Cascade de Courmes Photo

Photographer’s Note

Deep below Gordon the river Loup is squeezed into a rift between the steep mountainsides in Gorges du Loup. The narrow road D6 - called Route des Gorges - follows the river on the eastern side all the way from Pont-du-Loup to Bramafan.

For about 6 kms (4 mi) the road and the river shares whatever space available, which means that - although the sights are many - parking is sparse. And at a couple of places the road is tunneled through the rocks, which was paid for by the Cycling Club of France(!) early in the 20th century.

Just at the end of one of these tunnels I found this beautiful fall, where a veil of water is spread by the breeze. It falls 40m (131ft) from the edge onto the pool in the hollow cliff below, continues under the road and another 25m (82ft) down to the Loup river.

It's called Cascade de Courmes after the village which is situated at a cul-de-sac above the fall. This is a small rural village with only 88 inhabitants in typical stone houses - and an 'auberge' with a reputation reaching far outside Alpes Maritimes.

The only way to access the fall was to park on the other side of the tunnel (see WS) and walk back - a bit intimidating with the traffic - only to be met by signs forbidding entrance to the 'pool area'. They were easily infringed on a hot August afternoon.

And the coolness was refreshing!

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Image rotated 2,5°CW, cropped, ran autocontrast, adjusted levels, increased brightness +5 and contrast +10, increased saturation +10, resized for TE, USM sharpened, framed and saved for Web.

jiherka, digi-mom, kent_s, Dizzy, ktanska, Porteplume, pamastro, rildin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

maphoto (8076) 2006-01-12 21:20

Nice tight view Kaj, you managed the light pretty well in this deep hole, the speed was good and you still managed to freeze nicely the falls, good work and also excellent texture of the surrounding rocks, thanks for sharing.

jiherka (4463) 2006-01-13 7:19

Hello Kaj,
Nice view of this cascade. The valley seems to be quite boxed. This gives the beautiful shadow on the wall.
Well done Kaj.
Salutations
Jacques

digi-mom (1064) 2006-01-15 22:40

An amazing looking place, and I like how you've captured the scale of the place with this angle and position among the lower curves in the rocks. The brightness above is over shadowed by the balance of the dark lower corner, in a kind of a yin yang way. And a nice workshop photo too! :o)

kent_s (1911) 2006-01-16 12:05

Hej Kaj
A very great place you found here. I almost expect a John Bauer troll coming out from the cave.
This pic is probably impossible to get a correct exposure with these dark caves and that strong sunlight but you managed it well. Even so did I make a WS where I darkened the part in the strongest sunlight

Well done
Hälsningar
Kent

[workshop] [compare]

Dizzy (36) 2006-01-19 7:10

Kaj, I don't need to tell you how appealing this image is - and the note is also first class!

I compared this image with Kent's workshop of it. I agree with Kent's darkening of the very brightest parts but prefer your original in other respects. The very dark shadow halfway down the Workshop spoils it for me.

How refreshing to read the PP details. This not only tells us what has been altered from the original (as seen by the camera, even if not true!) but it also teaches the 'tricks of the trade' to novices like myself. Excellent!

David.

ktanska (16393) 2006-02-08 5:52

Hej Kaj,
Tricky place for photography with so big light differences. But you have managed this well.
Good vertical framing. Bright water spray against dark background. And short exposure freezing the drops. Lovely place indeed!
Kari

Porteplume (3255) 2006-02-12 13:28

Bonjour ami Kaj, la vue est magnifique! :o)

A wonderful view indeed.
The image suggests a feeling of freshness and warmth at the same time. I think it must have been quite difficult to handle the light, trying to avoid overexposition and too strong contrasts. You succeeded very well though, and, just like David/Dizzy, I think I prefer your version that shows us more details of the colourful relief of the rocks.

* And of course you are Mister Notes Nr1! Always very accurate, precise and very well presented. It invites us to read.

Amicalement - Viviane

repaulson (607) 2006-05-15 13:01

Great shot of the power of water! Looks very refreshing Kaj!

Ross

nels (2455) 2006-10-05 10:44