More Photos: Elowah and Ponytail Falls

Elowah Falls

I took a trip out to the Columbia River Gorge with a photographer buddy of mine so we could catch optimal waterfall photography conditions, which typically occur hours before my friends are awake, let alone ready to drive out to the Gorge with me. Also it was cold enough to drive most people away, although just about all the ice from my last shoot had melted. All spelled out a good time for some waterfalling!

Our first stop was Dalton Point for the sunrise. The sky didn't light up as much as we thought it would, but I still had fun shooting westward.

Then we went to Elowah Falls, which is troublesome for photography. Climbing around here is one of the only ways to get a decent view. Still, the water is a little whitewashed here.

The trail to Ponytail Falls continues by curling around behind it. This time of year it was raging and there was no avoiding lens mist. Still, I've never taken a behind-the-waterfall shot I like nearly as much as this one.

Ponytail Falls (Upper Horsetail Falls) from the stream below.

The end of our excursion took us to a lookout just beyond Ponytail Falls. The contrast made a hard time of getting the hole Gorge in one shot, but this mountainous reflection shows a little of how majestic the view was.

One more of Ponytail Falls for the road

The Frosty Falls

Thanks to an impromptu call from a friend, I got a bonus trip to Multnomah Falls for a couple hours. Little did I know I was heading into winter wonderland, the waterfall surrounded by an amphitheater of white ice formations and plants encased in translucent sheathes. Besides the meteors in Crater Lake, this was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in Oregon.

Still, it was not without danger. The trek to the Benson Bridge spanning above the lower tier of Multnomah Falls was slippery and slow going - in fact, access to the falls was restricted in general, although people had no qualms about stepping over the caution tape blocking the way. On the path past the bridge and heading to the top of the falls, we saw some people walking in the opposite direction who had passed us earlier on the way up. They said they had seen someone farther on the trail take a slip, and if he hadn't grabbed hold of a tree at the last moment he would have fallen off the face of the cliff. That's when we decided to head back.

But it was still so beautiful! Enjoy the photographic evidence below. And as far as top music of 2012 lists go (because I know none of you can wait), I'm still working on them. Be patient if you can!

Upper tier of the falls. I couldn't get too many pictures from this spot because of all the mist swirling around my lens. Here's a link to a photo taken a few days after this shot by someone who was able to keep his lens clear.

Classic view of the icy falls

With my new wide angle lens, I can easily fit the plaque and the top of the waterfall in the same shot.

Individually wrapped pine needles

The frozen log at the base of the lower tier

Twigs dripping with ice at the upper falls

A wide view of classic Multnomah

Walking from the parking lot to the falls

Close up on the upper tier

The base of the upper tier. That boulder on the right fell off the cliff in the 1970s, causing cold water and stones to rain on a wedding photo taking place on the bridge at the time. No one was seriously injured.

On the trail to the Benson Bridge

A 620-foor waterfall casually looks on

Upper Latourell Falls

I think I've figured out a way to get some new photos up on this site and get around the sad truth that I'm out of upload space. Here's the test post to see if it works! I finally made it back out to the Columbia River Gorge for the first time in months, which feels like an unbearably long time when my mind is almost entirely occupied by these insufferable law school applications (some of which ask for the site of my blog on my resume, so, hi there University of Washington!). I got to see Upper Latourell Falls for the first time, along with Latourell Falls (my favorite in the Gorge) and the above-pictured Shepherd's Dell Falls. Hopefully, should this photography post work as I hope it does, I should be able to time travel and bring you some of the photos I've been sitting on since summer.

While you're waiting, however, you can always check out my Facebook photo page, which I will start to add more photos to now. Also I have a Flickr account that mostly has only my favorites for those of you who, like me, aren't fond of Facebook, but unlike me can avoid using it.

And I guess I should say something about the election. You know, that election that conservative pundits had so many of us convinced would be a nail-biter? The one Fox News couldn't believe was a blow-out even when the numbers started coming in? Just a good example of how I was right.

Latourell Falls, over 200 feet tall, magnificent in autumn

It doesn't look like it, but that's the trail!

Fall-swept Latourell

Upper Latourell Falls as seen from the trail. That's Courtney and Rebecca looking on in their rain gear.

Beautiful Upper Latourell

The leaves of fall abound!

No, really, they abound!

Upper Latourell Falls as first seen from the trail

Another black and white of Upper Latourell

Shepherd's Dell Falls is a toughie for photographers because the few views are obstructed, and the tall waterfall's twists and turns make it hard for a lens to wrap around. Somehow it's become one of my favorites to photograph. Go figure.

Courtney at the base of Latourell Falls, keeping dry

Shepherd's Dell Falls. I stole this composition from another Portland based photographer, but I like the fall colors here.

This composition is mine alone. Copyright.

Hike To The Secret Waterfall And The Not-So-Secret-Waterfall

 A few days ago I had the chance to go to the Columbia River Gorge again, this time with Courtney and her old friend Rebeca, and see some sites I'd never seen before. First was a hidden 80-foot waterfall that required scrambling up the the river to get to. Well worth it!

A view from the trail while it was still a trail

Getting ready to cross the river

A segment of the beautiful river

A little rest as they admire an albino moth

Intrepid explorers!

Another shot from the trail

We had all this to ourselves

Picnic by the falls. We stayed there for about an hour and no one disturbed our peace.

The lush environment of our hidden waterfall

Rebecca, Courtney, and I

This is probably my favorite shot of the day.

Strategizing on the way back

Accomplishment

Fording the river again

Mountain goats

Next was the famous Oneonta Falls, only accessible in the summer because the Oneonta Gorge is so narrow that you have to ford the river to get through and see the 100-foot waterfall. The water was still quite cold, though barely swimmable, and I managed to backstroke into the white of the falls and look up. It was terrifying, like the water was going to pound me to the rocks below until I drowned. I took some shots with Courtney's waterproof camera and bolted out of there.

Oneonta Falls

Looking up into the falls

Courtney is cold.

Courtney is still cold.

Approaching

Backstroking