I have a large map in my office of Oregon that I mark all the places I've been (in a photo/adventure sense) and all the place I want to see. Sometimes this map is an overwhelming reminder of all the things I haven't done, but most the time its a source of inspiration of whats still to be explored. One of the first pins I put in the map for things to see was Abiqua Falls. It's one of those falls that's surrounded by basalt cooling columns from the Cascade mountains early volcanic past.
I woke up pretty early to get out there around 7 AM. The day's weather was slated for morning overcast, so I wasn't in a hurry for the light, but I wanted to beat any crowd if possible. To get there, you take this old gravel road that I would only recommend taking if you have decent clearance on your vehicle and the weather is pretty dry. I would reckon you could get into some trouble real quick if you don't know what you're doing but is pretty easy going for the most part.
Once you get to the trailhead, you have a quick hike down to the creek and hike a good portion of the way along the water. The reveal to the waterfall is quite spectacular as it hides behind a broad curve in the creek obstructing your view but allowing you to hear the falls before you get there.
Photographing a destination like this is kind of unique for me. I usually focus on a day of adventure and shoot the whole trip, but in this case, I was going to one place to photograph one thing. It was kind of weird because I was getting antsy that I wasn't moving, that I was shooting too many photos of one subject matter. After a while though, as I settled into what I was doing, I slowly was able to think more creatively in the location rather than just taking the easy shots I saw at first. It was a great reminder to slow down when I shoot and give the space I'm in a moment to reveal its more profound beauty.
