Early Spring in the Columbia River Gorge

coscorrosa

As the forecast called for rain and overcast weather, I decided to make the 3 hour drive to the Columbia River Gorge to take some waterfall photos.

Due to the high temperatures/early snow melt and recently high rainfall, the waterfalls are running at the same level they were last May, and because everything was wet, the colors were that much more saturated (unfortunately there isn't as much green as spring, but otherwise conditions were the same).

It's an amazing experience seeing all the ephemeral waterfalls cascading several hundred feet down the sides of the gorge.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the trip.

#1: Wahclella Falls:



#2: Latourell Falls



#3: Elowah Falls



#4: Multnomah Falls



#5: Ephemeral waterfall (same one as #1 near Wahclella Falls):

Mazlim

What beautiful shots!!! I love #2 and #4. #2 because I have a preference for those soft streams of water, and #4 because that is just an awesome composition.

acowan

Great set, Ron! That makes me want to go back to the waterfalls. I like the foggy atmosphere too.

anwmn1

Really like the first and second one Ron.

Composition, Colors, and Exposure- all very nice.

thapamd

Awesome! We gotta visit again in the spring.

Sexy6Chick

These are all fantastic, I love #4!!

coscorrosa

Thanks everyone!

Mahesh - I'll definitely be back in the spring, and fall too. Actually summer isn't too bad on an overcast/wet day (on a weekday when there's no people), as you can get some flowers, example:



We're lucky to live so close to this place.

dlplumer

These are pretty good landscapes for a bird photographer

hawkeye978

Great set, Ron. I particularly like the silky water you are getting in the second.

cbbr

Great shots. I would definately make that drive often. Is it crowded in the summer?

coscorrosa

dlplumer wrote:

These are pretty good landscapes for a bird photographer

You mean bison photographer right?

coscorrosa

cbbr wrote:

Great shots. I would definately make that drive often. Is it crowded in the summer?

Yes, all the trails are definitely more crowded in the summer, you can still get some decent shots if the weather is good (overcast or in the shade), but you have to have a lot more patience. Multnomah Falls in particular is very busy, as are the trailheads for the Eagle Creek Falls, Elowah Falls, and Wahclella Falls (easy hikes with spectacular scenery - they're popular for a reason!). My preferred time to photograph is while it's raining on a weekday.

schmoo

OMG that bison shot is too cute. Did you secretly shoot for Hallmark on the side?

Really though the waterfalls are always gorgeous when you shoot them. The colors around the falls are amazing, and I love the flowers in the summer version. Location, location, location, indeed!

coscorrosa

schmoo wrote:

OMG that bison shot is too cute. Did you secretly shoot for Hallmark on the side?

Hallmark?




(And I have more where that came from! But I will exercise discretion in the Landscapes forum).

Nikonic1

I took some shots there a month or so ago. There are UNLIMITED beautiful things to photograph in the Gorge all year round. The more you hike, the more you find. Oregon truly is a wonderful place to live.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=155190

Cuong

S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R!

Cuong

Joashots

Beautiful photos- my computer display feels damp.:D
I like the cascade on the right of the frame in #1, and how it draws my eye along the rock face to the falls in the distance.

dlplumer

coscorrosa wrote:

Hallmark?




(And I have more where that came from! But I will exercise discretion in the Landscapes forum).

(you should post this, and some of your others, in the wildlife forum Ron. The folks over there would really love these

Dedalus77

#1 is definitely my favorite of the bunch, I particularly like the desolate feeling of the bridge at the bottom of the shot.

How on earth did you get a shot of Multnomah Falls without any people in it?? Perhaps I was just there at the wrong time of year, but I waited ages and ages and still never managed to get a people-less shot.

redleash

And I thought you were a beach photographer!

Great series, Ron. That silky water in #2 is simply gorgeous. I do envy you living around such beauty! I hope to visit the Columbia River Gorge someday--it's on my "bucket list."

Good stuff, as always!

Lauren

coscorrosa

Dedalus77 wrote:

#1 is definitely my favorite of the bunch, I particularly like the desolate feeling of the bridge at the bottom of the shot.

How on earth did you get a shot of Multnomah Falls without any people in it?? Perhaps I was just there at the wrong time of year, but I waited ages and ages and still never managed to get a people-less shot.

Go really early or really late when it's raining or the weather is nasty and it's generally OK, weekdays better than weekends obviously. You can also take multiple identical exposures as people move across the bridge and then merge them altogether and mask out the people.

coscorrosa

redleash wrote:

And I thought you were a beach photographer!

Great series, Ron. That silky water in #2 is simply gorgeous. I do envy you living around such beauty! I hope to visit the Columbia River Gorge someday--it's on my "bucket list."

Good stuff, as always!

Lauren

Thanks! But I'm actually a bee photographer:

coscorrosa

dlplumer wrote:

(you should post this, and some of your others, in the wildlife forum Ron. The folks over there would really love these

Thanks Dan, perhaps I will eventually. Right now I feel like I can barely keep up with the Landscapes forum!

shniks

Great series Ron- love #5 in particular

shniks

Great series Ron- love #5 in particular

shniks

Great series Ron- love #5 in particular


Cheers,

Alpha_Plus

coscorrosa wrote:

Actually summer isn't too bad on an overcast/wet day (on a weekday when there's no people), as you can get some flowers,

We're lucky to live so close to this place.

I'd love to live within a days drive of this rather than a day's flight. Actually, Australia is pretty good too so I shouldn't be so jealous. I love #4 and the perspective of #2. Brilliant!!

You said that it is not too bad in summer? Got a family holiday lined up for this summer so hoping that the waterfalls will still have plenty of water in them?

Top shots! And those wildlife shots are awesome too!!

redleash

Birds? Bees? Where are the dogs and cats?

coscorrosa

Alpha_Plus wrote:

I'd love to live within a days drive of this rather than a day's flight. Actually, Australia is pretty good too so I shouldn't be so jealous. I love #4 and the perspective of #2. Brilliant!!

You said that it is not too bad in summer? Got a family holiday lined up for this summer so hoping that the waterfalls will still have plenty of water in them?

Top shots! And those wildlife shots are awesome too!!

It depends on the waterfall, Multnomah will go all year long as will (I believe) Wahclella, some of the others can dry up quite a bit in late summer. The biggest issue will be the weather (clear) and crowds (abundant).

coscorrosa

redleash wrote:

Birds? Bees? Where are the dogs and cats?

Well actually if I photograph birds, and I photograph bees, I don't think the next logical step is dogs and cats

redleash

I see your point, Ron . . . You win this round.

I think I'll go back to your site and look at those beach shots some more . . . :cavig