Linville Falls Cascade in the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

This photo captures a small cascade on the Linville River near Linville Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The river moves over wide rock ledges and boulders before dropping into Linville Gorge, a steep canyon sometimes called the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” The main waterfall flows through several levels and ends in a strong lower plunge, carrying some of the most water found on the northern edge of the Blue Ridge. The photo centers on a mid-river cascade framed by big granite and quartzite boulders. Using a long exposure, the moving water looks like soft white ribbons, which stand out against the rough rocks and thick forest along the river. Warm, low sunlight highlights the tops of the trees, while the stream below stays partly in shadow, helping to separate the foreground from the background. These places offer interesting foregrounds and natural frames with rocks and the curves of the river. Using a wide-angle lens brings out the depth and movement of the water, and standing steadily on the boulders helps line up the shot for balanced leading lines through the cascade.

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