High Force

 Part of the Raby Estate just outside of Middleton in Teesdale, in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is High Force. "Force" being taken from the Viking word for waterfall. The waterfall is 21 metres high with a vertical drop.

The river Tees flows over the rocky outcrop and when the water level in the river is high it flows either side of the central column thundering into the cauldron below. In my 100th blog post in Dec 2014 I posted a couple of shots of the waterfall in full flow, from a similar position on the rocks as these shots were taken however that close to the falls on that occasion I was covered in spray as was the lens of my camera so the images were not so clear. It certainly wasn't possible to do long exposures like these however I would say it is worth a look just for the comparison so click on the highlighted link above.

I have heard that on very rare occasions the river completely covers the whole outcrop falling in one complete curtain of thundering water, I have not seen it like that.

These shots were taken on a relatively fine day (20th march 2023). I used my Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L series lens a variable ND filter with an ISO of 100 and the aperture at f22 The first image was at 45mm and the others at 58mm. the first two images were shot with a 13 second exposure and for contrast the third was taken using a 20 second exposure.

This final image was shot at 40mm with f/6.3 and an exposure of 1/40 sec. I have included a person in the picture for scale and at a faster shutter speed you can see how rough the water is and how effective the long exposures above have been in terms of smoothing out the falls and the surface of the water in the cauldron below.

The Dell

 I am sticking with a watery theme for today with this shot looking  upstream towards the waterfall at Bodnant  Gardens. I was stood on the bridge looking down at the falls for the abstract pictures I shared a few days ago. 

I knew as I walked along by the stream that I wanted to get this shot and I had to position my tripod on some stepping stones mid-stream to get it using another long exposure and my variable ND filter. I have also tweaked some of the colours in lightroom to add vibrancy to the overall image and I am very pleased with the results.

The Dell

 There is going to be a decidedly watery feel to my next few posts as well as some long exposures.

Today's lone image is from Bodnant Garden. I had been watching a pair of Goldcrests and a pair of treecreepers in the trees along the banks of the stream when I noticed the way the sunlight was playing through these trees and I took a little time to set up this shot. I had to wait for visitors to step away from the small bridge, and as I was on a narrow path I had to ensure I was not causing an obstruction as I set up my tripod. 

I used a 10 second exposure here at f22 and I used a variable ND filter to compensate for the long exposure (I can't recall what setting I used for the filter) I think the overall effect with the "frozen" waterfall and the sunlight through the trees creates a really tranquil scene. The sound of the water as it flowed by was so relaxing, it was easy to get lost in the beauty of this place.

Waterfall

 Here are four more images from my brief visit to the Black Forest in November, as I said in a previous post I had gone to see the famous Triberg Waterfall but it was closed due to adverse conditions. However that disappointment did not stop me enjoying the forest or limit my opportunity to find great photographic subjects.

The theme for today is falling water even if the pictures do not show a waterfall; in the first picture the reverse of the leaf has a jewelled coating of raindrops that reflect the little light that was creeping through the trees. I have increased the depth of the shadows to highlight the glistening droplets. This was shot using my 100-400mm lens and perhaps the focus is not as sharp as I would have hoped but nevertheless I think it is an effective image.

For the next three images I switched to my 100mm macro lens and got really close up to capture the raindrops clinging to the branches, several times I missed the shot as the droplets fell before the shutter closed. The light was fairly poor and I had no flash so I could not capture the falling droplets which is a shame but even so I think these shots look pretty cool.

I particularly like the last image, I used a small torch to illuminate the droplet from below, I took three different shots of this droplet, the first two to capture the inverted reflection of a pine tree  but of the three shots I preferred this one that highlights the shape and structure of the droplet.
 

Aira Force

You can see from this picture how cold it was by looking at the sides of the crevice cut out by the falls, which are coated with ice.

I have used a long exposure here to freeze the motion  and to give a sense of the force of the water pouring over the rocks.

Through the Mist

These images show the lower bridge below Aira Force in Matterdale. There was still some mist overhead mixed with the spray from the waterfall. The rock surfaces were extremely slippery and the path across the bridge was treacherous but braving the elements was certainly worth it given the wonderful photos that I captured.

Waterfall

These abstract images are of a waterfall in the Dell at Bodnant gardens in north Wales.

I love to watch water falls and fountains, looking for patterns in the movement of water and in these shots I love the different colour as the light catches the falling stream.

I have rotated the first image through approximately 45 degrees which i think creates an interesting effect however I prefer the second image for the colours and the pattern of the falling water which makes me think of twisted strands of coloured glass.

Under Wolf River

So these are a couple of shots of the Wolf River Falls. It was an amazing spot and the falls are so impressive.  

I have included a person in the first image to give a sense of perspective and .  I also wanted to get a shot from behind the falls and I think this is pretty cool although with all of the spray it was impossible to get a really sharp image. I thought an umbrella might have helped but the spray was coming from all angles as the wind was blowing towards me and the force of the water hitting the rock at the bottom was throwing lots of spray upwards.

Getting to the falls was a real adventure having to scramble down a steep path through the forest and then with the help of a rope carefully walk backwards down a muddy slope to the bottom. It was so worth it though!

Pigeon River

Today I am sharing two views of Pigeon River from slightly different perspectives but both shots taken from just above the falls. As I said in my blog the other day (click here) this river forms the natural border between Canada (Ontario on the right) and the USA (Minnesota on the left). Although the river is quite wide and fast flowing it is probably possible when the river is low like this to wade across from one country to the other although you would have to negotiate some quite dense forest on either side. Unless of course you crossed near the falls and used the hiking trails on either side of the river.

I have seen some photos today however that show the falls after heavy rain and the water level is several feet higher and the volume of water rushing over the falls has dramatically increased. The spot where I was standing to shoot these images is now under water and there is dense spray at the bottom of the falls. The scene is far less tranquil than in these pictures and is a reminder of the powerful forces in nature that have shaped the landscape for millions of years.

That's Canada, Eh!

This is Pigeon River and it forms the physical border between Canada on the right and the USA on the left.

When I sat here looking at this scene in the second image I thought back to the pictures I saw in geography class  many years ago and it struck me as being a quintessentially Canadian scene with the autumn leaves, the rugged cliffs and the river tumbling between the rocks.

Years ago this was an important part of the logging route with logs being floated downstream and via a variety of chutes to avoid the falls on the way to Lake Superior. Nowadays the logs are transported by road on big trucks and so the river has returned to its natural state although signs of the old industry are there if you look for them.

Water Feature

Canon 24 - 105 mm 1:4 L

ISO 200 105 mm  F/13  1/6 sec

ISO 200  105 mm  F/20  1/6 sec

Although I really like the warmth of the colours in the first picture of this water feature I think it looks better in black and white. How about you?

Splishing and Splashing

For today I have chosen three views of a waterfall. This was near to the Miners Bridge across the River Llugwy at Betws y Coed in North Wales. It is the same waterfall I posted a slo-mo video of on my facebook page recently. It is a beautiful sight and it sounds fantastic too.

Waterfall

Today I am going back to July 2011 for this shot of Torc Waterfall in County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland. It was one of the few moments during my week in Ireland that it wasn't raining. It was a nice walk up to the waterfall, I love the colours and the atmosphere in this shot.

Kakabeka Falls

I had seen photos of the falls here before but I wasn't really prepared for the scale of this natural wonder. It was a lovely hot day and the spray from the falls was really refreshing as I took in the wonderous site. 

Colours of Kakabeka

When you look at a waterfall it is easy to be absorbed by the overall spectacle and majesty of the thundering water as it pours over the rocky ledge down to the river and valley below. But do you ever look into the waterfall itself and see the patterns and colours? I always do, I like to see the water frozen in time and as you can see from this picture of Kakabeka Falls in Ontario when you do that you can see so much beauty. 

For the Fairies

Today I visited Kakabeka Falls a spectacular site where legend has it that Greenmantle, princess of the Ojibwa tribe allowed herself to be taken hostage by the Sioux, in return for sparing her life she promised to lead the Sioux warriors to her father's camp. She led them by canoe along the river and diverting to the shallows at the last moment the unsuspecting Sioux in the following canoes were swept over the falls to their deaths.

These pictures were taken using the camera on my phone and when I return home I will have more shots to share. 

The visit to the falls was followed by a forest trail and along the way I spotted the little fungus growing in the shade, a perfect spot for fairies if you ask me...

Misty Mountain Morning

Today has been a good day because I have just got back from the opening of an exhibition at the Williamson Art Gallery where for the second year I have had two photos accepted for the Open Art Exhibition. What made it even more special though was that my youngest son also had a picture accepted. It's a real thrill to see your work on display for others to view and it was a really high standard this year, so I am so proud of my boy!

Anyway today's selection of pictures follows on from my Snowdon Sunrise series. A few years ago I camped out on the mountain with my eldest son and some friends, it was in January and the overnight temperature was - 11celcius and we had camped overlooking Llyn Llydaw which was the lake in yesterdays shots. I couldn't find the exact spot on my way up the mountain so hiked up further than I had originally intended.  The path up was quite a hard slog but as you can see from these pictures it was well worth it.

These shots show different views of Glaslyn a small(ish) glacial lake just below the summit of Snowdon. The first two pictures were taken from slightly different vantage points with my back to the mountain. As you can see the clouds were quite low and it was still a little misty.  The second picture, for me at least,is the better of the two because the surface is calmer and so there is a sharper reflection. I think the picture give a real sense of how cold it was on this particular morning but within a very short space of time the clouds cleared revealing the summit and allowing me to get the next two stunning images. I like the way the snow appears to be flowing down the mountain and how the pattern in the snow is reflected in the surface of the lake. The final image is taken from just below the lake as it spills over a series of falls down to Llyn Llydaw in the valley below.

Sparks Will Fly

So I have finally got around to some of the pictures of waterfalls from Ingleton. I have some nice shots of the cascades and of Thornton Force but while watching the first of the main falls (Pecca Falls) I decided to experiment with different shutter speeds to capture the spray at the edge of the main falls. By using a shutter speed of 1/80 or 1/100 I found that it got the effect I wanted with the droplets having the appearance of shooting stars or the flying sparks of fireworks. I am really pleased with these pictures and hope you will be too.

A Waterfall

Today I visited somewhere new, Wepre Park, near Shotton in North Wales. Walking along a riverside path by Wepre Brook I came across a small waterfall which was in full force pouring its brown stained water onto the the rocks below.

These pictures were taken from a couple of different vantage points. Given how fast the water was flowing slowing the shutter speed just created a blur which was not really very interesting but using a really fast shutter speed it froze the image and combined with the different colours it was possible to pick out the fantastic patterns within the falling water.

The main focus of the pictures I took today was patterns and texture so I hope you like today's selection and that you will enjoy the pictures I share over the next few days.

A River Runs Through...

Walking through the forest I was drawn downhill by the sound of running water, not a steady trickle but a thunderous roar of the cascades that you can see in the first three pictures. I don't know the name of the river but this spot is marked on the map as "Force" and nearby is "Force Forge Farm" which I believe at one time was a mill powered by the river.

The volume of water passing through was incredible and the noise was so loud, it drowned out the sound of cars passing on the nearby road.

Getting the second and third pictures was a little tricky as I had to lean against a tree slightly overhanging the river and wedge my feet into the tangle of roots to prevent a tumble into the deluge.  It was a great experience though, being so close to such a force.  I also saw something I had never seen before (except on nature documentaries) and that was a fish, a trout I think, leaping up the falls. I waited a while to see if I would see more but unfortunately I didn't but it was great just to see the one.

Walking further upstream the river moved at a more leisurely pace and the noise was much less and as you can see from the final two images it was a much more peaceful scene. As calming as this was I preferred the drama of the falls.