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| Big Drop, Garwin Falls, Wilton NH |
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| Garwin Falls Green |
I
had an exciting time last weekend presenting my Second Annual Spring Waterfall
Workshop. I enjoy nothing so much as getting together with a group of
people who are enthusiastic to learn about digital photography while sharing
some spectacular waterfall locations. I promised
my workshop participants that I would get them a list of all the places that we
shot, and what better way to do that than to revisit them in a blog.
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| Harrisville Mill Pond |
Meet and Greet
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| Linda Learning the Gear - Tucker brook Falls |
As
always, we started the workshop with a Friday evening gathering around my
famous dining room table to get to know each other and discuss the plans for
the next two days of shooting. I
presented a talk about photography in general, as well as the special
challenges and opportunities that waterfalls provide. Topics included the
importance of a polarizing filter, the effect of shutter speed and, of course,
safety precautions to protect both body and, more importantly, the precious
equipment.
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| Pond Brook Falls in Time |
Finally,
we discussed the itinerary for the next two days and why it was important to get
an early start.
Day One : Wilton
New Hampshire
Our
first day was spent mostly in and around Wilton New Hampshire. The
environs of Keene New Hampshire have some lovely waterfalls, but I have always
felt that Wilton has the best concentration of dramatic falling water packed
into a small area. It was well worth the 45-minute drive from our meeting
place in downtown Keene.
Tucker Brook Falls
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| Tucker Brook Falls |
We
started at Tucker Brook Falls. Tucker Brook is a peacefully ambling
stream that almost unexpectedly drops into a dramatic falls. It was a
great place for my folks to experiment with their equipment and techniques.
I jumped from person to person trying to help with their individual
issues, but as always it can be frustrating not being able to help everyone at
once. I spent most of my time looking over shoulders, but for each fall,
I tried to take one or two shots of my own to demonstrate techniques and to
give me something to show in the blog. I have been to all of these falls
many times, so for my images, I tried to find new angles.
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| Tucker Brook Drop |
Lower Purgatory
Falls
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| Purgatory Rocks |
Lower
Purgatory Falls is found at the end of a short hike along a flat trail.
We were rewarded by a vigorous flow down into the fall’s pool. The
falls provided interesting angles, combining the rocks, the pool and the brook.
I was excited to see how quickly my group applied what they had learned
and scattered off to find their own opportunities. Everyone agreed that they
could spend all day shooting this beautiful spot, but I promised that there was
more, and better to come.
Garwin Falls
To
me, Garwin Falls is the most spectacular collection of cascades and falls in the
Wilton area. Last year, I made the mistake of beginning our tour at
Garwin, making everything that followed slightly anticlimactic. This
time, I found that by visiting a couple of other waterfalls first everyone had
a chance to become comfortable with their equipment and technique and were
better prepared to appreciate and capture the drama of Garwin’s falling waters.
Lunch and Frye’s
Measure Mill Falls
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| Much Gear! |
During
previous workshops I had learned the importance of not starving the class, so we
took a much-needed break for lunch at Shaka’s Bar And Grill. The nice
folks were happy to accommodate our damp and swarthy gaggle of camera geeks.
Our table was packed with gear leaving little room for food and drawing
bemused glances from the boys at the bar.
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| Frye's Measure Mill Falls |
After
lunch, we headed to Frye’s Measure Mill in Wilton to enjoy the classic mill
falls as well as the well stock shaker box shop. These beautifully
crafted boxes continue to be made by just a few master box makers on site in
mill.
We
had been threatened by rain all day and I had my group prepared for possible
downpours, but we had only felt occasional drops. It was at the mill that
we experienced our first and only significant, but still gentle, showers.
Harrisville Mill
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| Factory Brick - Harrisville NH |
We
finished our first day with a visit to Harrisville New Hampshire, a carefully
preserved example of a small New England manufacturing village. The town does
not have and major falls, but water tumbles through it, cascading from the mill
pond, under and past brick factory buildings, toward Skatutakee Lake.
It
was a long first day of shooting, but remarkably my group was excited to return
to my home for pizza and a chance to review everyone’s shots. I think everyone
was exhausted, but happy, and remarkably, they stayed on till about ten PM
reviewing pictures, chatting about photography and planning the next day’s adventure.
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Sunday Morning
Our
second day focused on waterfalls closer to home. Our first day was a bit
damp, but offered overcast skys, perfect for dramatic waterfall photography.
Sunday started foggy but quickly turned warm and sunny – beautiful, but a
much greater challenge for waterfall shooting.
Chesterfield Gorge
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| John and Rich - Chesterfield Gorge |
We
started at Chesterfield Gorge in Chesterfield, New Hampshire. The deep
gorge blocked the early morning sun making it easier to capture the flowing
cascades and falls. I tried to give everyone a shot at the big waterfall in the
gorge before the dappled sunlight crept in to complicate the process.
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| Chesterfield Gorge Slide |
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| Pond Brook Falls Shooting |
Pond Brook Falls
Pond
Brook Falls flows into the Catsbane Brook in West Chesterfield and forms one of
my favorites little waterfalls. The falls faces west and therefore is partially
shielded from the morning sun.
Catsbane Brook
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| Tutelage by the Catsbane |
The
Catsbane Brook runs through West Chesterfield over several cascades and old
mill falls. Many are difficult to reach, but one convenient view comes
from a bridge which crosses the brook close to where it flattens out to join
the Connecticut River. The view at this spot is topped by a picturesque barn
which overhangs the embankment.
Forty Foot Falls
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| Rich and Joyce at 40 Foot Falls |
Our
final stop was Forty Foot Falls in Surry New Hampshire. This combination
of cascades and powerful falls, is easy to reach, located only a few yards off
the road, but it is less well known. By the time we reached the falls it was closing
in on a sunny midday, and the light was more difficult. I did get a
chance to grab a picture of workshop members Joyce and Rich. They
represent a very rare pair. A married couple, both of whom love
photography, and even own the same camera, two Canons of course. They
recognized that it would be tragic for their relationship if they had a Canon
and a Nikon.
It
is always amazing how quickly these workshop weekends pass. On Saturday
we spent about 12 hours shooting, and another three hours discussing our shots and
eating pizza. Sunday was another four hours of waterfall photography
before everyone dragged themselves home. We managed to visit nine major
waterfalls of all types and in a variety of conditions.
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| Garwin Falls - My Favorite Cascade |
Everyone
seemed to have a great time and I was amazed by their enthusiasm and remarkable
energy. Many of the group expressed a desire to come back for future
classes and workshops and I would love to see them again.
Next
week I will be announcing my up-coming programs including my next Introduction
to Digital Photography Class, my Fall Foliage Workshop and Introduction to
Lightroom Course. Stay tuned!
Jeffrey
Newcomer
603-363-8338
