If you look at my Instagram feed, Facebook Page, or anywhere else where I tend to post my photos, you’ll know that lately, I’ve had a small obsession with waterfalls. There’s just something about a cascade of water that is awe-inspiring, leaving me no choice but to photograph it. Oh, and my home state of Kentucky just so happens to be full of beautiful waterfalls! I figured I’d take some time to show off some of my recent waterfall shots and maybe tell some of the stories behind them.

I’d been obsessively checking the weather reports for weeks in advance. It looked like I would finally have a weather window to get the sunrise shot I envisioned. The plan was relatively straightforward. I’d drive down to the Great Smoky Mountains on Friday and get on the trail up to the summit of Mt. Leconte no later than 3 a.m. on Saturday. Then, I’d simply wait around and photograph the sunrise from Myrtle Point. How hard could it be?

Visitors to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge know that, at this point, there are very few truly hidden spots left in the area. There are some, however, and Sky View Arch is one of them.