Waterscapes

Grade of Light

As a photographer, I crave sunrises. The appeal of this short window of time is the game of chance one plays in being at the right light and color. There are occasions where you are at the right place but the light isn't there, and then there are others when the light is amazing and you are stuck staring at it from a bedroom window. When both come together, it can create a unforgettable yet fleeting moment.

And every sunrise is unique; it can range all the way from the clouds on the eastern horizon taking on an deep pink tinge that slowly creeps across the sky, to beautiful alpenglows in mountain country, to something as simple as this: a gradation of different hues of a pre-dawn sky reflecting on the still waters of a lake

See a few more different sunrises in my 2021 calendar created in support of the National Park Foundation, available here: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/sathish-jothikumar/2021-photography-calendar/paperback/product-gpj74q.html

St Ignace

MI USA

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Shimmering Cascades of the Smokies

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If you are always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you are in?

It had been a hectic trip until then, driving miles and miles around the Appalachian foothills, and enjoying the vast difference in scenery this place had to offer. It was easy to get the big picture, but it was hard to slow down, stop, and enjoy the little creeks, the tiny cabins, the mellow wildlife, and the gentle colors of the forest.

I did want to slow down, but in the pursuit of "seeing everything" in a limited time, I was on the verge of missing all. And so I did. I found this lovely little creek cascading under the canopy of the golden leaves of fall. And I plonked myself right in the middle, just to enjoy its gentle gurgles.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
NC USA

Hidden Delights

“There is a waterfall in every dream. Cool and crystal clear, it falls gently on the sleeper, cleansing the mind and soothing the soul.”

Few things bring mind to peace as hearing the sound of a gurgling creek gushing out onto a roaring waterfall. And on a hot day, the gentle cold sprays carried in waves by the wind is mana from the heavens.
This one was no exception, where a seemingly nondescript creek plunges through a deep ravine in the thick forested slopes of the Columbia Gorge.

Columbia River Gorge
WA USA

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The Blue Zone

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The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.

- Yeats

As the last light of the day withdrew from the cloudy skies, I noticed something strange: the turbulent waters churning to a shade of deep blue , reflecting colors that were present nowhere. All around, the sky was socked in clouds with nary a shade of blue, and yet, these waters in the northeast of Maui displayed a fascinating hue I hadn't seen before.

I thought that was the last I would see of these mystical blue waters, but in the early hours of the next day, the same shades showed up at a different beach whilst under cloudy skies and yellow morning light.

Maui
Hawaii

Winding down to winter

Memories of Summer.jpg

As the colorful fall slowly slips into the grey gloominess of winter in the Pacific Northwest, I often look back at the archives of the summer wonderlands of the country to help tide things over until the next blast of sun. Not only does it help with the Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder, it also gives me something to look forward to for the next year.

I found this grey gloominess to be a challenging change as I moved from California to the PNW. While it makes the summer ever so glorious, I miss the ability to go outside year-round as I did in the Golden state. While I can still enjoy quiet winter moments in the snowy woodlands of Cascadia, it quite doesn't compare to the stimulating freedom that the southwest offered.

It is time for another winter here. So here is a blast from the past summer: the crystal clear sparkling waters of Lake Tahoe

Sand Harbor State Park

NV USA

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Nature's Eye

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Walking under that enormous overhang, the waterfall was a column of thundering white, draining amidst the lush vegetation growing from the plentiful mists all around. The overhang under which I was standing was precarious, jutting a dozen yards in front, and enveloping the deep undercut on either side of this vast gorge. It looked like an eye, a white pupil cutting vertically across gorgeous green iris.

To say that this is a unique occurrence is an understatement - there are very few places where I have seen such a deep undercut, let along with a waterfall as massive as this one. Nevertheless, the lower North Falls in Silver Falls State Park, a natural area with ten beautiful and unique falls, is worth multiple visits.

Silver Falls State Park
OR USA

 

 

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Splash of Color

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It was mesmerizing to watch the waves barrage endlessly onto the rocks. The rush of water loudly marching towards the rocky outcrop, followed by the thunderous roar of the crash, an explosive burst through the fissures, followed by the salty spray, all in one beautiful poetic motion accompanied by the orchestra of water.

While the golden sands of this peaceful beach in Las Penitas in Nicaragua may seem inviting, the country is going through a period of rough political unrest, with no end in sight. What was once one of the safest Latin American countries to travel to is anything but. Here is to hoping that the situation changes for the better, for the people of Nicaragua, and for the travelers of the world. Meanwhile, the graceful act of the water, wind and gravity working together on this lazy evening in Nicaragua will continue on.

Las Penitas
Nicaragua

Waterfall Season

It's waterfall season again. And that means walking up slippery mossy trails towards the sound of rushing water, getting sprayed on by the cool mist on a warm summer day, wiping camera and lenses furiously while waiting for the breeze to die down, and plunging feet-first into freezing cold water to wedge the tripod into awkward positions to get the perfect composition. And that also means contending with hundreds of tourists at popular spots trying to get their 5 seconds of selfie fame

Nevertheless, the allure of a waterfall is special, akin to a maiden with silky white hair tumbling down the mossy cliffs, constantly swaying and shifting gracefully, and breathing fresh air into the lush vegetation all around. Her sound can be heard from afar, a peaceful white noise growing in intensity as one gets closer, until you get a glimpse of her through the trees. It is no wonder that they take on feminine names: Elowah, Bridalveil, Fairy, Wahkeena and so on.

Here is to another waterfall season, and many more to come.

Multnomah Falls
OR USA

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The Land of Waterfalls

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Iceland, the land of foss - the land of waterfalls. This windswept island nation in the arctic is home to some of the most spectacular waterfalls thanks to its unique geology and climate conditions. Its huge glaciers and ice-caps, combined with plenty of rain and snow in the central highlands lead to a massive outflows of melt-water. Its volcanic geology, with rugged terrain and plenty of highlands results in some spectacular waterfalls, often located in absolutely breath-taking surroundings.

The country has its share of hypnotizing waterfalls, and other graceful ones such as Seljalandsfoss, which empties out onto a vast plain facing west, and this sets it up for some memorable sunsets. And while this particular day started out cloudy, it cleared up towards the evening, and I was blessed with great lighting and red-tinged clouds to complement green landscape. Climbing up behind the waterfall, I searched for this composition to capture the sun and the mesmerizing flow of water.

Seljalandsfoss
Iceland

 

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Through the Seasons

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Winter sees an freezing creek draining out onto a icy landscape; the green moss is white, the rocks slippery, the bridge frozen, and the water-flow, a trickleSpring sees a reawakening waterfall, with green velvety moss thriving in the moisture, with…

Winter sees an freezing creek draining out onto a icy landscape; the green moss is white, the rocks slippery, the bridge frozen, and the water-flow, a trickle
Spring sees a reawakening waterfall, with green velvety moss thriving in the moisture, with yellow lichen and lush vegetation bringing this place back to life.
Summer sees a thunderous roar of water-flow as the snow from above melts and drains, thwarting fires and dousing the entire canyon with its misty breath.
Fall sees the rush slow down, the moss turn yellow and the water trickle, as though it were getting ready to hibernate for the winter.

The season's cycle through this region like clockwork, but the waterfall remains, its eternal beauty a constant in its ephemeral surroundings. I managed to capture but one instance of this cycle, while it adorned its beautiful green coat in spring.

Elowah Falls
OR USA