Our Favorite Facebook Photos: 6/17/16

Russell County, Virginia. Sunrise.

"The more often we see the things around us- even the beautiful and wonderful things - the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds - even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less." - Joseph B Wirthlin love that quote. Photography for me allows me to continue to see the beauty in this chaotic world.

This past weekend I got to spend some quality time in The New River Gorge area of West Virginia with my good friends The Static Brothers. Mother Nature was somewhat moody on this trip as we got sun, rain, fog, and was mostly her usual uncooperative self. After several hours of rain overnight we got up Sunday morning after breffus at Tudors Biscuit World to pay a visit to Meadow Fork, located downstream from the more popular Dunloup Falls. I had visited here a few years ago, and looking back I might need to go and revisit my images from that trip since I don’t recall ever posting any. Seems to me there was a somewhat lesser flow then, so on this visit we were hoping for decent water. Upon starting out from the road I was a bit surprised, the last time we had been here there was an easy worn path to the right of the creek, although still there, several massive and deep holes had been dug in the path and the dirt and rock had been piled up around the holes. It was really aggravating. The best I could figure the holes were created to deter ATV traffic. The hike isn’t far, uphill 1/3rd of a mile or so, and requires a short steep scramble down some natural rock steps to the upper falls. The lower falls requires an even further scramble, still short and there’s a very old rhododendron to hold on to. When we arrived we chose to shoot the upper falls, an 8 or 10 ft drop , and I first set up at the top of the lower falls. As I looked around I noticed that I could frame up the lower falls and the upper falls in the same shot from below, so after spending some time with the upper falls I made my way down to see if my composition was possible. The lower falls is about 12 ft. tall and when it makes its first drop it doglegs to the left and horsetails over several small ledges under a large rock outcropping. It’s really cool and I have not seen a falls quite like it. After clearing the stinging nettle with my trekking poles I set up and worked several compositions, this being my favorite, in fact it’s one of my favorites I’ve taken this year and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Mabry Mill, Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Blue Ridge Parkway. — at Mabry Mill in Meadows of Dan.

At Raven's Roost.

Sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina — at Fox Hunters Paradise - Blue Ridge Parkway.

Captured Friday 06-10-16 in the Roan Highlands of TN/NC.

Two hikers taking in the sunset on Rough Ridge just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

Roan Mountain near Carvers Gap

On the Rhododendron trail at Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia.My website at www.ridingthebackroads.com