Triplets

My alarm sounded at 3:00 AM on a Thursday morning. I could hear the water rushing by my campsite as I was loading my camera equipment in the car. As I sipped my first cup of coffee I pulled up directions to a waterfall on the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. There's nothing like the early morning hikes before the sun comes up.

The anticipation grew as I hiked, dodging spider webs illuminated by my headlamp. At that time of day, you know you're close by the intensifying sound of the waterfall. I took a hard left and scurried down the rocks to the water's edge. The weather was perfect, but the water was freezing. Rolling up my pants I took the first shock of the freezing mountain stream water. The best composition was in the middle of the river and I knew it.

I live for mornings like this. Solitude and silence in nature are some of the happiest moments I've had.

Location: North Carolina, United States Size: 6090x4060