This
edition of my Photographing Maryland series will highlight one of the many
scenic opportunities available to the Free State outdoor photographer. On this
trip, we’ll travel throughout the state and explore some of the beautiful
waterfalls Maryland has to offer. We’ll detail specific directions to some of our
popular “named” falls and offer advice on capturing these liquid assets in all
their glory. If we’re lucky, we may even get our feet wet!
I
hope you enjoy this edition of the series. Please leave a comment if you like
what you see.
You
can use the links at the bottom of my Bio Page to access my other posts.
Who doesn't love a waterfall?
Thankfully, outdoor photographers from Maryland and surrounding states need not travel far to find one. Of all of the falls within driving distance of most Maryland residents, Great Falls on the Potomac River is the most spectacular.
Geographically, this scenic stretch of the Potomac rests fourteen miles upriver from Washington DC, and is equally shared by Maryland and the state of Virginia.
With a drainage of over 14,000 square miles, it is here at Great Falls that the mighty Potomac cascades over precipices of house-sized boulders and ancient bedrock toward its final resting place in the Chesapeake Bay.
For the first time visitor, the Virginia side offers the easiest access to the most picturesque overlooks.
While on the Virginia side, be sure to look for the Man in the Falls. With a telephoto lens, you can see him sleeping far off in the distance. He's lying "face-up" within the rapids...visible from Overlook #2 and #3, but only when the water level is just right.
As a year-round destination, a winter trip to Great Falls can be a rewarding experience. The interplay of ice, snow, and falling water can be quite photogenic. (Be sure to pack those hand warmers.)
The Maryland side of the river offers an entirely different visual perspective of Great Falls, but it involves a hike with your gear along the C&O Canal Trail, then across a boardwalk spanning Olmsted Island. When the light is right, there are scenic opportunities along the boardwalk as you make your way toward the Maryland side of the Falls overlook.
The National Park Service maintains both the Maryland and Virginia sides of the river. A daily (or yearly) pass, purchased at either entrance, allows access to public areas on both sides of the river.
Directions
Virginia Side:
I-495 to Exit #44 Georgetown Pike West
In 4 miles, turn right onto Old Dominion Drive
1.1 miles to park entrance
Maryland Side
I-495 to Exit #41 Clara Barton Parkway/MacArthur Blvd.
Stay on MacArthur Blvd 4 miles to park entrance
Muddy Creek Falls is Maryland's highest single-drop waterfall. Beginning many miles upstream in Cranesville Swamp, Muddy Creek meanders through mountainous countryside toward this precipitous drop of 53 feet, a short distance upstream from the creek's confluence with the Youghiogheny River.
This photogenic waterfall lies within Swallow Falls State Park in Garrett County, where many other scenic opportunities await.
Winters in this far-western region of the state are typically harsh and unforgiving, as pictured in the photo above...when sub-zero temperatures transformed the falls into a dramatic monolith of ice.
By contrast, I've included the previous shot the same waterfall, photographed in January of 2017, when 70 degree temperatures had us in short sleeves!
It's wise to check the weather forecast in advance when planning a winter trip to Swallow Falls State Park.
Mild temperatures are rare exceptions to the norm.
A short hike downstream from Muddy Creek, a scenic wooded trail parallels the Youghiogheny River, where several picturesque waterfalls can be found.
Swallow Falls had its name derived from the abundance of swallows that nest within the rocky outcroppings along the banks of the river. During high water conditions, whitewater enthusiasts travel from near and far to challenge its waters. The park is open year-round, but harsh weather may necessitate road closures during the winter months. Check local conditions for viability before traveling to Maryland's western counties.
Directions to Swallow Falls State Park:
From I-68, take Exit 14-A to #219 South
Past Deep Creek Lake, make a right onto Mayhew Inn Road
In 4.3 miles, bear left onto Oakland Sang Run Road
Take the first right onto Swallow Falls Road
Cross over the Youghiogheny River, then take the first right onto Maple Glade Road
Follow the road to the park entrance.
An entrance fee of $3:00 ($5:00 for non-residents) is required.
Northern Harford County seems an inappropriate location for Maryland's second highest waterfall.
A 17 foot vertical drop plummets over erosion-resistant Prettyboy Schist to create Kilgore Falls, a spectacle that rivals the waterfalls found within the far western reaches of our state.
Kilgore Falls once rested on private land, where it remained relatively unknown. In 1993, the adjacent land was acquired by the Maryland Parks Service and opened to the public. The Parks Service maintains a limited parking area which allows access to a 1.3 mile trail leading to the falls. To minimize impact on a fragile ecosystem, parking is closely monitored and limited to only 28 vehicles at any given time. During peak times a backup plan is advised, since the lot fills quickly.
Directions to Kilgore Falls:
I-95 north to Route 24 north exit.
Continue on Route 24 past the main portion of Rocks State Park for four miles.
After crossing Route 165, turn left on St. Mary's Road then right onto Falling
Branch Road.
Proceed to the parking area on the right.
Parking lot address...1026 Falling Branch Road, Pylesville, MD 21132.
Cascade Falls
In the Avalon area of Patapsco State Park a small tributary cascades through a series of vociferous rapids and vertical drops toward its confluence with the Patapsco River. The Avalon portion of the State Park is in close proximity to Baltimore City and surrounding suburbs so it attracts many visitors.
On weekends, a long line will form at the park's entrance gate...which opens at 9:00 AM.
Weekdays, and off-season visits are recommended to avoid the crowds. A spacious parking lot allows access to the Cascade Trail which leads to the falls.
For the best views visit the falls after a heavy rain in autumn, when the foliage is at its peak.
Directions to Cascade Falls:
Take I-95 to I-195 South to Exit 3 ( Rt #1, Washington Blvd.)
Make a right onto Washington Blvd.
Take the first right onto South Street
Take the first left onto Park Entrance Drive
Make a left on Gun Road...then right on River Road
Follow River Road for 1.8 miles to parking area on left.
Nestled within the vast, primitive wilderness of the Potomac State Forest in Garrett County, Lostland Run tumbles and churns over ancient bedrock toward its confluence with the North Branch of the Potomac River.
Several picturesque waterfalls can be found along its route.
A lime-dosing station on Lostland Run near the Potomac helps neutralize acidity caused by decades of coal mining in the surrounding watershed.
Several rare and exotic species have been found in this remote region of the state including the Hellbender (...the third largest aquatic salamander species in the world.), and Coal Skinks.
During the summer months, Pipevine Swallowtails seek nectar from flowering shrubs along the river's edge.
Directions to Lostland Run:
Take I-68 to Exit 22 (Rt. #219 South)
Turn left on New Germany Road...through Savage River Forest
Turn left onto MD #495 South (Bittinger Rd.)
At Swanton...turn right to stay on MD #495 (...changes to #135 Maryland Highway)
Turn left onto Edgewood Drive, to Deer Park
Turn left onto Boiling Spring Road (Main Street)
(...changes to Upperman Road...changes to Potomac Camp Road)
Make a hard left onto Lostland Run Run.
Several pull offs along the road allow access to picturesque areas Lostland Run. There is a parking area at the end of the road where Lostland Run adjoins the North Branch of the Potomac.
Shooting the Falls
There are many different ways to photograph moving water. A fast shutter speed will freeze the action, a really slow shutter will create a smoky effect, and something in between will record the motion of the water while maintaining some of its structure and detail.
The human eye and brain are programmed to interpret motion equivalent to @ 1/60 of a second. With that in mind, it would seem logical that any shutter speed slower than 1/60 sec. would display at least some blurred motion.
Longer shutter speeds create the most pronounced effect of blur. A low ISO setting and small aperture are beneficial to increasing the length of shutter speeds. Photographers often attach neutral-density or polarizing filters onto their lenses to further increase the time that their shutters can remain open.
The most optimal conditions occur early in the morning (pre-dawn) or after sunset, when the light is low and the winds are calm. Filter-free, multi-second shutter speeds are easily attained during low-light conditions. Overcast days are also great times to photograph waterfalls.
Composition and balance are matters of personal preference. Ideally, the falls or rapids should constitute approximately 1/3 of the overall scene. The surrounding landscape should be complimentary and not distracting.
A wide-angle lens, coupled with a strong foreground element, produces visually powerful imagery...particularly when working with small waterfalls on tiny creeks.
If the sky is gray and featureless, The camera angle should be tilted down to totally exclude the sky from the composition.
Errant debris, such as dead branches, can be removed ("landscaped") from the scene, or the camera angle can be re-positioned to crop them out of the frame.
White balance settings are determined by ambient light. Overcast days require a WB setting @ 6200-6600K. Deep shade is much cooler and requires 7100K or higher to keep the water from rendering too blue. 5200K will handle sunlit falls.
Mixed-lighting (sunlight and deep shade in the same frame) can be more tricky to balance effectively. With a daylight setting (5000-5200K), the sunlit portions of the frame will appear normal while the shaded parts will be blue. If this effect is undesirable, a boost of the WB to 5800-6000K will balance the two extremes into a more tolerant, median level.
These harsh, sunny conditions are also prime candidates for black and white conversions.
Accurate metering is critical. Bright spots on frothy rapids can tolerate no more than 1/2 stop of overexposure without completely blowing out. A long shutter speed exacerbates this problem, in that an overexposed portion of bright light bleeds into surrounding pixels to create an unattractive, blown out glob that cannot be corrected with software.
It's wise to set the exposure as slightly under-cooked...then bracket over and under in 1/2 stop increments.
© Bob Cammarata 2018
bobcammarata.blogspot.com
(All photography by author)
No portion of this material may be copied or used without permission
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete