High Falls

High Falls is a wide waterfall in High Falls Park near Grove Oak. Town Creek spreads out and drops over a broad rock ledge into a rocky pool, with a natural stone arch carved out beside it by centuries of water. It is the width that makes it especially photogenic, with its curtain of white water tumbling over the rugged ledge surrounded by woods that turn gold and orange in autumn. You can easily shoot the full spread of the falls from the viewpoints along the paved path at the top, then cross the pedestrian bridge over the creek and follow the trail to the right for a clean front view. If you are very careful and steady on your feet you can make your way down toward the base for a low angle that stacks the water against the rocks. A wide 16-35mm lens takes in the whole width, a 24-70mm handles the bridge or mid range framing, and a longer lens isolates single sections of the drop. A polarizer and a slow shutter are also useful if you want to smooth out the water. Soft, overcast light is perfect for a waterfall like this, keeping the white water from blowing out and holding the greens or autumn colours rich. Since the park is only open from mid morning to around dusk you can only shoot the falls in daylight, so pick a grey day or the gentler light of the evening. Water levels change the falls drastically. They will be thundering in spring or after a heavy rain but then drop to a trickle in a dry spell, so its best to try and time your visit to pair it with a wet stretch of weather. The walk in is short and mostly paved with ample parking, restrooms, and a small welcome office on site. There is a small admission fee to help maintain the park, and the top of the falls is open with no railing with the scramble to the base being fairly steep and slippery, so be aware of where you are setting up and keep well back from the edge. (Grove Oak, Alabama, USA)