This time of year the Hiwassee River in East Tennessee can drop to really low levels, especially in the mornings when they aren't using the dam to generate electricity. Because not much water is flowing, the surface of the water becomes one huge mirror...especially when the morning sun hits the opposite bank. Also, huge rock fields (for lack of a better term) are exposed which gives almost limitless compositions. I've ventured out the past few weeks to see what I can get. Both images below were taken on 4x5 Ilford Delta 100, developed in Ilfosol-3 N+1, and scanned with an Epson v700. Both were shot at f/45 with a 90mm lens. The first was one second, the second was 40 seconds.
Fun story about the second image. It was taken about 30 feet from the shoreline into the river. At best, the water was maybe half a foot deep, and there were plenty of larger rocks to walk on to get out that far. I spent about an hour out there walking around, scouting, and then shooting. As I was looking for another composition, I looked down and noticed that the rock I was standing on was now under water! I also noticed that the once smooth areas now had current in them; they had released the dam about an hour ahead of its schedule!!! I grabbed the camera first and got it to safety only to return and find my film was ALMOST in the water; another inch and it would've been ruined! Close call.
I really enjoy this image (2nd one), not only for the story, but I feel it's my best large format capture to date. It was a very chaotic scene and I love the way the rocks lead in and the way the reflection flows through the image. Who knows though, maybe I'm just really attached to it and can't see otherwise. Anyway, as always, C&C welcome and appreciated.
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Originally Posted by Harley Goldman
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