I was out for the day with no real agenda but to take photos, a nice rare day. I was determined to get a photo that was as good as I could do “under the conditions” that presented themselves. As I looked at a few places I came across McCormick’s Creek State Park. The entry fee was $9 but the promise of a waterfall that was the main feature of the park, drew me in. There were some wild flowers, some nice vistas, an old inn that still offered rooms and meals and the waterfall. There were other options but most of them were closed because of tornado damage from the previous year. I found the falls easily enough and it was down about 60 stairs and then down a tight spiral, 30 step stone staircase to the level of the creek. I first saw the falls from the overlook and it did not look too promising. This is Indiana after all and we have the Smokies and the Blue Ridge so by those standards it was a pretty but small falls. It was also in a narrow canyon with fences to keep you from accessing it anyplace but the two viewing platforms or the base of the stairs. None of those places were going to get the best shot of the falls. I tried. I noticed a Red Bud tree framing a bit of the falls but only from the other side of the creek. So I nimbly (Ha!) crossed the fast flowing creek on some shaky rocks and then scrambled up a back to get the shot. Not good enough, some other branches were in front of the shot, so repositioned on a ledge about another 15 feet up the clay and rock bank. I set up the tripod and took 9 shots with various settings. Crossing back over the creek I had an audience of about 8 people on the viewing platforms, It was a question if I were to make it across before falling in. I don’t know what the betting odds were but they applauded when I made it to the stone steps.
S0, first up the best shot - my opinion, some of the surrounding area and two other approaches to the processing.
halfway across
From the viewing platform
Frist set-up, too many branches, more water to cross and a hill to climb.
