Having just gotten back from a trip to Mount Rainier National Park, I can attest that this is a place you must go to with a backup plan in mind. Dreaming of wildflower filled meadows and sunny views of the mountain, I was greeted with 3 days of rain and fog, not to mention historically slow snow melt. So no flowers, no views, what to do? The answer is photograph some of the parks hundreds of waterfalls.Mount Rainier National Park boasts some of the finest waterfalls in the nation, many within a few feet of the road. Christine Falls, Silver Falls, and Narada Falls make gorgeous subjects in the mist and are but a handle of steps from the parking lot. Narada requires a short hike to get a fuller view of the falls but it is worth it. The cascade spreads out as it crashes below the main park road. For those looking for a more remote scene, Comet Falls is worth the steep hike. The falls plunge a few hundred feet over a cliff, making it one of the tallest in the park. Several smaller cascades are worth a photograph along the way. The trail leads steeply up from Christine Falls along its mile and half route. Myrtle Falls near the Paradise visitor’s center, however, was not worth the parking hassle. This scene really needs the mountain as a backdrop to make this small waterfall photo worthy. Photographing waterfalls can be challenge in the fog and mist, however. Shutter speeds are often a second or longer. Times are even longer with a polarizer to eliminate glare form the wet rocks and vegetation. Pushing film one stop (if you’re still shooting it) may be one way to shorten the shutter speed. Also, try and underexpose shots a little so as not to burn out highlights in the water. So now that I have waterfall photos of the park, I can go back next year to get flower photos. Assuming the weather cooperates then.
