Norfork Dam

Norfork Dam is an imposing concrete dam on the North Fork River in the Arkansas Ozarks. It was built in the early 1940s to control the river and is still one of the older Corps of Engineers dams in the country. Uniquely you can capture two completely different scenes in one place. Above the wall, Norfork Lake spreads out in clear blue water against wooded hills and bluffs, while below it the river drops into a quiet wooded gorge that runs down toward the White River. A road crosses the top of the dam so you can easily shoot from either side. For the lake, evenings are the ideal time with Ozark sunsets spreading warm colour across the water, plus autumn is definitely worth a visit when the surrounding hills turn into a carpet rich reds, and oranges. Down in the river below the dam, early mornings often bring mist rising off the cold water, which gives your shooting a moodier feel. The big concrete face and the row of spillway gates give you strong shapes and an amazing sense of scale when you focus the dam itself, especially with a wide lens. There are overlooks and parks on both the lake side and below at Quarry Park, so it is easy to explore all kinds of compositions in one visit. The whole area is generally free to visit, and with easy parking options. There is easily enough to fill a morning or evening photography outing, so it is worth planning around the type of light you prefer. (Salesville, Arkansas, USA)