The Story Behind the Print
I made this photograph at a waterfall named The Sinks. These rugged and powerful waters are located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. What instantly drew me to this scene was the intense structural collision between stone and water. Standing right at the river's edge, I focused the camera on the massive, fractured rock formations that dominate the center of the riverbed. The water rushes violently around these ancient boulders, splitting into separate channels and plunging down into a churning pool below. It stands as a visceral study of natural force, where the unyielding permanence of the rock formations anchors the fluid, relentless energy of the mountain river.
Rendered in a rich, warm-toned monochrome palette, the image steps away from traditional postcard views to focus entirely on texture, shape, and contrast. By intentionally slowing the shutter speed on the view camera, the churning cascades transform into soft, silky veils of white water, contrasting sharply against the dark, wet, and deeply grooved surfaces of the surrounding stone. This long-exposure technique reveals a quiet visual cadence within the chaos, inviting the viewer to slow down, look beneath the rushing surface, and trace the intricate visual poetry carved by the river over thousands of years.
The Panoramic Process
I captured this landscape using an 8x20 wooden panoramic view camera, exposing the scene on a single, massive sheet of traditional black and white film. Managing a camera of this size alongside a roaring mountain waterfall requires a highly disciplined, patient physical workflow—from finding stable footing for the heavy tripod on slick rock shelves to carefully calculating the exposure to preserve detail in both the blinding white foam and the deep shadows of the stone crevices.
There is absolutely no digital stitching or artificial blending in post-production; it is one continuous, fully considered moment preserved entirely on film. This traditional craftsmanship retains an immense level of organic detail and subtle tonal transitions, creating a tactile print that carries the true physical presence and mist-soaked atmosphere of the Smoky Mountains.