Description
This is a beautifully appointed waterfall just north of the village of Stowe,
Vermont.
Actually, there are several other cascades and plunges above the main drop
shown above. However, one must take care as the area is very steep and
viewing points can be dangerous. Nevertheless, there are plenty of
opportunities for unique photos.
The main plunge is simply gorgeous with evergreens in abundance and many ways
to vary the framing of the waterfall.
When I visited in early August, 2005, construction work was ongoing to create
a concrete path to the base of the falls. I'm not aware of further plans
for the area past that little tidbit but apparently some effort is being made to
preserve this natural wonder and make it more accessible to the public.
Getting There
Bingham Falls is located next to Route 108 just north of Stowe, Vermont and
before reaching Smugglers Notch. There is a large turnout on the right
side of the highway. When I visited the only sign for the falls was on a
sign at the turnout and not on the highway itself. With the development
around the waterfall I expect at least one good sign is present now.
Hike Details
This is a short walk from the parking area. I would estimate the total
hike to be 1/4 mile or so round trip, a bit farther if one goes to the base of
Bingham Falls. Keep in mind that photography of the main falls is best on
the far side and crossing of the creek must be done upstream of the waterfall.
I actually balanced on a log to get across. Perhaps you will find a better
way across.
Photo Tips
I arrived on the scene early morning, having left the wife in bed.
Regardless you can see rays of light hitting the waterfall. Good or bad,
you be the judge - just be aware that unless you are blessed with an overcast
sky you will likely be fighting a mixture of sun and shade. I believe late
afternoon would be best here. Since you are using a
tripod, of course, (you are, aren't you?) you
can bracket your exposures and blend the pictures together later with a photo
program such as Photoshop.
On the bright side, (pun intended) composing the sky out of your pictures is
not an issue. Options on composition are plentiful with the rocks and
vegetation. I made the mistake of not using any landscape formats.
Use both.
A
polarizer
isn't a must at this waterfall but it certainly helps with glare and makes the
green vegetation "greener". And we all want a "greener" planet, right?
Shutter speed? This one is personal preference but once again I opted
for slower shutter speeds and think the results were great. For
slower speeds you will need a
tripod.
For a larger picture of this waterfall, go to my
waterfall wallpapers page.
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