There are only a handful of things that will pull me out of bed before sunrise… the promise of beautiful waterfall views, gorgeous photogenic skies, and a full charge on my camera are just a few of these things! In this Photo Adventure, come along with me as we photograph the beautiful Fall Creek Falls located in Swan Valley in Southeastern Idaho. We’re greeted with low fluffy clouds filling the valley, beautiful pastel skies, and a bright sun rising up over the Snake River Range. Plus, I share the story of the Swan Valley Monster, a truly grotesque and frightening creature first sighted in the summer of 1868! Using AI Generative Fill in Photoshop, we’ll even build this monster together as the story unfolds. Buckle up, grab some popcorn, because this one’s a doozie!

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Featured Photos:

This first photo was one of the first shots I fired off after arriving at the falls. I couldn’t believe how vibrant the pink refection of the sunrise was as it slowly moved  across the bottom right corner of the scene. In order to capture the vibrant color in the sky, I blended two exposures in Photoshop, one for the sky and one for the foreground. This ended up being one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken. I love the flowing water of the waterfall, the colors reflected off the water, and the touches of yellow and gold in the rocks and vegetation. For me, it captures the calmness of the moment I pressed the shutter button, and I love that!

The following photos feature Photo Veils from the Botanical and Illumination Collections. Check out the before and after photos below (before photos include foundation edits, after photos show the addition of Photo Veils).

Nikon D850 | 14-24mm lens at 14mm | f/11 | 1/5 sec | ISO 800

As the sun peeked above the mountain range in the distance, it created this magical appearance over the valley. The morning sunlight shining through the mist rising up above the water’s surface, illuminating the tips of the green foliage in the foreground, I love everything about this image!

Nikon D850 | 70-200mm lens at 70mm | f/18 | 1/60 sec | ISO 200
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I used my 70-200mm lens to zoom in as far as I could to the mist in the distance. I fired off several shots as the mist moved in and out of the trees lining the river bank. This was the one that showed both the mist and the trees so clearly. I love the ethereal quality the sunlight gives this photo!

Nikon D850 | 70-200mm lens at 200mm | f/18 | 1/200 sec | ISO 200

If you’ve seen my previous Photo Adventures, you know I love sharing interesting histories and unique stories of the places we visit and the things I photograph. Well, as I researched Swan Valley, Idaho, I came across a story that beats all other stories! Let me introduce you to the Swan Valley Monster…

AI Generated Swan Valley Monster

What’s Up Next?

We’re going hunting for fall color in Part 2 of our drive home from Eastern Idaho. This Photo Adventure features the beautiful Palisades area, some back roads excursions, and lots of fall vibes!

In the meantime, make sure you head on over to Youtube and subscribe so you don’t miss any of the fun! You can also sign up for our newsletter, where you’ll be the first to know when we drop a new episode. Until next time, get out there, get clickin’, adventure awaits!

Want to Try Photo Veils?

Want to try some Veils and Textures on your own photos? Grab a free sample pack here.

*Resources: The story of the Swan Valley Monster was taken from A Book of Creatures.

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