Divergence.

My method of creating images is simple enough. I determine what area would make for a beautiful hike and go there. I am out to create images but rarely know what they might be. That is how I came across this scene. 

It was on a hike in Table Rock State Park in South Carolina; at this section of the Carrick Creek loop trail, there is a river crossing, and it is here that I spotted this large rock with gorgeous gold and black contrast and the water of the creek flowing over the edge. This contrast of color and materials drew me into the scene. 

I knew I wanted to emphasize the distinct elements in the image. I wanted to see the rock's rigid edge against the water's flowing arc. With this thought in mind, I filled half the frame with the rock and the other half with the falling water, putting the rock edge across the image on a diagonal to make it look attractive. The color contrast in the rock, the warm gold tones, and the stark black were perfect, with the cool blue water running over the edge. 

I placed my tripod in the middle of the creek, pointing the camera straight down on the scene. This angle helped emphasize the curves in the rock pattern against the flowing stream. This perspective also adds to the abstract nature of the image; with this angle, you aren’t sure which way the water is flowing right away. I created this image by shooting with a slow shutter speed to better show the streaks in the water and somewhat obscure the direction of flow.

I hope you like it as much as I do. Finding scenes like this and defining a story or even just an emotion are the real rewards of landscape photography.