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While en route to Craters of the Moon National Park, photographer
Jean
Paul Vellotti and I made a pleasant, albeit accidental,
discovery: Twin Falls. Though we didn't have time to stay
long enough to sufficiently scout the light, the angles,
etc., we did research some great locations for photography.
Shoshone Falls
Nicknamed "The Niagara of the West,"
Shoshone Falls is actually about 50 feet taller than Niagara
Falls. The best time of year to photograph the falls is
between
October and April (in summer, much of the flow of the Snake
River is diverted for farm irrigation). But the very best
time
for photographing the falls is in the spring, when the water
flow is at its peak because of the thawing snow.
Best view is from the south rim of Snake River Canyon, in Shoshone
Falls/Dierkes Lake Park. You can also work from the north side
of the canyon, near the power plant.
Bring a polarizing filter. The waterfall kicks up plenty of
spray, and you can get rainbows (double rainbows were showing
when we were there) in front of the falls when the sun is to
your back in the afternoon. A polarizing filter will help emphasize
the rainbow. Also, the park is a popular tourist spot, so if
you go during midday on the weekend, be prepared to work around
some crowds.
In hot weather, walk over to Dierkes Lake (in the park) just
upstream from the falls. To the left of the swimming area is
a 30-foot ledge where you may find local kids cliff-jumping.
Rock Formations
Balanced Rock is about 50 feet tall,
weighs 40 tons, and balances on a 3-by-2-foot pedestal of rock.
You can find it southwest of the city of Buhl, about 10 to 15
miles from Route 30, in Salmon Falls Creek Canyon.
City of Rocks is a field of granite boulders that rise up to
600 feet. Popular with rock-climbers. Near the town of Burley,
about 40 miles east of Twin Falls.
Canyons
A great spot to photograph Snake River
Gorge is at the Perrine Bridge. The 1,500-foot bridge adds great
perspective to the 486-foot depth of the canyon in that spot.
The gorge and the bridge can be photographed from an observation
area on the south rim. To get to the bottom of the Snake River
Gorge near the bridge, follow Canyon Springs Road.
Near Hagerman (30 miles west of Twin Falls), you’ll find
Malad Gorge, 250 feet deep, carved by the Malad River. Malad
Gorge State Park is off Route 84 (exit 147). The park features
nature trails along the rim of the gorge and a footbridge over
the gorge from which you can photograph the 60-foot waterfall
that lands in Devil’s Washbowl. Best views are from the
bridge; for views from river level, look for the power station’s
service road off Route 30.
Also…
Route 30 through Hagerman Valley offers
several photography opportunities of old barns and houses.
Thousand Springs are waterfalls pouring out of the canyon walls.
Lots of green around the falls. Also near Hagerman.
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