For me, photographing a waterfall is one of the most enjoyable exercises in landscape photography. While consistent in their reason for existence – water cascading over a substantial elevation change – their variety in form, setting, flow, and accessibility provides endless opportunities for composition and creative interpretation.
Living in the central Oregon region of the US provides me with easy access to numerous waterfalls, both famous and lesser known. Perhaps my favourite waterfall to photograph is Proxy Falls, located in old-growth forest near the McKenzie Highway (242) southwest of Sisters, OR. The Lower Falls, pictured here, cascade 226 feet into a hanging valley created by glaciers that cut through lava flows approximately 6,000 years ago. Fascinatingly, the water from the falls disappears as it is absorbed into porous lava and sinks underground.
This particular image was captured just after sunrise. The falls are west-facing and are beautifully illuminated by indirect light reflecting off the surrounding cliff walls. While on many other occasions, I have created wide-angle compositions from positions near the edge of the falls, I had an objective on this particular morning to find a perspective that was more intimate and perhaps a bit ethereal. After clambering aground and trying several angles, I settled on this one.
After dialling in my composition and exposure settings and verifying the sharpness of my focus throughout the image, I noticed that the reflected light was brightening just enough to create a magical glow, both in the water and on the moss coating the lava behind the falls and the fallen tree in front of me. I took a few shots, and, satisfied that I had captured the image I wanted, I just sat for a while, drinking in the beauty of the scene, the sound, and the solitary stillness around me.
