Crabtree Falls

Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Little Switzerland, the Crabtree Falls Trail is worth a visit.  The National Park Service runs a campground nearby, and although a few buildings are boarded up, the hike to the falls is a beautiful way to spend a couple of hours.

The falls are 70 feet tall with a small bridge that crosses the creek at the bottom. The 2-3 mile trail is categorized as moderately strenuous only because the creek flows one mile below the trailhead and requires an uphill walk back to your car.

Over the past few years, I’ve found there are many ways to photograph waterfalls and streams.  I often debate what shutter speeds and aperture settings to use, so my approach is typically more experimental than most.

In order to create images that reflect a more personal and subjective experience, I usually spend a few minutes looking around and listening before reaching for my camera.