Landscape photographers regularly try to seek out new locations to capture natural beauty. If you live somewhere where natural beauty is in abundance, you may have countless locations to explore. In other areas, natural beauty may be confined to widely spaced pockets, and it can be challenging to find new locations that scratch that itch for great photography.
In Ohio, we are probably closer to the latter description. There are some wonderful locations spread throughout the state, but they’re still somewhat limited. And here in Ohio, you’d better like streams, gorges and woods as your preferred landscape background.
I’ve traveled around the state and viewed many of the beautiful waterfalls, the deep gorges, the sandstone caves and cliffs, and they’re great places to go. but every once in a while you find a small out-of-the-way location that exceeds expectations. Such is the case with Massies Creek. Massies Creek is a relatively small creek that runs through an area in the middle of nowhere, Ohio, and for the most part it’s somewhat unremarkable. There’s a waterfall at one point that is OK to look at, but nothing special to photograph, and some nice trails that run along the creek.
However, there is one spot nestled among the rocks, where the natural flow of the creek and the fallen rocks and trees create something special. When you peek around the corner and come upon this area, it’s like a paradise from back in time. I enjoy the photos I’ve gotten there, but I don’t think I’ve quite captured the feel of this location, which is simply breathtaking. I’ve only had a chance to shoot this location twice. Once was in the fall of 2017, where water levels were fairly low, and recently fallen trees lent a wild and rustic feel to the area. My favorite shot from that visit is below:
I wasn’t able to get back to shoot again until a few weeks ago. The spring rains had significantly elevated the water level in the creek, and made it more wild. Smaller falls appeared that weren’t present before, and the majority of the fallen logs from the previous trip had been swept downstream over time. It was very different, but if anything even more beautiful. Below are a few images from my latest trip there. I hope you enjoy them!
Totally agree with your statement about seeking new locations yet let us not forget the change of light and seasons at our neighboring and therefore most common locations. As always, beautiful photos and insightful write-up, a very encouraging reminder that we haven’t seen everything yet, no matter how many or few times we go there. Here in southeastern Arizona, the challenge is very real, it is not the most obvious location to spot the change of seasons and finding a perennial stream is a never-ending challenge. Still, I go and seek, it is all part of the challenge of traveling the landscape photographer road.
Thanks,
Eduardo Palazuelos Romo
Your captures are always why I come back to your site…the information is wonderful but you do inspire. In any situation you chose to shoot (people, places, things) and then cull to share you make it something worth a little bit of study. This article really just explains a little of the how you put in the elbow grease to do it. Thanks…I think I want to go capture some frames now myself.
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Is this the Massies Creek near Xenia/Cedarville? Did you access it via Peterson Park or somewhere else?
I assume you’ve been to Clifton Gorge / John Bryant / Glen Helen?
As a native Ohioan (Centerville – suburb of Dayton), I love seeing your photos of Columbus and Hocking Hills and other areas!
I just purchased a Nikon Z6 with the 24-70 f/4 S, which will arrive tomorrow, and so I’m looking forward to making use of the nice weather right now! I actually live in Tennessee now, but visit my family up here quite a bit (as I am now).