Waterfalls of Western NC

[Nitro-C5]

Just got back from my yearly fall trip to Western NC. Leaf change is about a week away so I decided to make it a waterfall trip instead. Here is the first group I just developed.

[OddBall]

Great Pics! Which falls?

[Nitro-C5]

Originally Posted by OddBall

Great Pics! Which falls?

Actually a few different falls represented there. "Upper Falls", "Lower Falls Basin" and "Crabtree Falls" I have a few more I just finished developing of "Hooker" and "Triple Falls"

[Yamma]

Beautiful shots!!! Looks like an amazing area to explore!

[Grey Ghost]

Was that natural light or some PP?

[Nitro-C5]

Originally Posted by Yamma

Beautiful shots!!! Looks like an amazing area to explore!

Definately an interesting area/s. I have lived in NC for the past 15 years and I just recently found these myself.

[Nitro-C5]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

Was that natural light or some PP?

All Natural light. I used a CPL which really pulled out the vibrant colors. Shot is RAW so yes some PP is needed, but what you see is really how the scene looked. Here are some addtional shots from day #2.













...and a very rare picture that I'm actually in..

[78SA]

Nice shots.

[wwomanC6]

Wow, beautiful and awesome shots!


You look a lot like Kevin Costner in that pic!

[Grey Ghost]

I'm always afraid of using a filter. I only have a cheap version though - not a high dollar example.

Last report from the Smoky Mtns. that I saw was colors in the high elevations are at or past peak. Lower elevations should be peaking within this or next week.

Wish they would open the stupid roads! We paid for it and should be able to enjoy it without a bunch of park rangers spying on us.

[Nitro-C5]

Originally Posted by wwomanC6

Wow, beautiful and awesome shots!


You look a lot like Kevin Costner in that pic!

Thanks I have been called many things in my life...Kevin Costner is a first!

[DAB]

very nice. shutter speed? 1/15 sec? we don't have too many water falls here...we have lots of dirt and rocks!!

[Nitro-C5]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I'm always afraid of using a filter. I only have a cheap version though - not a high dollar example.

Last report from the Smoky Mtns. that I saw was colors in the high elevations are at or past peak. Lower elevations should be peaking within this or next week.

Wish they would open the stupid roads! We paid for it and should be able to enjoy it without a bunch of park rangers spying on us.

Definitely get a good CPL makes a world of difference shooting landscapes with Vivid Colors...absolutely necessary when shooting waterfalls. For what a CPL does the effect cannot be duplicated in Photoshop.

I actually meet several people from the Smokey Mountain area on my trip through the BRParkway...Yes, a lot of pissed folks to say the least

[OddBall]

Ok, You've got me talked into picking up a CPL.


Nice shot of the reflection in the puddle.

[Nitro-C5]

Originally Posted by DAB

very nice. shutter speed? 1/15 sec? we don't have too many water falls here...we have lots of dirt and rocks!!

Sorry just saw this post. I used various shutter speeds...my general rule of thumb I learned from Kevin Adams (he is one of the best in the business at photographing water) is the less volume of water you have and/or the slower the speed of the water the slower the shutter speed should be to create a similar effect. In the past when I was shooting small waterfalls I would shoot at 2-4 seconds....however that same shutter speed on a high volume fall really does not look as good IMO as you cannot see any detail in the water movement.

That being said I shot between 1/20th and 1.5 seconds pending on the water...most were around 1/2 second.

[Nitro-C5]

Edit

[Bucwheat]

Looks like gatlinburg area.