On The Road June 2, 2019

PHOTOGRAPHYING ALLEY SPRING

(Click on Any Image To Enlarge It)

Our trip included three stops, Alley Spring Mill, Falling Spring Mill, and Hodgson Mill.  This blog post will concentrate on our first stop at Alley SpringMill.  We left Jefferson City at 5 AM to allow us to get to Alley Spring in the morning light plus stop in Rolla at the Waffle House for breakfast.  This is approximately a two and a half hour trip not including our stopover in Rolla.  We took Hwy 50 east to Hwy 63.  Outside Licking, MO we got on Hwy 137 and at Yukon, MO got on Hwy 17 until we reached Summerville then took Hwy 106 to the Mill.  We got there around 8:30 AM.  However, since we are on daylight savings time it was 7:30 AM by the sunlight.  

Nikon D850, 20mm Lens, f/16, Sutter at 0.6sec, ISO 100, EV -0.67, 6-stop ND Filter, and Polarizer

Alley Spring is a designated area since 04/20/2007.  It consists of 795 acres and is located in Shannon County.  It is owned by the National Park Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation.  It is the 7^th largest spring in Missouri with a discharge of 81 million gallons per day.

The first thing I noticed was how green and lush everything was.  It was a sunny day with some clouds.  Cool with little to no humidity.  No mosquitoes but there are nats so pack some spray. We were able to set up and get in a few shots before a lot of visitors showed up.  This is a very popular place and always attracts families with children.  There is a lot to see, old school house, a museum in the mill, a store, and several really nice hiking trails.  I was shooting with Nikon and Bob Canon.  I have been to this spot several times over the past ten years and never get tired of photographing it.  It is really photogenic with its flowing water and red mill.  Add the green surroundings and a blue sky and you have a beautiful color pallet. I love to photograph moving water and prefer to capture it in varies textures rather than freezing it in action. 

For this outing, I opted to shoot with the D850 and a 20mm prime lens.  Because I wanted to slow the flow of the water to give it a creamy look I used a 6-stop ND Filter (Neutral Density) plus I added a polarize filter in order to remove any glare on the surface water. In hindsight, I wish I had a 3-stop ND Filter which would have allowed me to still obtain the smooth flow I was after but with more texture in the water. Also, it is important to consider the force of the water movement.  The more powerful the water flow the faster a shutter speed you can use to obtain various water textures.  Okay so want am I talking about.  The faster the water is flowing the more it will add a natural blur unless you shoot at really fast shutter speed.   

To better demonstrate this I am including three images from different locations on different trips taken at different shutter speeds. During this trip to Alley Spring I used a shutter speed of about 1 second but when I shot the Upper Falls in Yellowstone National Park I was able to accomplish my objective with a Shutter Speed of 1/200 of a second.  The power and speed at which the water flows over the Upper Falls is pretty intense.  Consider the next three images. The first one of Soco Falls was shot at 1.3 seconds. 

Soco Falls: Nikon D600, 24-70mm Lens, f/10, 1.3 Seconds, ISO 200

Note the creaminess of the water or as some call this the cotton candy effect.  The second image was captured at 1/8 of a second.  Here there is more texture present as you can see more contrast in the water. 

Alley Spring Cascade: Pentax K-3, 70-200mm Lens @ 77.5mm, f/8, 1/8 Second, ISO 100

Now, look at the third image of the Lower Falls of Yellowstone, which was taken at 1/200 of a second. 

Yellowstone Lower Falls: Nikon D700, 24-70mm Lens, f/10, 1/200 Second, ISO 200, EV -1.33

There is nice texture but there is still blurriness of the water showing movement.  The speed at which the water is flowing over the falls is to fast to be frozen in time with a shutter speed of 1/200.

FYI: I use a filter holder for filters that are 100mm X 100mm and adapter rings for my various lens sizes.  For me, this system works much better than the screw on filters, especially if you use a telephoto lens. Sensei Filter Holder

For my first set up, on this trip, I opted for a wide angle view to incorporate the colors of reds, blues, greens, and yellows.  The light was awesomely soft and draped the landscape to highlight my subject and helped create more depth-of-field.  This was a single exposure, shot in RAW.  I have come to rely on my histogram on the camera’s LCD screen instead of the image.  Why?  Because all cameras process an image to display in preview mode and too many times I have gotten back home and my images were too dark.  Using the histogram as your guide will improve your landscape keepers a lot. 

Alley Spring: Nikon D850, 20mm Lens, f/16, 1/5 Second, ISO 100, EV -0.67

Alley Spring, the natural area’s namesake, is the seventh largest spring in Missouri. The spring conduit is known to extend at least 3000 feet underground and reaches at least 155 feet below the surface. Rainfall and runoff entering sinkholes around the town of Summersville, 15 miles to the northwest, has been determined to enter the labyrinth of cave passageways formed in dissolved dolomite ( a type of limestone) under the Missouri Ozarks and exit at Alley Spring. 

There are two trails to enjoy while you are there, the shorter one is (0.3 mile) and follows the spring branch as it travels to join the Jack Fork River.  This is an easy hike which will take you behind the mill. 

The trail along this stretch can be a little wet as water runs down the sides of the rock cliffs. Continue on and you will come upon a nice cascade.

Alley Spring Cascade: Nikon D850, 20mm Lens, f/16, 1.0 Seconds, ISO 64, EV -0.67

The short trail is clean with a nice small rock base that makes for easy hiking.  Over the years I have photographed just about every section of this trail and it never gets old to revisit it.  You will also discover some nice rock bluffs, cavities, and rock formations.  

Alley Spring Rock-2009: Pentax K-7, 12-24mm Lens, f/4, 1/13 Seconds, ISO 400

This area is shaded and there is a nice bridge to take you back to the parking lot.  There are numerous areas to relax for a nice picnic.  But remember if you pack it in. Pack it out. 

Alley Spring gristmill that was built in 1894. Despite the historic use of the spring to power a mill, Alley Spring has retained its biological integrity. The cool waters issuing forth from Alley Spring flow through a spring branch for a half-mile before entering the Jacks Fork River. Here in the spring branch cool water (58 degrees Fahrenheit) provides habitat for colorful Ozark fishes including the southern redbelly dace, the Ozark sculpin, and the bleeding shiner.

Alley Spring is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers are two of the finest floating rivers you'll find anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails and historic sites such as Alley Mill.  There is a lot to see it this area, Round Spring, Blue Spring, Rocky Falls, Klepzig Mill, just to mention a few.  This is a great place to spend a weekend with friends or family.  Close and very affordable.  Thanks for visiting this blog.  Comments and inquires welcome.