Three views of Aysgarth Falls

Aysgarth Falls in North Yorkshire are usually a series of rocky steps across a wide river with lots of small waterfalls and pools with lots of foreground rocks and ledges. Yesterday (Sunday) in an attempt to capture some Autumn colour before the storms strip the trees I drove down. We have had a week of heavy rain topped off by a mostly spent hurricane hitting on Friday and Salurday. What I hadn't reckoned on was the amount of water flowing which turned the series of steps into one large and turbulent maelstrom. So 3 images trying to make the most of what was in front of me. Ken

This is looking upstream when I noticed the low sun illuminating the water splashes as the river fell over the series of rock ledges.
The same falls from much closer


Again the same falls but this time standing very close to the edge.


This is only the lower falls, a series of them stretch upstream for about 1/2 mile. So another place to return to when the water levels are

Interesting approach to the scene with the first image. The second one does a good job of showing the volume of the flows in this river. Good effort in making the most of the situation.

Heavy runoff can make waterfalls quite impressive for their thundering displays depicting the power of water but I have found these conditions disappointing as photographic subjects. Lower water flow levels allow the cascades along the waterways to show more delicate and interesting details.

Great series, Ken.

Super cool Ken! I enjoy the milky look to waterfalls, but sometimes I do like to shoot fast with water. I do that when the water is turbulent like this because I think it really captures well the power of the water better.

So #1 is my favorite, followed by #3. I wouldn't have minded the background fall colors with the clearer foreground of #3.

JimFox said:

Super cool Ken! I enjoy the milky look to waterfalls, but sometimes I do like to shoot fast with water. I do that when the water is turbulent like this because I think it really captures well the power of the water better.

So #1 is my favorite, followed by #3. I wouldn't have minded the background fall colors with the clearer foreground of #3.

Click to expand...

Jim #2 has the sun directly into the lens so lots of veiling flare even with the Sony 16-35GM. Ken

Nice dramatic lighting and movement in #1. The turbulence and sheer volume of water feels massive. #3 is nice too with a completely different feel.