2019 Spring Waterfall Workshop

Dummerston Falls Detail

John Overlooking Stickney Brook

My recent Spring Waterfall Workshop was a wonderful success.  As usual I was blessed with a great group of photographers.  We had the opportunity to visit many of my favorite waterfalls and explored other falls that I had not included in previous workshops.   New England springs can offer a broad array of weather and this year the conditions provided opportunities to show how to get the most from the challenges that nature can provide during this fickle season.  We had to contend with the horrors of a  classically difficult “beautiful sunny day” as well as spring downpours, before we finally were treated to soft overcast light.

Miniwawa Brook

Miniwawa Brook

We started with a drive to the great waterfalls in the Wilton/Milford area.  Along the way we stopped at Minwawa Brook in Keene. The brook was flowing strongly under the bridge and it was a chance to help the workshop members become more familiar with there equipment.  The sun was bright and shining into our cameras, but we were able to find trees to block the glare.

Steph and Robin at Miniwawa

Tucker Brook Falls

Tucker Brook Falls, Graduated ND

Outside of Wilton we took a short hike in Tucker Brook Town Forest to reach the Tucker Brook Falls.  The falls were flowing well, but the primary challenge was to deal with the dappled sunlight.  It was a great chance to demonstrate the use of neutral density filters, especially gradient NDs, that allowed us to cut the contrast between the brightly lit falls and the shaded brook.  I was excited to see my group enjoy the adventure of searching for fresh angles on the location, including small pools and interesting views downstream.

Robin's Detail at Tucker Brook

Lower Purgatory Falls

Lower Purgatory Polarizer and 3Stop ND

After another short hike we reached secluded Lower Purgatory Falls.  Again, the falls were bathed with unfortunately bright light, but ND filters allowed us to capture the falls with slow shutter speeds which were sufficient to soften the flow.  Despite the beautiful weather and the congested parking, we were surprised to find that the location was relatively free of crowds.  After an enjoyable stay in Purgatory, we were ready for lunch, descending upon the Rivermill Tavern in Wilton.

Garwin Denied!

Maybe Next Year for Garwin

After lunch, we headed to nearby Garwin Falls.  I had saved this as the special treat of our explorations in Wilton.  Garwin combines surging cascades with several dramatic drops.  It is my favorite choice among the Wilton/Milford falls, but sadly, we were denied.  Apparently, the Wilton town-folk have complained about the heavy concentration of visitors which have congested the near-by roads.  The Garwin trailhead only has room for 3-4 cars and everyone else must park along the road.  In response, the town has posted threatening No Parking signs in all directions.  It was a tragic loss, but we had no choice but to move on. I learned my lesson, and next year we will visit Garwin early in the morning.

Faye Measure Mill

Hana's Frye Measure Mill

Faye Measure Mill offers a combination of a lovely old mill falls and a unique store which features the mill’s exquisite (and expensive) shaker boxes.  I usually check out the “seconds” bin for something more within my budget.  This year I grabbed a box to organize the remotes in my studio.

Shaker Box

Harrisville Village

Since we were deprived of a long stay at Garwin Falls, on our way home, we were able to stop by at the magical New England manufacturing village of Harrisville.  Harrisville has classic views of the mill water racing under the factory buildings, but the conditions remained challenging.  Harrisville is really a “sunrise” location with the setting sun shining into lenses from most of the best locations.  Again, we used obstructing trees and ND filters to salvage what we could from the conditions.

Pizza and Pictures

Saturday evening, we gathered at our house for a light dinner and review of many of the day’s images.  Despite the terrible “beautiful” conditions, there were many nice shots.

Sunday’s Beautiful “Terrible” Conditions

Steph's Pond Brook Falls - In the Rain

Sunday began overcast with showers and occasional downpours – In other words, PERFECT waterfall weather.  In Chesterfield, at Pond Brook Falls and the Catsbane Cascades, we struggled with the rain, but once we headed to Vermont, the precipitation largely stopped.  We were left with a wonderful soft overcast for the remainder of the morning.

Dummerston Falls

Mike's view of Dummerston Falls

Dummerston Falls is a surprisingly dramatic waterfall along Route 30 in Dummerston Vermont.  It is just a few hundred yards down the road from the turn-off to Stickney Brook and Jelly Mill Falls.  Despite the endless times I have visited Stickney Brook, I never before noticed this beautiful drop.  I suspect that this is, at least in part, because the waterfall is variable in intensity, being more prominent after storms and during spring run-off.  The water was flowing well during our visit and pictures taken from locations just of the road made the waterfall’s impressive 25-foot drop appear as if it was nestled deep within the forest.  I almost felt guilty as we captured such great images with such little effort.

The Team at Dummerston Falls

Stickney Brook and Jelly Mill Falls

Rana at Stickney Brook

For years Stickney Brook has been my favorite cascades across the Connecticut River in Dummerston Vermont.  The area is also known as Jelly Mill Falls, with some of the mills original stonework still visible along the edge of the brook. Many photographic opportunities can be found on either side of the brook, with a succession of cascades weaving down to its terminus in the West River.  This was a great spot to finish our adventures and I was excited to see how the group showed greater confidence as they explored various locations.

Hana's Stickney Cascade

Stickney Brook 

I Hate to Have My PictureTaken!

This year’s waterfall workshop was unique, first because of the skill and enthusiasm of the participants, and second because the weather provided a range of challenges that the group seemed to enjoy confronting.  The pictures that I have seen posted on our special web gallery have shown how well these lessons have been embraced.

Great job guys !

Jeffrey Newcomer
\www.partridgebrookreflections.com
jeffn49@myfairpoint.net

Spring Waterfall Photography Weekend

Man in the Falls, Garwin Falls

I have spent years exploring the many waterfalls in my corner of New England.  Some of these, like Chesterfield Gorge and Garwin Falls, are well known and accessible, but others are harder to find. This last weekend I had a great time sharing many of these falls with a group of enthusiastic photographers, during my first Spring Waterfall Weekend.

Shooting Garwin Falls

Early spring in New England, especially before the buds begin to explode, is a time of mud, sticks and overcast skies. It can be a depressing time for landscape photographers, but it is saved by being one of the best seasons for waterfalls. The melting snow and spring rains fill even the smaller brooks and the overcast light is perfect for capturing long exposures of falling water.  I scheduled my waterfall workshop for a time when I hoped there would still be a vigorous spring flow, but at the beginning of the week I began to fear that things were drying up.  I didn’t need to worry, since the late week rains had the exact effect that I desired.  

Friday Night, Meet & Greet, and Eat

Pond Brook Falls to the Catsbane

I had a full crew of participants, with 9 being the maximum that I can comfortably fit around my dining room table for discussion, critiques and, of course, snacks.  We first gathered Friday evening for a chance to meet everyone,  and I was able to discuss key elements of the photography of flowing water.  We reviewed the importance of a sturdy tripod, a cable release and, of course, a polarizing filter.  I had sent an email listing the important equipment and most of the class was ready to go.  There were a few cheap shaky tripods, but, if the workshop accomplished nothing else, I am confident that there will be some substantial tripod purchases coming soon.  

• Essentialsof Waterfall Photography

 

Cheap Protection

The weather was threatening with intermittent rain showers predicted. I spent time discussing the importance of proper rain gear and protection for their equipment, and measures to assure safety on steep slippery slopes.  The mantra, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing”, seemed well ingrained.  Happily, I didn’t loose anyone.

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Saturday 

Hillsborough County

Saturday, I led the group on a drive to Wilton NH, to explore the rich collection of waterfalls in Hillsborough County.  With so much to see, the challenge was to allow enough time at each falls, while still having time to sample a variety of locations.  We were able to visit, Garwin Falls, Frye’s Measure Mill, Lower Purgatory Falls, and Senter Falls.  With time restrictions, we had to let Tucker Brook Falls wait for another day.  I guess it is always good to leave them wanting more.

The weather was great for waterfall photography, with overcast skies, occasional fog, and some of the strongest flows that I have seen in this area.  The light, intermittent rain required shielding of the equipment, but I heard no complaints from my intrepid team.  

Garwin Falls

Twin Falls, Part of Garwin Falls

It was perhaps a mistake to start off with the dramatic Garwin Falls.  I was concerned that, after Garwin’s  powerful and multi-level cascades, other falls might seem tame, but everyone quickly appreciated that each waterfall has its own unique character and opportunities for image making.  They learned that the best waterfalls are not always the strongest.  The recent rain also overflowed the reservoir above Garwin Falls providing misty views of the veiled waterfall and underlying cascades.  

I spent much of my time chasing after people as they scattered around the locations. Prime topics of discussion included, exposure (exposing to the right but avoiding blowing out the highlights in the water), the use of the polarizer (many seemed to have trouble

Below the Reservoir

adjusting the filter for maximum effect) and the critical effect of shutter speed (finding the speed that captures soft water without loosing a touch of texture).  A particular challenge was trying to keep water droplets off of the lens.  I tried to stress the importance of keeping the lens cap on until ready to shoot and, when exposed, keeping the camera pointed down.  Despite the best precautions, drops will form and must be checked before beginning to shoot.

Frye’s Measure Mill

Frye's Measure Mill

My next goal was Lower Purgatory Falls, but before we descended to Purgatory, I made a last minute addition of the Frye’s Measure Mill.  Just a few miles from Garwin, the mill provided a nice waterfall all framed with the interesting architectural feature of a classic old mill. One of my group found a perfect tableau, with a rustic shack,  old barrel and a watering can filled with greenery.  All this with the mill and falls in the background.  It must have been arranged with photographers in mind.

Mill Tableau

Purgatory Falls

Purgatory, Falls and Froath

As always, Lower Purgatory Falls was impressive, but I think we all agreed that the flow was actually a bit too strong, drowning some of the interesting rocks.  The Falls did provide an excellent backdrop for a soggy portrait of our group.  After Purgatory I decided to skip Tucker Brook Falls and instead lead the group to the isolated Senter Falls.  Tucker is a lovely falls, but I felt that the multiple falls and steep cascade of Senter could provide more variety.

Senter Falls

Just Part of Senter Falls

Senter Falls can be challenging to find.  It is distant from the other Hillsbough falls, the trail head is along a narrow road and is not well marked.  It seems I always run by the entrance before I finally get back to find it.  The falls are only a short stroll from the road, before a climb up the steep trail passes multiple interesting drops and cascades.  We could have easily spent the afternoon at this one rich location, but everyone was getting hungry and several had other desperate bodily needs.  We headed out for Peterborough and a late lunch.

• Waterfall Treasures of Hillsborough County

Harrisville and Monadnock

Harrisville Race

After lunch at Twelve Pines we worked our way home, stopping at Harrisville to shoot the brook cascading through the beautifully preserved red brick mill structures.  By this time the sun was going in and out, providing opportunity to work on capturing wide contrasts of light.  It was a great opportunity to demonstrate my variable Neutral Density filter.  By this time everyone was ready for a break from flowing water and this was happily provided by the Bernese Mountain Dog, that was carefully watching all our activity.  The Route home took us to a ridge in Marlborough NH which features one of my favorite grand views of Mount Monadnock.  No major waterfalls in view, but we had to stop for the vista. 

Watchful Bernese

View to Monadnock

 Miniwawa Brook and Gardens
We finished up with a stop in Keene for roaring Miniwawa Brook, and lingered by some beautiful nearby gardens.

Miniwawa Surge

Critique and Pizza

Frye's Measure Mill
Lindsay Freese

By the time everyone got back to my house, we were tired but generally dry.  We were excited to review our images while supping on Pizza.  There were many great shots, and some opportunities for learning.  On some I was able to demonstrate how a few simple edits in Lightroom could bring out their full potential.

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Sunday

Catsbane Brook

Shooting Across the Catsbane

Sunday was a half day, but still filled with great opportunities. We started by touring some of the lesser known falls and cascades along the Catsbane Brook as it flows through the little village of West Chesterfield. Since we were in the area, I had to show my group the eagles nest on its snag across the Connecticut River. One eagle was guarding the nest.  The other would eventually return, but we had a schedule to keep and the group wanted to see Porcupine Falls in Gilsum.

Porcupine Falls 

Porcupine Falls and Cascades

Porcupine Falls is a lovely spot that I had just recently discovered, and is the subject of a recent blog.  The falls shoot out of the rocks on a small cliff.  It is not especially dramatic, but it does feed an interesting series of cascades which flow into a lovely pool.  Swimming Hole?  Above the pool is a sturdy bridge, or at least it is sturdy enough to hold all my workshop. The tenth guy on the bridge is talented photographer, Steve Hooper, who joined us on Sunday. Porcupine Falls is part of the John and Rosemarie Calhoun Family Forest and is now managed by the Monadnock Conservancy.

• Porcupine Falls

Forty Foot Falls

Swirls at Forty Foot

A few of the group had to head home after Porcupine Falls, but the remainder made one last stop at Forty Foot Falls.  This is one of my favorite local falls.  It is next to Joslin Road in Surry NH, but I am often told that it is difficult to find.  By this time my group knew exactly what to do and immediately scattered to find their muses. I have photographed these grand cascades many times so on this occasion, I was abandoned to concentrate on detail, include capturing the swirling leaves in one of the many eddies. 

• Forty Foot Falls

 

Can’t Wait Until Next Year

Workshop at Porcupine Falls

It was an exciting weekend and the group reported that they enjoyed discovering the many local waterfalls and learning more about there cameras.  It was especially rewarding to spend time with a group of people who are so excited to learn about the amazing potential of digital photography.   I can’t wait to see their favorite images.  I will be showing the best in a Spring Waterfall Workshop Gallery on my website.  

Now I can focus on a photography workshop that I will be running for members of the Monadnock Conservancy and then getting myself ready for my Introduction to Lightroom  Course starting on the 1st of June.  I love sharing all this fantastic stuff!

• Waterfallsof Cheshire County
  
• Waterfall Treasures of Hillsborough County
• Photographing the Magic of Velvet Water 

Jeffrey Newcomer
partridgebrookreflections.com