Many of you know that Murphy Falls is my favorite spot for water photography. Until I first visited there in 2015, I think, Gunn Falls was my favorite and a shot of me standing in front of the lower falls was my avatar for several years.
I first visited here back in my college days. A few friends and I would visit this location and sit behind the falling water at the upper section during low flow and enjoy some herb. Back then we weren’t discouraged from visiting but nowadays beer loving teens trash the place and risk a forest fire with their enjoyment of sitting by roaring flames at night.
I don’t know if someone cleared the fallen trees from the base but it’s a lot less cluttered than it was several years ago. There is a lower section behind and below my position here. That’s where the selfie happened.
I’m a little better at what to do with my hands in a picture now. I used to favor this lower falls for its clean foreground but now prefer the upper for it’s foreground challenge and multiple composition possibilities. Since the selfie a large hemlock has fallen in front of the lower falls.
To the left and above are ledges where I often shoot spring wildflowers but as of yesterday nothing doing.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Lovely to see you and your waterfall, Steve, and your waterfall photo is terrific. So much color and texture and movement. I love to stand behind the waterfall, as you described, that little secret place in the world. Cheers to decades with waterfalls.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jet! Waterfalls and the sound of cascading water are such a nice escape from the world.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Top image is definitely more interesting to me because of the foreground interest. The leading lines of the green rocks lead your eye back to the waterfall. In the second image, the subject matter becomes overwhelmingly the person and he dwarfs the waterfall.
Nicely done!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Bob. I am not a giant. Just an average guy who likes waterfalls. The second was meant to be a shot for the website and WP gravatar so the waterfall was meant to be secondary. There was a downed tree that I had used in another shot at a different time as a foreground leading line. I have made a few compositions of the first scene with more or fewer rocks and other cascades.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both are very pretty and excellent photographs. Sad the teens need to trash the place while enjoying it. Also a common occurrence in the nature preserve near my home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Alessandra!
At least in this case the trashing can be easily remedied by picking the stuff up and I have brought a bag with me a few times for that purpose to show my appreciation for being able to visit although I doubt that the property owners are aware. What is really terrible are the occurrences of vandalism in some of our national parks defacing elements of the landscape that are tens of thousands of years in the making and cannot really be fixed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The chartreuse-daubed rocks in the foreground do a good job sharing the spotlight with the falls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I made several compositions of this view with slight variations in angle and foreground.Those rocks really appealed to me.
LikeLike
Beautiful shots, Steve. Definitely a very special set of falls. I love seeing the columbine clinging to the ledges all through there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Eliza!
Those ledges are my favorite spot for photographing columbine because their elevation makes viewing inside the bells much easier. I was there yesterday but didn’t see any early bud formation. I was surprised to not see any early saxifrage on the wall halfway up by the parking spot.
LikeLike
I’m especially taken with the pair of tiny waterfalls in the middle of the first photo, although that sweet clutter of rocks is appealing, too. Chartreuse isn’t a common color in nature, at least around here, so it’s an interesting sight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some mosses have a yellow-green hue over the winter before greening up.Despite being a nature photographer, mostly in color, I am not well-versed in the names of colors so chartreuse wouldn’t have occured to me as a description.
There were several other tiny waterfalls behind and beside me but this seemed the best organization of the scene. I might post one of the variations at some point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a very special spot for sure.. lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Liz!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for these lovely photos of the waterfalls in your area, Steve! There is a healthy amount of water cascading through the steep rock formation. I also like the selfie. It creates the impression that you are standing in the water since the black boots are almost invisible. Happy Easter, Steve!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Easter to you and Biene, Peter. Even in times of little rain, this waterfall seems to have a nice flow to it. I probably should have waded in a little but using the 10 second timer kind of pressed me to just get settled on the edge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can certainly understand the pull to this location. It’s fantastic, with so much character to the different falls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been visiting here for years but now only every other year or so. There are a lot of red trillium nearby but I haven’t ever been able to find a satisfying combination composition and that keeps me returning. One of these years, I hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful place and I think you’ve rather made it your own with your lovely photographs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In a way I guess that is true but this spot does get visited quite a bit. There were three cars there when I visited this past Sunday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May make it tricky if there’s others getting in the way while you’re trying to photograph the area!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see what keeps drawing you back! Wonderful photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Belinda! I am fortunate to have such a nice spot just a short drive from home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pretty spot. I like how the moss grabs the eye and leads it in. About 1/2 second?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dave. 1/5 second. Slow enough for silk but fast enough for some definition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know, hands in pockets might be cool, too. 😉 I love the foreground interest in the first photo. It’s a nice foil for the water.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think what to do with your hands is a fairly common question folks have when posing. I spent a lot of time over the years trying for “portraits” of waterfalls or cascades without considering the larger picture. I do prefer the first over the second and that’s not just because of the hideous foreground in the second. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person