Some places just stick with me.  I think about them, often long after I visit them.  There’s more to the place than I was able to convey; better ways to show them.  I know that return trips will be required.  Brainstorms on what needs to be subtracted and what needs to be emphasized; what those changes might communicate.  Curiousity about how a different lens, focal length, or tripod height might do to change outcomes.  All of this thought builds excitement and momentum–a desire to try again.

I first visited this waterfall with friend and photographer, Jim McGovern.  We jumped onto a side trail and pretty much slid on our asses down to this intimate, mossy little gem of a waterfall near the Wild & Scenic Chattooga River.  The flow is not great, but that’s not really part of the character.  Instead, it’s a drip.  Thick and syrupy, filtered through lush carpets of mossy growth.  There’s a unique quality of light in these types of places–where water and translucent plant material create a glow of sorts that’s hard to capture and describe.  But it’s beautifully lush.  Mountain Rue gently danced beneath the overhangs.

The first time I visited I reached into my usual bag of tricks and tried to capture a contextual scene.  Wide.  Story-telling.  I showed the water source and its drop, and weaved in some of the mossy green goodness.  It was a balance.  I liked it.  This time, however, I wanted to subtract as much as possible and, hopefully, elevate a simpler assemblage of elements.  Make more impact with less sort of thing.  I cut out the main drop of the waterfall, punched in on the thickest, lushest, juiciest piece of drip, and tried to balance up the moss, liverworts and Mountain Rue.  I don’t know.  What do you think?

Camera:  Nikon D850
Lens:  Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 @ 52mm
Tripod:  Really Right Stuff TVC-33

Date taken:  April 16, 2025
Settings:  f13, 0.6 second, iso 250