Peter Kun Frary, Professor of Music • University of Hawaii, Leeward
Peter Kun Frary, Professor of Music • University of Hawaii, Leeward
Upper Multnomah Stream • Oregon, USA
Photo by P.K. Frary • Canon EOS 10D, EF 24-85 3.5-4.5 USM, Gitzo G1028 Tripod
During summers, I spend 2 weeks in the Pacific Northwest trekking and shooting. The dark and dreary weather of the Pacific Northwest does have an advantage: it's perfect weather for shooting waterfalls and streams. Why? Direct sunlight creates too much contrast for film or digital sensors to record. And with dozens of waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon is hog heaven for waterfall and stream shooters.
Majestic Multnomah Falls is on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, twenty minutes east of Troutdale via the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway. Or, if you don't mind running with the big dogs--truckers and Winnebagos--you can brave Interstate 84 East.
The lower falls area was too congested for me--snack bars, tour buses, screaming kids, the works. So I hiked up the adjacent trail to shoot Multnomah Falls' source. I dragged my sorry arse up a mile of mountain switchbacks, braving both rain and panting hikers, planted my tripod, and was ready to make art. The stream is crystal clear, ice cold and makes for interesting images as it rolls through tiny rapids before dropping 620 feet. To my chagrin, the sun burst forth in all his glory. I eventually got the shot, but only after standing in the same dad burn spot for 30 minutes waiting for a cloud to cover the sun! Thank God for Jack Daniels and the iPod.
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