to the next even along the same river. Your composition will fair better if you have fewer subjects in the frame whether it be people or rocks and boulders doesn't matter. Overall I have to say having too much light coupled with a busy composition is not a good thing. Some photographers download their images at the scene and review them. Perhaps I should take up this practice at least when I'm photographing water of this nature. Strangely enough, I actually have an easier time photographing large waterfalls than I do images like these. Have a fantastic Memorial Day weekend all. ENJOY!