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Archive 2018 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

gordon l
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

I've hoped to shoot this phenomenon for years. I went during a heavy stormy system and hiked up Hell Hole Canyon (even though there was no falling water from the cliffs) because more rain was predicted in the next few hours.

As I was deep in the canyon, focusing on small subjects and biding my time, I heard rushing water . . . like a shower. I stopped, looked around and then looked UP to see this waterfall beginning to drop. It grew heavier and heavier. I shot several photos, trying to somehow fit the whole height of the waterfall into one frame. The cliffs here are 600 feet high and I was just a few feet away. I climbed the opposite canyon scree and found a higher viewpoint where I successfully took this photograph.

The waterfall lasted about 10 minutes, maybe 15 at most. Then the show was over. Mother Nature put on the whole display just for me, all alone in the canyon. More info here at my blog

https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Photo-of-the-Month/Photo-of-the-Month-1/i-2535xsH/0/f1814fb3/X2/Hell%20Hole%20Waterfall-X2.jpg

Feb 05, 2018 at 09:43 AM

dbehrens
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

What an awesome experience - and were able to capture a good comp as well! Dave

Feb 05, 2018 at 10:18 AM

ChrisKayler
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

What a cool phenomenon, must have been a great experience! I might prefer the view shifted to the left just a bit as the waterfall feels a little central / weighted toward the left, but I know that's subjective! I love the foreground elements a lot, the jumble of rocks and the bright foliage to contrast the grey sky and orange cliffs.

Feb 05, 2018 at 10:59 AM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Nice image and great story. Perfect timing to have your hopes realized on the spot. Exciting and satisfying.

Feb 05, 2018 at 11:49 AM

Matt Anderson
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Very nice indeed !

Feb 05, 2018 at 01:18 PM

kwilliam8
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Very nice image! Great planning and anticipation on your part.
Keith W.

Feb 05, 2018 at 01:46 PM

kmunroe
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

nicely done Gordon

Feb 06, 2018 at 03:54 AM

morris
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

It's great that you were able to capture this Gordon

Morris

Feb 06, 2018 at 10:16 AM

Rajan Parrikar
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Wonderful image.

Feb 06, 2018 at 12:15 PM

przero
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

What's the old saying? f8 and be there! Great catch!

Feb 06, 2018 at 07:30 PM

rjb6893
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

To paraphrase my birder friends, “Life shot!!” Both the photo and the journey are awesome!

Feb 07, 2018 at 09:23 AM

stanparker
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Great work, Gordon. There are several "Hell Hole Canyons" in Utah. Is this the one just north of St George?

Feb 07, 2018 at 09:57 AM

gordon l
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

stanparker wrote:
Great work, Gordon. There are several "Hell Hole Canyons" in Utah. Is this the one just north of St George?

Hi Stan,
This Hell Hole is just west of St. George in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. It's really close to Ivins, Utah.

Feb 07, 2018 at 10:46 AM

gordon l
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Jeffrey wrote:
Nice image and great story. Perfect timing to have your hopes realized on the spot. Exciting and satisfying.

---------------------------------------------

kwilliam8 wrote:
Very nice image! Great planning and anticipation on your part.
Keith W.

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morris wrote:
It's great that you were able to capture this Gordon

Morris

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przero wrote:
What's the old saying? f8 and be there! Great catch!

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rjb6893 wrote:
To paraphrase my birder friends, “Life shot!!” Both the photo and the journey are awesome!

Thanks all for recognizing the timing and element of chance in this event. I've driven out and even hiked the trail a few other times only to come up "dry": no waterfall even during the rain. So seeing this was a "life shot", though this place is close enough that I hope to have a second "life shot" some day!

Feb 07, 2018 at 10:51 AM

kdacharya
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

beautifully done, Gordon. I love the west and Utah is one my favorites. Voted.

Feb 07, 2018 at 01:02 PM

aFeinberg
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Way to freakin be there! Great capture.

Feb 07, 2018 at 06:17 PM

Ben Horne
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

That's so cool Gordon!! I'm so glad you were in the right place at the right time. I remember one year I was in Zion during the rain, and heard the same sound -- looked across the river and a big waterfall started to flow right in front of me. It was an excellent surprise!

Feb 10, 2018 at 11:40 PM

matthewsaville
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

That is really cool. I love seeing ephemeral phenomenon like this, it really makes me want to get out and explore! (rain or shine!)

What focal length was this shot at? Or was it a vertical pano? The perspective makes it look like a single exposure at around 11-14mm...

Feb 11, 2018 at 12:55 AM

kurt765
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

Cool to see! Love that red sandstone. I have often desired to witness flash floods.... from a safe distance.
I didn't find more info at your blog on this event.

Feb 11, 2018 at 03:04 AM

gordon l
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · It take a flash flood: 600-ft Hell Hole waterfall

matthewsaville wrote:
That is really cool. I love seeing ephemeral phenomenon like this, it really makes me want to get out and explore! (rain or shine!)

What focal length was this shot at? Or was it a vertical pano? The perspective makes it look like a single exposure at around 11-14mm...

This is a vertical pano. I could not fit in the top and bottom in the same frame being as confined as I was in the canyon. So I shot several with the idea that they might need to be stitched to make it work.

Feb 12, 2018 at 12:28 AM

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