We are in the mountains of western Virginia. It is an historic area of hot springs up the wazoo. There is a reason that it has been such a popular spot for well over two centuries now. Jefferson and other notables would come to “take the waters” because of their reputed curative and soothing properties.
For us, it is just a beautiful place to photograph.
The first evening, we went out to one of the more dramatic waterfalls. Each time we visit, Arnie and I try to photograph it differently. Each year, the puckerbrush encroaches, leaving less space to find a clear view, or at least the clear view we want.
I was struck by the soft patterns of the water tumbling down upon the massive, craggy rocks below. I did several “frames” on the tripod, because water pulses. It’s what makes the sound of a waterfall interesting. That pulsing also changes the patterns of how the water falls and how it hits the rocks below.
This is the one that appealed most to me. I didn’t need to do much in post-processing. Just added a little brightness to the water, brought out the growth on the rocks, and that was about it.
This morning, we headed off to farmland. The valleys here, because of the nature of the Appalachans, are long and fairly narrow. Sometimes, we encounter fog, sometimes sun coming through morning mists, sometimes deep, stormy skies.
Today, it was mostly cloudy, but the sun peeked out, adding some life to our subjects. I looked back into the sun and saw the way it made the Dogwood blossoms glow.
There was one pattern I particularly liked, so I set the camera for a narrow depth of field and hand tracked the one blossom I wanted to feature. Both this slight motion and the low f/stop did interesting things to the background that worked for me.
A little work in Lightroom, and I completed my vision.
Ta-daaa!
This afternoon, we head over a pass to the same valley but much farther north. Who knows what images we may find?
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Very nice dogwood flower. I like your impressionistic view. Dogwoods have been great. Hot, dry summer last year, with moist winter, equals great dogwoods/cherries/etc. Hope you are having a good time at Warm Springs. Would love to have taken the week off and spent it with you and Arnie.
Thanks, John. I had fun with that blossom. Meanwhile, travelling farther up the valley this afternoon, it was glorious (no, no Dogwoods in tomorrow’s posting!)
The evidence of recent floods in this area has been impressive. We were told by one man that 220 in Hot Springs was a white-water river a few days ago. WOW!
Thanks for writing.
Take care,
TBC
Very lovely dogwood photo–it looks like a watercolor.
Thank you, Terry. I’m so glad you like it so much. I loved the somewhat abstract nature of it. I didn’t want just another pretty flower photo.
Take care,
TBC
Hi there, I went on you Cascades and Wildflowers two years ago, and reading your blog made me wish that I was there again! It’s nice to go back to the same place a second time, after seeing your results and working with them, both positive and negative and learning about what you thought you captured and what you really want to capture.
If you get a chance look at my website barbarabeyda.com my water pictures are under Impressions- Cascades , and Aquamarine. Let me know what you think. I hope to see you soon, Best, Barbara
Barbara,
We wish you were here, too! The Dogwoods this year are amazing. We’ve never seen them so much in abundance in other years. Just gorgeous.
When I get a chance, I’ll look at those water photographs. I remember that you did some lovely ones, abstract, and totally unlike what others in the workshop did.
Thanks for writing, and take care,
TBC