Helmcken Falls in Winter

If one had painted a winter scene at Helmcken falls early in the 20th century, it would have been dismissed as a work of fantasy. In an example of how recently the colonial exploration of a lot of British Columbia was undertaken, the waterfall was not known to exist outside of the indigenous communities until it was discovered during a land survey by Robert Henry Lee in 1913. Here the Murtle River plunges down a spectacular 141 m (or 463 ft) in a single drop. To put this in some perspective this is nearly three times as high as Niagara Falls with the winter 'ice cone' that grows around the base of the waterfall reaching similar heights to Niagara itself (51m or 165ft). The falls are home to the world’s hardest ice climbs, which ascend up the overhanging spray ice in the cavern behind the waterfall. The Murtle river drops over the western escarpment of the Murtle Pleatu which was formed from lava deposited as part of the Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field 200,000 years ago. The falls themselves however did not form until the wide scale erosion and flooding that occurred in Canada after the massive glacial melting period at the end of the last ice age a mere 10,000 years ago. Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Natural Bridge

A three shot panorama of the Natural Bridge. It is a naturally formed rock arch over Cave Creek, a tributary of the Nerang River. It was formed from a waterfall which undercut a cave beneath the waterfall and dug a pothole on top, until the two joined and the creek flowed through the cave, leaving an arch across the front. The bridge is located in Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. The park is situated on the McPherson Range, near Springbrook, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Brisbane. The park is part of the Shield Volcano Group of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

Takakkaw Falls

Looking across the milky glacial melt water coming down from Takakkaw Falls. The falls plunge 380 metres (1,250 ft) with a large 254 metres (833 ft) drop in the middle. Takakkaw is said to "it is magnificent" in the Cree language. The falls are fed by the Daly Glacier which is part of the Waputik Icefield in Yoho National Park. British Columbia, Canada

The Eye of the Beholder

Deliciously ugly or stunningly beautiful, Johnston Canyon in the spring melt certainly gets ones attention. This is a closer look at the lower falls. Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Wallaman Falls

Wallaman Falls is the largest single drop waterfall in Australia. Stony Creek flows off the escarpment falling 305m (1,001 ft) , with the main single drop tumbling 268 metres (879 ft) through a rainbow-fringed cloud of mist to a large pool. Girringun National Park, Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Far North Queensland, Australia. Photo taken from a helicopter.

Sunwapta

The first snowfalls of the year always seem the most beautiful; like your brain has forgotten how transformative it is. This is a cloudy sunrise at Sunwapta falls after the first snow of the season. It sits on the Athabasca River that is fed by the Athabasca Glacier. Sunwapta is said to mean "turbulent water" in the Stoney language. Jasper National Park, Albeta, Canada. Make sure you have some snowshoes or crampons when trying to get this shot in the winter. We almost saw someone slide into the canyon scrambling down the ice in runners.

Morkill Falls

“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday's logic” Peter Drucker Down a lonely dirt road to an unmarked stop, the Morkill river rages with the spring melt. The sheer volume of water flowing in front of you as you stand on the edge of the upper falls warps your perspective and creates a swirling sensation like you’re going to be sucked into a vortex. If you can draw your eyes from the mesmerising flow in front of you two other significant waterfalls, which seem tiny in comparison, also majestically flow down into the drop here. I have done my best to capture one here along with the main fall, but you would need a drone to get the full perspective of the scene. We scrambled down some very slippery mossy cliffs to the bottom of the falls however the spray blocked any view from down at the river. It continues to amaze me how many places like this are lurking in Northern British Columbia, that in other countries would be considered national treasures and overrun with development and tourists, yet here are just sitting mostly unnoticed at the end of dirt forestry roads. We camped here the night and did not see another soul, unless you count the black bear which was wandering around the falls.

Russell Falls Ferns

There are some places in this world where you really do feel like you have stepped back into a different epoch. Once a part of the supercontinent Gondwana, the Australian and Antarctic plates were the last of the major Gondwanan continental plates to split, 45 million years ago. The subsequent isolation of Tasmania from the mainland of Australia resulted in remnant temperate rainforest with an incredibly diverse range of species descended from stock once widespread across Gondwana. Continental drift is much faster than people realize and the Australian continental plate, the fastest moving in the world, is currently moving to the north (with a slight clockwise rotation) at a rate of 7cm (2.7 inches) per year. This is has caused significant accuracy issues with the current fixed coordinate GPS satellite system in as little as two decades. Russell Falls, Mount Field National Park. Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Tasmania, Australia

Emperor Falls and Mt Robson

The amazing Emperor Falls. Can you spot the person at the base? The falls sit at 5,300 feet (1,600 m) high and cascade a total distance of 46 m (150 ft). The peak of Mount Robson behind rises to 3,954 m (12,972 ft). Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Helmcken Falls Summer

Helmcken Falls at the end of summer. The falls are home to the world’s hardest ice climbs, which ascend up the overhanging spray ice in the cavern behind the waterfall in winter. The Murtle River plunges down a spectacular 141 m (or 463 ft) in a single drop. To put this in some perspective this is nearly three times as high as Niagara Falls with the winter 'ice cone' that grows around the base of the waterfall reaching similar heights to Niagara itself (51m or 165ft). In an example of how recently the colonial exploration of a lot of British Columbia was undertaken, the waterfall was not known to exist outside of the indigenous communities until it was discovered during a land survey by Robert Henry Lee in 1913. The Murtle river drops over the western escarpment of the Murtle Pleatu which was formed from lava deposited as part of the Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field 200,000 years ago. The falls themselves however did not form until the wide scale erosion and flooding that occurred in Canada after the massive glacial melting period at the end of the last ice age a mere 10,000 years ago. Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Russell Falls

Perhaps the best known waterfall in Tasmania, Russell Falls never fails to impress. Now sitting inside Mount Field National Park the Falls Reserve was first established in 1885. Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Tasmania, Australia

Kinuseo Falls

The Murray River as it plunges an incredible 70m (229 ft) down the majestic Kinuseo Falls. First documented on a western map in 1906, Samuel Prescott Fay provided the first description of the falls in 1914 as part of a scientific expedition. He named the falls “Kinuseo”, which was fish in the native Cree language, due to the abundance of trout he observed above and below the falls. A second expedition in 1927 recorded “Kapaca Tignapy” as a traditional Cree name for the falls translating as “falling water”. Monkman Provincial Park, Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada.

Horseshoe Falls

It seems there is an endless supply of amazing waterfalls in Tasmania. Horseshoe Falls, Mount Field National Park, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Tasmania, Australia

Gold Creek Lower Falls

The Lower Falls along Gold Creek taken in Golden Ears Provincial Park. I was shocked at how busy this place was until we asked some people who told us there was a Vancouver #socality instameet happening. We then watched in horror as someone lost control of a two week old drone in the updraft coming off the waterfall which hit an overhanging tree branch and promptly plunged into the falls never to be seen again. I headed out off track into the forest to find some peace from the crowds for a while then came back to take this shot under heavy spray from the waterfall just before dusk with the falls to ourselves. We then almost got trapped in the park as unbeknownst to us they lock the gates at 5:30pm sharp at this time of year. Luckily there was still a ranger there who let us though so I did not miss my flight! Golden Ears Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is a naturally formed rock arch over Cave Creek, a tributary of the Nerang River. It was formed from a waterfall which undercut a cave beneath the waterfall and dug a pothole on top, until the two joined and the creek flowed through the cave, leaving an arch across the front. The bridge is located in Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. The park is situated on the McPherson Range, near Springbrook, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Brisbane. The park is part of the Shield Volcano Group of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

Maligne Lake Waterfall

Small cascade in the south western end of Maligne Lake. It’s a testimony to how brutal the winters are up here high in the Rockies that not even moss seems to be growing on these falls. I have only seen one picture of this waterfall up on the web and it was named as Teardrop Falls but my GPS for this spot does not correspond with where Teardrop Falls or Pin Cushion Point is on the map so I assume it’s another unnamed fall. If you know the name of the falls please send me a message. Jasper National Park. Alberta, Canada

Wahkeena Falls Sunset

Fires continue to rage in Columbia River George. It’s hard to imagine the normally wet george, which holds North America’s largest concentration of waterfalls (including 77 that are officially named) actually burning. The blaze was started by a 15 year old boy with some fireworks. It’s easy to blame the boy; but in reality we need to look at the causes behind the changing climate and increasingly regularity of these abnormal fire conditions. It’s been such a nightmare fire season right across BC and Alberta in Canada and throughout the US Pacific North West. In BC it has been by far the worst on record in terms of hectares burnt along with scores of long standing all time temperature records being smashed this summer. Here is hoping the wet micro climates in these side gullies protect some of the more fragile parts of what is often considered Oregon’s crown jewel. All we can do now is wait and see. Last light at Wahkeena Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA.

Spahats Creek Falls

Spahats Creek Falls make for an impressive sight as it plunges 73m (240ft) down to the canyon floor below. The canyon formed due to large volumes of glacial meltwaters pouring over the edge of the Clearwater Valley at the end of the last ice age 11,000 years ago. Spahats is an indigenous term for bear and the stream is also known as Bear Creek. Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Emperor Falls

Enjoying the sunshine at Emperor Falls. The falls sit at 5,300 feet (1,600 m) high and cascade a total distance of 46 m (150 ft). Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Jungle Pool

Anyone feel like a swim? Light dances around the green pool at the bottom of the the third level of Erawan Waterfall. Erawan National Park. Thailand. Love Life, Love Photography

Maligne Slot Canyon

Maligne Canyon just before it was gripped by winter. I have been in this canyon on numerous occasions but the light is frequently difficult down these slot canyons and it is hard to get a realistic final image without it looking overworked. On this occasion we were there just after midday however it was quite dark with passing snowstorms and not quite cold enough for the snow to stick. The light was soft enough to fit the entire dynamic range into a single image which was then edited in lightroom. This is in contrast to the normal time consuming layering that is often required for high dynamic range canyon shots. Looking forward to some ice hiking up this canyon this winter. Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Arctic Snowmelt

Ice melt forms an impromptu waterfall over the scree while descending from Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest peak at 2,111 metres (6,926 ft). Sitting in the Scandes (Scandinavian Mountains) at 67°53″ North, Kebnekaise lies within the Arctic circle and experiences 24 hour daylight during the summer months. Lapland, Sweden

Salto San Martin

Adventure boating at the Salto San Martin, Cataratas Del Iguazu, Argentina

Maligne Canyon Waterfall

The waterfall near the first bridge at Maligne Canyon just before winter set in. It was actually lightly snowing when I took this shot which helped to reduce the dynamic range and allow this to be taken as a single image. The snow was rendered invisible as it’s a 20 second exposure at f/16. It is a very deep canyon and I wanted to get a large depth of field with the f/16 without having to spend all day focus stacking. It is much deeper than it looks; if you scroll right back in my feed I have some shots of people ice climbing on this waterfall from the previous winter which provide a sense of scale. Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Kinuseo Falls and Murray River

A long predawn exposure of the Murray River with Kinuseo Falls plunging down 70m (229 ft) with Castle Mountain in the distance. First documented on a western map in 1906, Samuel Prescott Fay provided the first description of the falls in 1914 as part of a scientific expedition. He named the falls “Kinuseo”, which was fish in the native Cree language, due to the abundance of trout he observed above and below the falls. A second expedition in 1927 recorded “Kapaca Tignapy” as a traditional Cree name for the falls translating as “falling water”. Monkman Provincial Park, Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada.