Sunbeam Creek, Autumn, Mount Rainier National Park

Sunbeam Creek, Autumn, Mount Rainier National Park

While visiting Mount Rainier last weekend we made a late-morning stop at Sunbeam Creek, which has a small cascade right at the roadside. Although the late-season snowmelt was minimal and the cascade was a little subdued, I still found it an attractive place to photograph. Particularly here at the bottom of the cascade, I was drawn to where the autumn leaves had collected on the rocks. It would have been nice if the leaves had taken on a more autumnal color, but either way I think they contrasted really well against the very dark rock.

I draw out the exposure time I utilized a ND400 Neutral Density filter, which extended the exposure time to 30 seconds. Apart from correcting the white balance (the tones were very cool originally, as this was entirely in shadow) very little was required in the way of processing. It is a refreshing change to find something you can get drawn into photographically that is right at the side of the road, rather than requiring miles of hiking to get to.

Nikon D90 | Sigma 10-20@18mm | f/10 | 30s | ISO200 | Tripod | ND400

See more related images in my Mount Rainier National Park Gallery.

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