Phantom Falls

Phantom Falls just outside of Oroville, CA. One of the most visited places in Northern California. As soon as the rainy season starts, people flock here from all over the area. I had seen photos from this view many times... too many times, but never at sunrise. If I really wanted to nail the shot, I would have to wake up at 4am and hike the 2.5 miles out in the dark. 

This was my second attempt to capture the double phantom at sunrise. The first time I’d tried, I came home empty-handed—no good shots, no colorful sunrise, just a nice early morning hike in the dark with nothing to bring home. 

Would this day be different? My alarm goes off at 4am, and I crawl out of bed with excitement and anticipation. The uncertainty gnawed at me, hoping the effort would pay off. The world was still as I began the hike. Backpack and camera bag ready, headlamp on, treading through the quiet darkness. I could hear the distant hum of water, hidden somewhere in the shadows. With every step in the wet mud, my pulse quickened, the anticipation building.

As the first light crept over the horizon, I could see the clouds to the east that would hopefully give me the colorful show that would amplify the scene before me. I sat and waited with anticipation. The sun continued to rise, and then at one point, the sky exploded into a breathtaking palette of oranges, pinks, and purples. The falls, framed by the rugged cliffs and greenery, looked surreal, like a scene from a dream.

As I snapped the shot, I couldn't believe all my effort had paid off. The early rise, the miles walked in darkness—it was all worth it. My dream shot came true. A view that has been photographed many, many times seen in a new way.