Smooth Waters

Most of the time in a landscape photo, smooth and soothing water scenes involve a waterfall. But not always. Surf wells, sea stacks, lava shelves, cascades and rapids also create beautiful smooth water scenes where water and surroundings make for a pleasant spot. Most of the time I prefer long exposures that smooth the flow into a sensuous ribbon that contrasts with the often rocky path that guides the flow. But when the water is raging and the scene is more dramatic, it’s the power of the water that becomes the subject and you can see some of that elsewhere.

A low view shows fast water blurring through a rocky woodland stream bordered by roots, moss, and dense green vegetation.
A vertical cascade falls between textured gorge walls into a bright pool below.
Water spills over a slanted ledge between dark, layered gorge walls and green foliage.
Multiple cascades slide down dark terraced rocks, forming ribbons of water through a narrow forested ravine.
Long-exposure water flows around mossy boulders in a shaded Vermont stream.
A compact forest waterfall drops into pale rocks and mossy banks in the Vermont woods.
Upper Umauma Falls descends between dark lava rock and lush plants, framed by red flowers and broad green leaves.
White water drops over dark rock behind driftwood and exposed roots in a lush tropical stream setting.
A white waterfall falls beside black volcanic rock into a quiet pool surrounded by ferns and damp forest.
A thin waterfall descends through lush rainforest into a shaded clearing, with palms and dense vegetation surrounding the cliff.
Winter whitewater rushes through downtown Spokane, with snow-covered banks and dark river rocks.
Saint Mary Falls drops between layered stone walls into a rounded blue-green pool edged by wet rock.
Running Eagle Falls pours through a natural cliff window, framed by rugged canyon walls and shallow water.
Foamy water pours down a concrete spillway into shadow, with a branch stretching across the fall.
A narrow waterfall descends through red volcanic soil in Waimea Canyon, with sparse greenery and exposed clay walls surrounding the stream.
A small waterfall pours through stratified gorge walls into vivid blue-green water.
Moss Glen Falls descends in silky strands over dark stone framed by green moss and forest.
A small cascade spreads over layered stone ledges, framed by trees and warm brown creek banks.
Soft white streams divide across golden and gray rock ledges, emphasizing the texture of the falling water.
A broad series of small waterfalls spreads over moss-covered rock ledges into a clear pool in a shaded Jura forest.
A narrow waterfall cascades down rocks between conifers, partly hidden within a steep mountain forest.
Multiple narrow waterfalls run down a lush green hillside, converging among rocks and wet grass.
A smooth green pool sits below layered rock walls with white current entering from the forested gorge.
Water falls between smooth granite walls into a quiet pool shaded by canyon rock.
A small cascade spreads into silky white ribbons across dark rocks surrounded by green forest.
This part of Idaho sits on top of the gigantic Snake River aquifer which gives life to a large number of springs and waterfalls that appear from.
Amid lush forest, the white water of the huge cascade in the background flows downstream to smaller falls.
Beautiful but unusual two-tiered waterfall.
A black-and-white image of a pristine cascade runs through a rocky forested gorge on the firehole river.
One of my favorite shots from the park: Baring Falls, near the edge of McDonald Lake stands out against the subtlely colored canyon walls and.
The beautiful cascade on Baring Creek just before it flows into Saint Mary's Lake in Glacier National Park.