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PhotoGuide to Rocky Falls, MO
Location:
~7 miles East of Eminence, MO.
Features:
Here you'll find a wonderful climbable pink granite waterfall within one hundred feet of the parking lot, along with a swimming lake and state-maintained picnic area.
View from the parking lot / campground area
Photo Equipment - what you should take:
- A Tripod, preferably one with legs that can each be opened and closed independent of the other two. This will allow for setup on the rocky conditions.
- A polarizing filter to help cut glare from the pool and to darken the sky.
- A Neutral Density (ND) filter. This will be useful for long exposures in bright conditions.
- A camcorder will be useful for capturing the action of the falling water and the sound it makes. Set it up and let it run for a half hour. Then when your wife wants you to get her one of those crappy Wal-Mart new age "Sounds of the Waterfall" CDs, you can make one and save $15. Waterfall tapes sell for about $30/hr on the 'net for some strange reason.
- Take some slow film (ISO 50-100). That way you'll be able to leave the shutter open for extended periods of time without burning out the details.
- Take a flash. This will eliminate any unwanted shadows you might encounter.
- Take a telephoto lens as well as your normal or wide-angle lens. For a good head-on shot of the falls, you have to be in or on the other side of the lake at the bottom.
- Swimming trunks would be handy if you're inclined.
- Good hiking boots are a must. It's wet, and the water makes the granite incredibly slippery. It's easy to turn an ankle.
Photo tips:
The stream flows from West to East. This means that the falls is in full light in the morning and backlit during the afternoon and evening hours. The best time to be there is before or just at sunrise to capture the brilliant red lighting it produces at this time of day.
Another interesting angle is to climb the falls and capture the water falling from the top down. You get much more of a cascading stream effect this way.
View from atop the falls
I just "discovered" Rocky Falls about four months ago, so I have no seasonal info on them, but the falls and lake are surrounded by trees. I should imagine that they're incredible during the fall months. All the literature that I've seen says that it's a continually flowing falls (so many are nothing more than storm runoff), so this might look good even in the winter. If the foliage isn't appealing to you, zoom in on the falling water itself.
My impressions and experiences:
I didn't spend near enough time here. And I didn't know when to be here, so of course I arrived at the wrong time of day - the best being at sunrise. Afternoon may be a disappointment without the right equipment, as the sky and sun will be much brighter than the falls, and a head-on view will be almost impossible.
Shot from the middle of the falls
Seasonal Update:
6/2004: Beautiful green foliage. Lots of water flowing.
9/06/2000: The water was lower than shown here, but the falls were continually flowing. Foliage showed no signs of changing.
Driving directions:
Eminence, MO is located at the junction of Hwys 19 and 60, South and East of Rolla, MO. Take Highway H East from Eminence to the junction of 106 and turn left. Follow the signs to Rocky Falls.
Brochures, maps and other publications:
Sorry - there were none available that I could see.
Other Attractions in the area:
Round Springs, MO
Dining:
Why not take a picnic lunch and make a day of it? There aren't enough picnics these days. I blame this on the bear hysteria generated from that Hannah Barbera cartoon series. Fear not! Bears live to an age of about 20, so Yogi, BooBoo and Mr. Ranger are long gone by now.
email: sales@roadslessphotographed.com
Phone: (573) 647-5301