I prepared for the 5 mile round trip hike with thoughts of seeing a raging waterfall that is found on the end of the Leah trail here in Vermont. With an early start, I left myself some time to dawdle along the way if something interesting came up. The climb up the terrain was very wet and granite stones broke your stride so firm footing was a problem. My dawdle time was consumed just moving myself and my gear up the trail. For the most part the trail stayed on the East and North face of the mountain, keeping temps and midmorning light low. It was only towards the last 3/4 of a mile that the trail moved forward on the West side and that is when the real snow melt began.
The Vermont region had had two feet of snow a week prior and the soaring temps was creating an early spring thaw feeling. I had to refrain myself from cupping my hands to collect and drink the mountain fresh water pouring out of this fifteen foot high rock-face. Yet, what interested me more, was the luminance of this lone red leaf, stuck somehow vertically to the rock as water tricked heavily all around it. I traveled to this outdoor location with my D3s, tripod and 24-120 all attached to my think tank pro pack and now it was time to create and capture my Image. (the waterfall be damned)
There is water and mud all over, so your movements with the electronics needs to be disciplined, somehow I pulled it all together and started to frame my Image. I shot this little red leaf from a number of angles and at various distances and sizes in the frame. Yet a voice said to me, keep it simple, it’s a simple subject and a simple joy to be here, so before it all slips away into the forest and streams of Vermont, take your click of the Leah leaf.
