Akaka Falls

Akaka Falls drops 442 feet in a single unbroken plunge down a sheer basalt cliff, framed by dense tropical vegetation and draped with hanging plants along the gorge walls. The paved loop trail brings you to a railed overlook where you are positioned on the right shoulder of the gorge, giving you a straight-on view of the full drop. A wide-angle or mid-range zoom works well here since you want to capture both the falls and the lush green surroundings. Overcast days are ideal because the jungle canopy and misty gorge create flat, even light that avoids harsh shadows and blown-out white water. Early morning on clear days can bring soft light into the gorge before the sun climbs too high. The trail is paved and easy to walk, so you can focus entirely on your compositions rather than footing. (Akaka Falls State Park, Hawaii, United States)