Love’s Falls

Love’s Falls, a photo I had been dreaming about for a year. I had been here a few times, and always thought, "if I could get a little color in the sky it would be the perfect back drop to complete the frame." I didn’t want to get here too early in the year and the water be raging, and I didn’t want to get here too late and it be covered in snow. I told myself, “as soon it gets to the middle of August, I’m going to put all my focus on this shot.”

My opportunity was here, it was late August and I had a few days of cloudy conditions. My friend David was in town from Southern California, and I was trying to see him and also not miss the opportunity. He is also into nature photography, so it seemed like the perfect time to catch up and show him some of Northern California. Only problem was, he was here for a week-long class, and wasn’t sure if he would get out early enough for us to make it. He needed to be out by 4:00, so we could head out by 4:30. I texted him around 4:00, “How’s it looking? Are you out yet?” Which he replied, “Not yet, but hopefully soon, you may have to go without me.” “I can leave at 4:45 and still make it, so I’ll wait a little more.” A little nervous it wouldn’t all work out, he texted me a little after 4:00 and said, “I’m on my way, ETA is 4:33.” We were going to make it.

We got there 45 minutes before sunset, and it seemed like it was prime for a light show. The sun was low enough to cast a little golden glow, so I decided to snap a couple photos just in case the clouds didn’t light up later. And I’m glad I did, because sure enough, right before it was about to be sunset, a large dark cloud rolled in and covered the sky, diminishing any chance of a colorful sky.

I left there not sure if I got anything worth keeping. I had the day off the following day, so I thought I might go back for another attempt. But when I looked at the photos, that little bit of pre-sunset golden light was just enough to give me what I wanted. The waterfall, the river, the bridge, the colorful sky, it was just what I had been dreaming about for the past year. And being able to catch up with an old friend in the process makes this shot even more memorable.