You go to a state park or a national park. The first thing you do is find the star attraction, whether it’s a waterfall or some specific view that the location is famous for, and you get the shot. You’re there at the right time of day, and you get a shot that you really like. So you have what you came for, now what? Go home?
In the case of Pixley Falls, it’s a quick trip to the falls to see the main waterfall. It took almost an hour to drive there, and in 20 minutes or less to get some photos of the falls. It almost feels wrong to just pack up and go home. The hiking trails aren’t very long, but it’s a beautiful wooded area, and worth exploring more. And in the end, I found images that I liked more than the main waterfall partly because I had to work to find them. But also because when people see the additional images, they don’t immediately recognize the location.
At Pixley, there are small run-offs and feeder streams flowing down the hill through the woods. Some of these are great photo opportunities. Here are a few other things I found after my first images of the waterfall.
.
It’s tempting to leave once you’ve “got the shot,” but slowing down and looking for what comes after often leads to stronger, more personal images. The star attraction might bring you there, but it’s the hidden corners that may very well give you the best images of the day.
✅ Where to Find Me
You can find more of my work on the web at: Simmons Photography
If you want to work with me, or inquire about licensing images: Contact Page
Nice shots, Bob! I agree that it's worth just taking a bit of time to explore these types of places. There's no reason to rush although I find myself rushing at times. Some of the best times that I have are when I just take a snack and sit on some rocks and do nothing for a bit. I just sit there and notice little things that I want to shoot.