I've found a new favorite place to go walkabout and practice taking pictures of moving water, it's the Rocky Fork area of Unicoi county. It wasn't a particularly good for taking pictures of waterfalls as the sky was partly sunny. I had to use an ND8 filter to get the long exposures, but that makes the colors a bit off.
Getting there is a simple thing: take exit 50 off I-26 east (Flag Pond) and at the stop sign turn left onto Upper Higgins Creek Road. Drive 1/2 mile and when you reach Rt. 23 turn right and drive another 2 1/4 miles then turn left on Rocky Fork Road.
The picture in the upper left is a waterfall just a little ways up the road on the right, it's easily visible from the road, you can't miss it. Take your time driving up this road as the creek is a constant 'stream' of amazing cascades and waterfalls. Get it, 'stream' of ..., oh bother.
After 3/4 mile from where you turned onto Rocky Fork Road, you will see a gravel pull-off to the left. Park here but make sure to stay out of the way of the gate because it's a tow-away zone. Follow the gravel lane along the creek into Rocky Fork on foot. The trio of falls in the picture to the right is about a quarter mile in on your left.
The gravel forest service road is in great shape, and it's not steep at all. It follows the creek but there were no creek crossings in the mile or so that I walked. There is a seemingly endless number of cascades, riffles, and waterfalls to shoot.
Like this cascade that swoops around a rock then rolls and over a shelf and makes some swirlies. Or this long skinny chute that has some cool swirlies to it's inside.
I'm really digging on this willow tree. It sits along the road on my way to work. I've been waiting on a foggy morning to try this picture because of all the clutter that would be in the background - though this morning might have been a bit too foggy.
