This image was taken after climbing the Ridge Trail at Catawba Falls, a steep but well-maintained route that offers less crowded access to the base of the upper falls. The trail is more of a fire service road than a traditional trail, with numerous switchbacks and significant vertical gain, but it offers a clear view of the main cascade from below. I have long loved the Western North Carolina mountains, travelling to the area multiple weekends a month to hike, maintain and photograph the trails and their features. I find peace and connection in these places and strive to reflect that sense of belonging in the images I capture of them.
To get this shot, I stepped into the pool directly at the base of the falls. The water was cold and fast-moving, so I used a wide, low tripod stance to stabilize my Nikon Z5 in the current. I positioned the tripod legs directly on submerged rocks to minimize vibration and drift during the exposure.
The image was captured using a long exposure to blur the motion of the water. I used a circular polarizing filter (CPL) from Kolari to cut down on surface glare and improve contrast in the wet rocks and flowing water. The CPL also helped bring out details in the submerged textures by reducing reflected skylight on the surface. Exposure settings were adjusted to avoid blown highlights in the white water while still preserving shadow detail in the surrounding rocks. No major post-processing adjustments were made beyond basic contrast and sharpness corrections. The goal was to preserve a realistic rendering of the scene with natural lighting and minimal digital manipulation.
This shot represents a field test of my new CPL and an exercise in managing exposure, stability, and water glare in an uncontrolled environment, as well as a return to the trails of Western North Carolina, post-Helene.
