Diagonal Cascade

Maybe I am boring you with the recent waterfall posts, so this is the last one. 7 images blended together with Nik HDR Efex Pro (I love it!). I used a polarizer to pop the colors and cut the glare on the water. No saturation kick in Photoshop needed!  

Close and Closer...

Here are two perspectives from a waterfall cascade that I found in Northern Pennslyvania.  I was knee deep in water to get a good view, but I sure think it was worth it. Its called Miners Run Falls and its located in Loyalsock State Forest 

Hell's Hollow

This weekend was awesome!  I had made a good commitment to get some great photos over the Columbus Day weekend.  I ventured up to McConnell Mills State Park again and I took an early morning hike to Hell's Hollow trail.  I have seen some great pictures of the trail and the waterfalls on the web, so I figured I'd check out the fall foliage.  I was quite surprised to see that even though it is fall, there was still water of the Hells Run Creek flowing over the rock features.  Well this was my favourite one of the morning.  I used a 5 stop Neutral Density filter to get a 45 second exposure at f/5.6 and my trusty warming polarizer to cut the glare on the rocks.

Taughannock Falls from the Base

I decided to take the lower pathway that went to the base of the Taughannock Falls.  It was only a 25 minute hike that was flat in elevation.  I was unhappy with the views from the viewpoint at the base.  I hopped over the retaining wall and I was able to get a better perspective.  I love the gracefulness of the water dropping 215 ft to the ground with the detailed rock backdrop.  With some luck, I managed to wait for the cloud to fill the bluesky triangle.

©Matt Graham 2010 - Taughannock Falls from the Base

Taughannock Falls Viewpoint

I really wanted to see Taughannock Falls.  In the travel brochure I had, it said that these falls are the tallest east of the Rocky Mountains!  Amazing! A waterfall higher that Niagara Falls??  You bet!  These falls are 215 feet (65 metres) and makes it 33 feet (15 metres) taller than Niagara Falls! This is from the viewpoint from the upper parking lot.  I was amazed by the beauty and powerful nature of this waterfall so I decided to walk down to it. More on that in tomorrow's post!

©Matt Graham 2010 - Taughannock Falls Viewpoint

Rainbow Falls

Heading up the gorge at Watkins Glen State Park, I was still amazed at the scenery and the great photo opportunities that came upon me.  Here is Rainbow Falls.  It is a famous scene that a lot of tourism brochures used and actually encouraged me to visit!  I like how there is a little shelter on the left for people that do not want to get wet as the walk under the falls!

©Matt Graham 2010 - Rainbow Falls

Cavern Cascade Pathway

As I said in my previous blog post, Cavern Cascade is a waterfall that you can walk under to get to the next level of the gorge. It's quite cool to walk under a huge volume of water falling right over your head.  The stairs in the foreground spiral up through a manmade opening which is quite the feat!

©Matt Graham 2010 - Cavern Cascade Pathway

Cavern Cascade

This is the first amazing waterfall at the Watkins Glen State Park.  It is called Cavern Cascade and to get up to next level of waterfalls you have to walk behind the waterfall.  It is a 60 foot plunging impressive waterfall! 

©Matt Graham 2010 - Cavern Cascade