Great Falls of the Potomac, a photo from Virginia, South

Photographer's Note

Great Falls of the Potomac
Many people consider the Great Falls of the Potomac to be the most spectacular natural landmark in the Washington D.C. area. Here, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks. The falls consist of cascading rapids and several 20 foot waterfalls, with a total 76 foot drop in elevation over a distance of less than a mile.

The geologic history of the falls is an interesting one. After the last ice age, the ocean levels dropped, forcing the Potomac River to carve deeper in its path to the sea. The overlying rock was eroded away exposing a much harder, resistant rock formation. This hard layer is principally made up of metamorphic and igneous rock, and may be seen throughout the park.

Great Falls Park is located along the boundary between the Piedmont Plateau and the Atlantic Coastal Plain, in an area known as the fall zone. Joint fault plains, which are natural fissures in the rock substrata where shifting has occurred, exist in many places in the Piedmont Formation between Chain Bridge and the Great Falls. These areas of faulting have loosened the rock, forming areas of weakness. The force of the Potomac has eroded along these areas, changing the river's course to its current position.

Evidence of the ancient river beds can be seen in well-rounded boulders, smoothed surfaces and grooves, and beautifully formed potholes. The metamorphic rocks provide jagged rocky surfaces and high-walled cliffs, stark and pristine against the crashing waters of the Potomac at the falls and along Mather Gorge.

For another view of the falls see Great Falls Park.

subhendu_bagchi, paololg, pajaran ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

batalay (41261) 2010-12-12 19:42

Hello Betty,

What luck, I literally logged in for five minutes, and this gorgeous photo rolled in. The resolution in the rugged rocks in the foreground is surpassing, like in a Hollywood film set. In the background, the violent waterfalls appears like quicksilver, or perhaps just the opposite like a vapor. The is one of your finest images, and certainly the best photo I've seen on TE in the past week.

Warm regards,

Bulent

humayun (3129) 2010-12-12 21:16

hi dear...........
good blur in water effect..........
pov is nice and good shuter speed...........
welcompo...........
weldon........
tfs.......

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2010-12-13 7:38

Namaste Betty,
excellent capture of this wild river. Great use of slow shutter speed. Nice light and fine depth. The rocks are nicely contrasting with the white stream. Excellent work. Tfs.
Best wishes.
Subhendu

AKITA (15125) 2010-12-13 20:29

dear Betty,
a beautiful shot of wonderful falls,
white and soft flow of water and dark and rough figures of rocks are well contrasted and composed to make picturesque scene,
and fore dead tree adds nice frame effect to this shot,
the cool feeling of water and the warm colors on rock surface are nicely combined too,
thank you for your excellent shot,
Akihisa

mafegan (8626) 2010-12-13 22:42

Hello Betty
The rocks are so clear they are almost jumping out of my monitor. I don't know the shutter speed but the milky appearance of the water is certainly effective. Tfs, Marlene

paololg (31448) 2010-12-14 14:06

Ciao dear Betty,
marvelous soft effect of the water that well opposes with the perfect sharp of the rocks. The perfect management of the light gives the feeling that the photo is three-dimensional. Congratulations!
Ciao, have a nice day!
Paolo

zoomer (6) 2010-12-14 19:00

Hello,this photo too is fantastic.There is a creative contrast achieved between those well defined rocks and the veil like appearance of the water.One enhances the effect of the other.Wishing you all the best Wolf.

kordinator (8738) 2010-12-16 2:26

Hello Betty
Wonderful capture of this wild river.
Great use of long exposure.
Perfect light.
The rocks are nicely contrasting with the white stream.
Excellent post processing.
Great job.
Fine informative note.
Warm regards
Saša

foozi (7101) 2010-12-16 19:02

Hello Betty,
excellent silky capture of the flowing water. So soft and so smoothly detailed. You composed it so contrast with the rugged tough texture of the rock, leaving a wonderful view of a fall.
Very well seen in exciting tight crop.

regards,
Foozi

pajaran (102460) 2010-12-17 12:42

Pozdrav.
Mnogo lepo mesto i postignut efekt dugom ekspozicijom.
Dobar rad i kompozicija, lepe boje i fotografija, moje cestitke.
Dobar prikaz tekstom i ostrinom snimka.
Sve najbolje i lep vikend.
Paja.

Google.

Hello.
Very nice place and made the effect of long exposure.
Good work and composition, nice colors and pictures, my congratulations.
Good representation of the text and sharper images.
All the best and nice weekend.
Paja.

sacavem (18620) 2010-12-22 3:17

Olá Betty,

It adds grounding to the movement of the water which is captured beautifully with the slow shutter speed. The colours are deep and beautiful. Well done.
Best wishes,
Filipe

I use BETA-TrekEarth

jaywalker (16105) 2010-12-22 14:05

Hi Betty, Great photo management, the water looks beautifully soft & contrasts wonderfully with the solid rocks, there is stunning light & excellent detail, TFS, kind regards Wilson.