C & O Canal, June 2020

One of my favorite places in the Washington, DC, area is the C & O Canal.

The C&O Canal operated from 1831 until 1924 along the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland. The canal's principal cargo was coal from the Allegheny Mountains. Construction on the 184.5-mile canal began in 1828 and ended in 1850 with the completion of a 50-mile stretch to Cumberland. Rising and falling over an elevation change of 605 feet, it required the construction of 74 canal locks, 11 aqueducts to cross major streams, more than 240 culverts to cross smaller streams, and the 3,118 ft Paw Paw Tunnel. By the 1870's railroads, with larger locomotives, were able to set rates lower than the canal, and thus seal its fate.

One particular section of the canal, wide water, located west of Old Anglers Inn, is especially interesting with diverse wildlife and interesting views.

One of the locks used to manage water level in the canal.

August in Lost River, WV

The last week in August provided gracious weather for my week of landscape photography.  As most photographers know, the early morning light is the most favorable to exceptional images.  As I found out, that "early morning light" can mean several different situations spread across several hours.

The first light, before the sun appears, that ethereal blue, fades quickly along with the morning stars.  Expect very long exposures; it's really, really, dim.

The Lost River Valley is, well, a valley and therefore the sun hides behind the eastern ranges until it is rather high in the sky.  The light here becomes more golden, and in the days of late summer, is not yet strong enough to burn off the clouds that have settled overnight.  Wonderful light with the distances shrouded in fog.

Once the sun comes out of hiding, the light is pure gold, the shadows cast are long and deep.  Barns, tools and tractors, still covered in the early mist can be magical.

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A Morning at Great Falls

Not having visited Great Falls, MD, in some time, I decided to get an early morning start.  The weather on Friday was as good as a summer day gets in the area with light winds, low humidity and a clear sky.  Traffic going out of DC was not bad and the roads along the Potomac River were pleasant. 

The C&O National Historic Park, at the end of MacArthur Blvd, is open from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.  It was well past that when I arrived.  Hiking out to the observation deck on Olmsted Island, I noticed that the small side stream, usually rushing with water were mostly dry.

At that hour, I had the observation deck to myself and was able to set up my tripod.  Note to self:  find a taller tripod that will clear the railings easily.  It was only then that I realized that the sun was still behind the hills surrounding the river basin.  Took some shots anyway and hiked along the towpath.

Great Falls from the Maryland shore