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Fairfax County, Virginia
Many individuals are shocked to study that within the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of northern Virginia, simply 17 miles from Washington, D.C., a Nationwide Park Service web site sits nestled alongside the Potomac River. Nice Falls Park is an 800-acre pure oasis that provides views of the mighty Potomac River because it crashes over jagged rock formations. The park’s three designated overlooks—two of that are handicap accessible—are all inside a brief stroll of the customer heart. There’s even a very good likelihood you’ll witness kayakers braving the river’s rapids. Whereas the spotlight of the park is the Potomac River, the park additionally maintains 15 miles of nature trails that each observe the river and meander by way of scenic forest.
Climate At Nice Falls Park
Nothing concerning the geography or terrain makes the climate notably uncommon. As a result of the park is open seven days every week (from 7 a.m. till half-hour after sundown), Nice Falls lends itself to taking pictures year-round. Whereas photographing scenes within the forest will replicate the seasons, the waterfalls alongside this part of the Potomac are largely devoid of vegetation and don’t change from season to season, though occasionally, the winter months deliver a shock snowstorm that creates a surprising dressing for the falls. In contrast to waterfalls fed by small creeks and rivers that may be decreased to a trickle throughout dry spells or summer time months, Nice Falls all the time maintains a wholesome quantity of flowing water. The truth is, from a photographer’s perspective, it’s extra doubtless that there might be an excessive amount of water (following sustained rain) fairly than not sufficient.
Picture Expertise
Whereas oftentimes an overhead cover obscures the sky above waterfalls situated in forests, taking pictures the falls of the Potomac River with its expansive, unobstructed sky is usually a problem. That is notably true if the purpose is to make use of an extended shutter pace to create a silky easy impact within the water, which creates a lovely distinction with the jaggedness of the rocks that jut out from the river. One approach to take care of the final brightness of the scene is to make use of a impartial density filter along with a round polarizer. And whereas it presents an publicity problem, the open sky additionally gives distinctive alternatives to seize good shows of sunshine on the edges of the day.
This picture was taken within the early-morning hours. The nice and cozy mild within the jap a part of the sky was being picked up by the smaller, secondary waterfall and rocks because it fed into the Potomac River. Utilizing a wide-angle lens and positioning the digital camera low allowed me to fill the body with the water and rocks choosing up the nice and cozy pre-dawn mild. An extended shutter pace ensured the graceful, flowing impact of the water.
Greatest Occasions To Go to
By different nationwide park requirements, Nice Falls is small. Nevertheless, with the centrally situated customer heart, which means that photographic factors of curiosity are by no means various minutes’ stroll away. Overlooks can turn into congested with park guests throughout peak visiting hours. Happily, the very best instances to {photograph} the falls are within the early morning and at nightfall when the crowds have thinned. Whereas the overlooks supply the very best viewing choices, don’t neglect to discover the character trails that observe the river upstream of the falls. There are many alternatives for images off the overwhelmed path.
Contact: Nationwide Park Service, nps.gov/grfa/planyourvisit/index.htm
See extra of Chris Tennant’s work at christennantphotography.com.
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