Elements

Even the most energetic of nature's displays can go unnoticed. Today Susan and I walked to the Olmstead overlook of the Great Falls of the Potomac, in the C&O Canal National Historical Park. There weren't many people around.

We've had a lot of precipitation this year: 6.5 inches so far, compared to an average less than 5 inches. This past week we had thunderstorms dumping rain on top of recent snow cover, and 60-degree temperatures. This morning Susan felt a need to be near the water, and water we found. The river was very high and turbulent.

It's hard to capture the energy of the river in a photograph. You can't hear the roar or feel the vibration of the footbridges over channels like the one pictured below. But the image gives some idea. Mind you, this is a side channel; the falls themselves are much larger. It sort of transports me to get close to this awe-inspiring force for a bit. Thank you, Susan. Without your instincts this might have been just another Sunday morning.

Potomac channel on Olmsted Island, Great Falls, MD

The details: Pentax K-5 handheld, 1/640 sec. at f/8, ISO 800, 24mm (smc Pentax DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM)