Liquid Avenue by Michael Shainblum

Liquid Avenue by Michael Shainblum

Always better with the lights out, check it out on black 🙂 So Oregon, wow, what can I really say? It’s such an amazing place. The Columbia Gorge is just stunning. This is my first waterfall photo, I mean I have shot places like Yosemite falls and California waterfalls before, but it’s just a completely different style and experience shooting waterfalls in the Pacific North West. My friends Tula Top and TJ Thorne make it look easy. I am here to tell you that it is NOT easy in the least bit. Shooting this photo was a challenge, or at least it was for me. Water and mist hitting the lens constantly, I kept wiping it down with a cloth but by the time I was done wiping it down and started shooting, water had already sprayed on the lens again. When I was done with the shoot my lens cloth was completely soaked and unusable for the rest of the day. I also found it challenging to get an interesting composition of the falls with the stream. I ended up putting the camera about 2 or 3 inches off the ground with water almost splashing up into the lens. I really wanted to create some symmetry with this shot and have the foreground waves almost like liquid stepping stones to the falls. The hike out there was short but an adventure in itself, as my friends Jameson and Andrew failed to mention that you had to walk (or swim almost) in frigid neck deep water to get to the falls. Basically, you have to take everything out of your pockets and hold your gear high above your head, a little nerve racking when the thought of one slip means your gear is pretty much done for. Over all it was a blast and probably one of my favorites days I have ever had shooting photography. I wanted to share the photograph with you guys and hopefully it depicts the adventure and experience I had well. Thanks everyone for checking it out, sharing is always appreciated.

Michael Shainblum: Photos · Blog