Cane Creek Cascades – Tennessee

I was fortunate to be able to spend a couple of days out in nature with my children last week. We visited Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee.  The trip was more about getting away than photography this time. But, I was able to capture a couple of images.

I captured this image of the Cane Creek Cascades using my 24-70mm f/2.8 tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. Speaking of my setup, Chris O’Keefe was kind enough to reach out and share a capture with me over the weekend. I suggest stopping by to see his work at http://milfordstreet.wordpress.com.

 

Poole’s Mill Park – Georgia

I captured this image of a local park a couple of weeks ago. Snow is not very abundant in the Southeast. So, it was a nice change of pace for some of us. The park is easily accessible to anyone.

This image was captured using my 24-70mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. Thanks for stopping by.

Toccoa Falls – Georgia

While modern cameras and software provide us with tools to capture some wonderful images. There are certain situations you simply cannot work around. Yes, there is HDR. But, even then it still has it’s limitations. I found myself in such a situation yesterday. The sun was shining directly on the top of the falls and the cliff face as I was trying to capture Toccoa Falls. There are extra limitations here because you have to enter the falls through a gift shop whose hours are 9-5. This automatically places our friend the sun high in the sky. Which also means harsh and in some cases extreme lighting conditions. I will attempt this shoot again on a cloudy day at some point. It is a beautiful place and easily accessible. Regardless of the lighting, I had a wonderful time and I was able to walk away with a couple of interesting captures.

I captured this image using my 16-35mm f/4, tripod mounted, using a circular polarizer and a graduated ND. I hope everyone was able to get out over the weekend and get some captures of your own. I look forward to looking a them. Thanks for stopping by.

 

Bad Branch Falls – Georgia

I just added a couple of new images to my gallery images. This image of Bad Branch Falls near Lakemont, GA is one of my favorite captures from 2013. Please feel free to share your thoughts.

I captured this image using my 16-35mm f/4, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. You can see more of my gallery images at http://tobygant.com/Gallery . Thanks for stopping by.

My Trifecta

When shooting outdoors some captures can be a real challenge. There can be many factors that make or break a shot. It is not like shooting in the studio where you can control and program every facet of your operation like it is almost an assembly line. (Your subject excluded of course.) You have to constantly account for changes in lighting, shadows and weather conditions.

For me I am always looking for the perfect mix of even lighting, good weather and an interesting subject. (My trifecta.) I was rewarded with such wonderful conditions recently while visiting DeSoto Falls in Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest following a rare winter snowstorm in this part of the country.

I captured this image using my 24-70 mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and a circular polarizer. Thanks as always for stopping by.

Closer Look at Yellow Branch Falls

I believe this perspective of Yellow Branch Falls in South Carolina lends itself to a more intimate view than the previous capture I shared a few weeks ago. It’s a beautiful location that I plan to visit during all seasons of the year.

This image was captured using my 16-35 f/4, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone is able to find time to get out and explore this week.

Cullasaja Falls – North Carolina

If the icicles scattered around this image give you the impression that it could be cold in this area of the Blue Ridge Mountains in January, then you would be correct. Despite the weather it was great to get outdoors for some fresh air.

I captured this image using my 70-200mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. Thanks as always for stopping by.

Dicks Creek Falls – Wide Angle

As promised in my early blog on Dicks Creek Falls – Georgia, here’s a wider view of the falls. You can actually see the falls from the roadside and there is parking available just across the roadway.

I personally prefer the perspective my original post of Dicks Creek Falls captures. But, I believe they both have their own merits. Feel free to let me know your thoughts.

I captured this image using my 24-70mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. I hope you all find an opportunity to get out and explore this weekend. I’ll look forward to looking at your captures. As always, thanks for stopping by.

From Behind the Falls

Here’s another image from Dry Falls near Highlands, North Carolina. I’m still not certain how they got their name. I suspect someone just enjoys the confusion they caused by the irony. If anyone knows how they did get their name please let us all know.

This image was captured using my 16-35mm f/4, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. Thanks for stopping by.

Yellow Branch Falls – South Carolina

I had an incredible time exploring Yellow Branch Falls near Mountain Rest, South Carolina over the weekend. Others online have  suggested taking a wide-angle lens to shoot these falls. They are right. I used my 16-35mm on my FX body and wished for a moment that I had the 14-24mm.  The falls were much larger than I had expected that they would be. I had read that they were in excess of 40 feet in height. Most places  include any cascades leading to or beneath the falls in their calculations. To my best estimate, that is not the case here. The face of the falls itself appears to be almost 40′.

I captured this image using my 16-35mm f/4, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. I wish you and your families a very happy new year in 2014.

Little Amicalola Creek – Georgia

I spent a little time at Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville, Georgia yesterday. I was able to get some good shots. But, I’m still working on getting a “gallery” shot of the falls alone.

I captured this image using my 50mm f/1.4.  I had to use my headlamp to achieve focus because it was almost completely dark at the time of the capture.

Fog on the Falls

The temperatures dropped below freezing yesterday in Sky Valley, Georgia. The water was a bit warmer resulting in a thick fog rising from the water. (I’m not sure how much warmer the water was. I had to wade to the other side of the creek for a different perspective and it felt cold as ice.) Fog doesn’t always translate well in photographs. I’m still not certain how I feel about the fog in this particular capture.

 

I captured this image using my 16-35mm f/4, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone is having a blessed and wonderful holiday.

 

Morning Exploration

I spent my morning outdoors today. I visited Mud Creek Falls in Georgia. I also was able to visit Cullasaja Falls and Dry Falls near Highlands, North Carolina. It has been a perfect day. There will be more to come on all of these locations.

This image was captured using my 105mm f/2.8, tripod mounted. Thanks as always for stopping by.

Dicks Creek Falls – Georgia

I explored Dicks Creek Falls near Cleveland, Georgia this morning. I really enjoyed the tranquil surroundings. And let me say, it is an incredibly beautiful location. Nobody else was around. It’s always a great thing for a photographer when you don’t have to compete for prime real estate.  I was able to capture some good images also. I will be sharing more of my images from this great location in coming days. I hope everyone is able to get outdoors and explore their part of the world this weekend.

I captured this image using my 24-70mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. Thanks for stopping by.

A Different View of Moccasin Creek – Georgia

Thought I’d share a different view of Moccasin Creek from my recent adventure.  I found the rock formation in the foreground interesting.  The motion that you can see just above the formation is due to perfect tiny little bubbles created by the short drop from the formation.

I captured this image using my 24-70mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. Thanks for stopping by.

Moccasin Creek – Georgia

I went for a short hike this morning on Hemlock Trail in the Moccasin Creek State Park near Clarkesville, Georgia. It was great to be outdoors. I had the trail all to myself. I was able to walk away with a few good images also. (We’ll just call it a “trifecta”.)

I captured this image using my 24-70mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. Thanks as always for stopping by.

Raper Creek Falls Autumn

I visited Raper Creek Falls this morning. It is such a tranquil place. Not only are you isolated by geography but the sound of the falls drowns out all other noise. It’s always a pleasant and peaceful experience.

I captured this image using my 16-35mm f/4, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. I hope everyone finds an opportunity to get out and explore over the weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

More Autumn Colors – Same Minnehaha Waterfall

I captured this image of Minnehaha Falls on my recent trip into the mountains. Minnehaha Falls has to be near the top of the list of most photogenic waterfalls in Georgia. It would be difficult to get a bad shot.

I captured this image using my stellar 16-35mm f/4. The camera was tripod mounted and I used a circular polarizer. Thanks as always for stopping by. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s captures from the weekend. I hope you all get an opportunity to get outdoors.

Crow Creek Autumn

I captured this image of Crow Creek Falls last week. There were far more gold and red leaves than my visit in early October.

I captured this image using my 24-70mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer. I hope everyone has an opportunity to get outside this weekend. I’ll be looking forward to looking at your captures. Thanks for stopping by.

Minnehaha in Autumn

The colors of autumn have been in full effect across northern Georgia this week. I set out on an adventure to capture some images at some of my favorite locations. I look forward to sharing some of my favorites in the next few weeks.

This image was captured using my 24-75mm f/2.8, tripod mounted and using a circular polarizer (CPL). Thanks as always for stopping by.