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Archive 2014 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Alan Brock
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

I recently continued my quest to get all the major waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains on large format. This past weekend I made the hike to Ramsey Cascades. This beautiful waterfall is actually the highest falls in the park. You've got to earn it though as it's at the end of a fairly brutal hike. It starts easy but gets harder and harder as you go. It's a fairly interesting hike though as you pass through an old forest that contains trees supposedly more than 500 years old.

I really feel that I earned this image. I unexpectedly got rained on while I was focusing the camera. I quickly covered it with my dark cloth and waited out a 45 minute shower. I also had my first bear encounter; surprising only in that it hasn't happened sooner. It was about 50 feet away and fairly large as black bears go. It froze once I yelled at it, and I continued on my way (the photographer in me REALLY wanted to stick around and get at least a cell phone pic!). Finally, I bit it HARD hiking back. After the rain the rocks were of course slick and I was being careful...but not careful enough apparently. As I was going down, all I could think of was "Don't land on the camera gear!" Thankfully I was able to slightly spin and my left arm took the entire fall...gear stayed safe and appendages will heal!

This was shot on 4x5 Ilford Delta 100, on a 90mm lens at f/16 and 1/4s. Based on my previous efforts and feedback, I tried my best using camera movements to get a fairly fast shutter. Still blurred the water beyond all detail...oh well. Self-developed and scanned on an Epson V700. As always, C&C are welcome. Thanks for looking.

Jul 22, 2014 at 07:11 PM

stanparker
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

That's a nice shot. I've seen others from there with slightly slower shutter, but that's a matter of taste.

Jul 22, 2014 at 09:13 PM

ckcarr
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Nice shot! Very detailed. Large format does make a difference!

Did you enjoy the bear encounter? Was it in the downpour? A surprise? That's how it was in "The Edge."
They are hungry this year...

Jul 22, 2014 at 10:18 PM

Alan Brock
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Thanks Stan!

ckcarr wrote:
Nice shot! Very detailed. Large format does make a difference!

Did you enjoy the bear encounter? Was it in the downpour? A surprise? That's how it was in "The Edge."
They are hungry this year...

I've hiked about 50 miles in the Smokies the last 4 months so I knew it was only a matter of time before I saw one, but I was really shocked at how big it was. It was on my hike out and I heard something in the rhododendron (mountain laurel?) to my right and slightly behind me. I knew right off it had to be a bear and I saw it a few seconds later, around 50 feet away. From reading about them, I knew bears are usually afraid of humans as long as you don't walk up on them and surprise them, so I literally yelled, "Hey bear, just letting you know I'm here!" It immediately froze (so I actually don't think it knew I was there!), and I took that as a sign that I should slowly walk away. I kept checking over my shoulder, but never saw it again.

Until this point, I was pretty confident that if I was charged by a bear, I could do enough damage with my tripod and/or rocks to scare them off. Typically black bears aren't that big, especially females. However, after seeing the size of this guy, I'm less confident in that! The park has closed several trails this year due to higher-than-normal bear activity.

Jul 23, 2014 at 09:29 AM

newhaven
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Fantastic. Have you photographed Abrams Falls yet? Thx -R

Jul 23, 2014 at 10:45 AM

JimKied
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Excellent image! And I say this when I'm not generally a fan of B&W.

Jul 23, 2014 at 11:06 AM

Dustin Gent
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

nice shot! Glad you didn't get hurt. I slipped in the Gorge and used my arm to try to cushion the fall and ended up fracturing/dislocating my arm.

Jul 23, 2014 at 12:14 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Hey Alan,

What a very nice shot. Good work on it. I am glad the bear encounter turned out fine, and quick thinking to save the camera gear.

Jim

Jul 23, 2014 at 04:42 PM

dalongfellow
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Very nice shot Alan. I like all the shadow detail. I also like the shutter speed you choose which keeps a lot of texture in the water, while conveying the feel of the moving water. One to be proud of, especially with the effort it required.

Dave

Jul 23, 2014 at 05:05 PM

vadafallon
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Very nice!

Jul 23, 2014 at 06:06 PM

dswiger
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Alan,
Very nice results. Film suits this fine.
I personally like the S/S you used, still some energy in the water.
A bit jealous as I just came back from a trip & my 4x5 stayed in the backpack

Thanks for posting. Just the bit of encouragement needed

Dan

Jul 23, 2014 at 06:26 PM

DeweyB1
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Awesome shot. Some day I want to hike to this waterfall.

Jul 23, 2014 at 06:48 PM

Alan Brock
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (4x5)

Thanks for the kind words everyone; they are very much appreciated!

newhaven wrote:
Fantastic. Have you photographed Abrams Falls yet? Thx -R

Not yet, but it's definitely on the list. As it's one of the more popular falls in the park, I'll probably wait to do that one until school starts back. Maybe it will be less crowded then. Same with Laurel Falls.

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Dustin Gent wrote:
nice shot! Glad you didn't get hurt. I slipped in the Gorge and used my arm to try to cushion the fall and ended up fracturing/dislocating my arm.

Yikes! My fall was nothing like that. Just a bruised arm and some scratches here and then. My pride suffered a Grade 2 sprain though...

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DeweyB1 wrote:
Awesome shot. Some day I want to hike to this waterfall.

Go for it! It's definitely a worthwhile destination, but the hike is pretty hard. Start early and take lots of water!

Jul 23, 2014 at 10:26 PM


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