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!

Falls, Little Pigeon River, Porter's Creek Trail

Last Spring I spent a few days in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Prior to heading home, I stopped at Greenbrier, on the northeast side of the park, and definitely one of the least visited sections of the Smokies.

The Porter's Creek Trail is at the very end of the road that meanders through Greenbrier. The middle prong of the Little Pigeon River runs alongside the trail as you begin your hike. This trail is infamous for it's Spring Trillium display in April every year. I really enjoyed photographing the river and a few of its cascades of waterfalls. Check my sidebar for a slightly different image. I wanted to share this particular image as it shows more of the large moss covered boulders and the tree branches hanging over the river. The large moss covered boulders are a feature of the park I have grown to love. And in many ways they are a trademark of the Smokies. This trail makes for a great hike. There are just enough folks along the trail that you don't feel alone at all. And it is so peaceful since you are very deep inside the park with just the sounds of the water falling down the river and the forest surrounding you. Nearly every visit I make to this park now includes a trek to Greenbrier, and in particular, a walk along Porter's Creek Trail. Hope your week is off to a great start. ENJOY!

In the Woods, Porter's Creek Trail, GSMNP

Deep in the woods hiking the Porter's Creek Trail. I remember I had only lost a few pounds on my weight loss trek last year when I took this hike. Hiking this trail made me realize I had a ways to go to get the rest off, but it was a good start. I'm so glad I've kept those pounds off. Maybe I should go for 10 more. Oh boy! I'll keep you posted. ENJOY!

Porter's Creek Trail, GSMNP

On my recent trip to the Smokies, I hiked a less visited trail, the Porter's Creek Trail, which is situated at the very end of the Greenbrier section of the park. Famous for its wildflowers in spring, I knew I had missed them as it was too late in the season for them to still be blooming. Not letting that deter me, off I went with my walking stick and camera in hand. The trail is about three miles round trip and is a very easy hike. A road goes about three quarters of a mile in where a trail finally takes over for the balance of the hike. The elevation gain is only about 400 feet. At the end of the trail there were large boulders with the Roaring Fork River rushing over. There's also a small waterfall on the other side of the boulders, but I didn't trust the log bridge to venture over.

This old twisted fir tree was growing next to the trail. You know how I love odd looking trees. And normal looking trees as well. OK, just trees in general.

These long stemmed white flowers were blooming in clusters in many areas of the park where moistured lingered. I first encountered them on the Porter's Creek Trail. I think they are White Bog Orchid. If you know otherwise, please share.

Diana Fritillary Butterflies were everywhere along the trail and throughout the park. But in this particular area of Porter's Creek, there were six or seven butterflies in a cluster. It was beautiful to watch them.

I don't know if you can see in these images, but they have one little red spot on each side of their wings.

I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I enjoyed taking it. It's been a long time since I've hiked. It was fun just to see how far I could get. In this case, I walked the whole trail which was a great feeling of accomplishment.

Have a fantastic Memorial Day. In remembrance of all of those who have fought and are fighting still for our freedom, I dedicate this post to you. ENJOY!