Larry Treadwell
August 2026 - Midnight Hole
About the Image(s)
Midnight Hole
Nikon D850 Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 @30mm. ISO 100, f18, 25 seconds, Tripod, circular polarizer
It goes without saying that It has been brutally hot. But there is a hidden location in the Smokies where the sun does not shine. Located on the eastern edge of Smoky Mountain NP is the Big Creek Picnic area. From the parking lot (you must have a Smoky Mountain parking permit is park) it is only a 1.4 mile walk with an 800 foot elevation gain along an old jeep logging road. The entire walk is under thick tree canopy that will keep you cool while on the trail. The pool is nearly 80 feet wide and perhaps 50 feet from the splash pool to where Deep Creek picks up again. About 3 feet below the surface is a submerged rock ledge around the edge of the pool. The ledge has a sharp dropoff that plunges to about 20 feet, the water is black as, well, Midnight. On the far side of the pool are 3 nine foot waterfalls that feed the pool. The water is ice cold even in the middle of the summer. During the afternoon teenagers come to dive from the boulders but they left before dark. When everyone was gone, I waded out into the pool and set up my tripod to capture this image and then had a refreshing swim. If you can be alone at the pool the mood is calm and serene. I highly recommend you enjoy the experience.
19 comments posted
I have been to the Smokies at least 8 times and never saw this location. Well found. I like the composition with the boulders framing the falls, the trees providing a canopy, and the darkness of the water emphasizing the name of the location. The shutter speed is a maker's choice. The middle fall looks a bit weird to me with the edges appearing sharp. I am surprised at 25 seconds that the water in the pool still seemed to have some texture to it. Posted: 08/03/2026 23:57:58
Thanks Michael
I don't think it is the middle "falls" that has the sharp edges. I think it is the edge of the boulders that just have clean lines.
Many years ago I found a book in one of the visitor centers that listed to 45 named falls and cascades in Smoky NP. I made it a point to see a few each year and have actually completed the entire list. Sadly the book says three of the falls rarely have water on them unless there has been major rain fall. In spite of several tries to capture each of the three, I've only got 1 with water on it. At least I came close. Posted: 08/04/2026 00:32:35
I don't think it is the middle "falls" that has the sharp edges. I think it is the edge of the boulders that just have clean lines.
Many years ago I found a book in one of the visitor centers that listed to 45 named falls and cascades in Smoky NP. I made it a point to see a few each year and have actually completed the entire list. Sadly the book says three of the falls rarely have water on them unless there has been major rain fall. In spite of several tries to capture each of the three, I've only got 1 with water on it. At least I came close. Posted: 08/04/2026 00:32:35
You are right, it is the edge of the boulder. You are a brave person to do this at midnight - hiking there with bears in the park. Thanks for the reference. I think I have a lot of the falls, including those just outside the park, and cascades, but missed this one. Posted: 08/04/2026 19:17:14
Just for fun, here is a shot of Midnight Hole taken at midnight ( I had to do it). The exposure was 8 seconds and there was not even a breath of moving air. It was also really spooky standing waist deep in the cold water with my flashlight turned off. Posted: 08/04/2026 00:44:48
Hi Larry. Well I live in NC and have been to this area many, many times but have never been or even heard about this little patch of heaven. Thanks for sharing! I like how the image is edited to make the falls the center stage. The dark water against the white falls and naturally lit background trees is well done. I also noticed the sharpness of the middle falls against the rock. It almost looks like there is a halo along the rock. Also very nice 2nd image of the falls. Posted: 08/04/2026 22:38:10
Thanks Barbara. If you go to this "little patch of heaven be sure to have enough time to walk an extra 1/2 mile to see Mouse Falls. It is small, has two levels and is quite lovely. Normally there are some nice foreground rocks where I'm standing, but the water was high on this trip and the rocks were submerged. Posted: 08/05/2026 00:33:49
Larry, you certainly have a lot of adventures to get your image. I love how smooth the long exposure has made the water and the contrast of the dark pool with the lighter rocks and foliage. I do see a couple of small artifacts in the picture. The first is a halo between the rock on the right of the middle waterfall. This is likely a camera artifact, rather than a post processing one, I have had this problem on some images my self, typically at an interface of dark and light. It can be fixed in Photoshop with the Healing Brush tool with the mode set to darken. The second artifact is the lower right corner of the image appears substantially darker that the rest of the image with a visible line. Could the polarizer be doing this? I see a possible vignette in the other corners, but hardly noticeable. Posted: 08/05/2026 02:24:27
This late at night I didn't use a polarizer and there is no vignette, I never use them. I'll check out the halos. Thanks Posted: 08/09/2026 18:18:38
Beautiful, Larry. I have actually been to Mouse Falls, hiking in about 4 miles round trip, much of it in light rain. The first place we stopped may have been this one, but I remember nothing about it because my lens was totally fogged up and I couldn't take a photo to save my life. I should have just packed up my camera and enjoyed the experience, but I gave up and went on to Mouse Falls where it cleared up. I'm sorry to miss such a wonderful place. The stories of your adventures are fun to read. I really like the perspective of being in the water as you were shooting. I don't know if I'd have the nerve to do that, especially at midnight--no, I do know the answer to that question! I also really like the way the trees do not compete with the falls but provide a soft, serene backdrop. Posted: 08/10/2026 19:55:58
I'm sure I would have remembered this place. I don't think I saw it. I wonder how far off the trail to Mouse Falls it was. Posted: 08/11/2026 11:43:41
Not far. Certainly not more than 20 feet to the near edge of the pool. The falls arfe partly hidden because they are set into the rock at the up river end of the pool. The area is well worn because so many swimmers use the pool and jump off the rocks. The is no ground cover left just lots of cleared dirt and rocks. Posted: 08/11/2026 15:21:32
Well, I'm going to go back and look for that sometime. There was no one on the trail when we were there. A cold, damp day. Posted: 08/11/2026 15:25:30
There is a lot of balance and symmetry in this composition. A rhythm of 3. This is like poetry. 3 horizontal planes, 3 water falls, 3 textures, 3 colors etc. Lovely! My only question is what is the dark triangle at the bottom right corner ? BTW the midnight photo is exceptional as well. Is it cropped on top ?
Posted: 08/11/2026 13:01:18
Posted: 08/11/2026 13:01:18
Thanks Adi. I'm quite interested in your comment about all the "threes". After reading your comment then they really stand out and I feel foolish for not seeing that before.
As for the dark spot. The center of the pool, because of its width has no tree cover. However, if you note the thickness of the trees behind the falls and then consider that the trees are that thick all around the pool that may account for the shadow. I absolutely did not use a vignette. I guess I could have opened those shadows and have solved the problem. Posted: 08/11/2026 15:18:06
As for the dark spot. The center of the pool, because of its width has no tree cover. However, if you note the thickness of the trees behind the falls and then consider that the trees are that thick all around the pool that may account for the shadow. I absolutely did not use a vignette. I guess I could have opened those shadows and have solved the problem. Posted: 08/11/2026 15:18:06
See attached. did you use a lens hood ? Posted: 08/12/2026 17:32:39
Hi Adi
I never use a lens hood for that lens it is huge and does not fit well in my hiking camera bag. I know the area you are referring to. I think it is just from the overhang the trees, but I could be (and probably am ) wrong. Posted: 08/12/2026 19:37:08
I never use a lens hood for that lens it is huge and does not fit well in my hiking camera bag. I know the area you are referring to. I think it is just from the overhang the trees, but I could be (and probably am ) wrong. Posted: 08/12/2026 19:37:08
Posted: 08/12/2026 17:34:32
Well, regardless, this is a very poetic scene and a beautiful photo.
Posted: 08/14/2026 00:41:54
Posted: 08/14/2026 00:41:54
Hard to imagine this lovely wilderness waterfall full of people after seeing your images. After reading others' feedback, I looked for - and found - the halos, and wonder if it was just an effect of backlighting from the sun ...?
The dark shadow in lower right jumped out at me right away, even before seeing Adi's example. I did a cheap and (not-so) cheerful quick lighten in LRC for your consideration. Even in its flawed orchestration, think it opens up the foreground a lot and draws the viewer right into the scene. Posted: 08/18/2026 03:00:34
The dark shadow in lower right jumped out at me right away, even before seeing Adi's example. I did a cheap and (not-so) cheerful quick lighten in LRC for your consideration. Even in its flawed orchestration, think it opens up the foreground a lot and draws the viewer right into the scene. Posted: 08/18/2026 03:00:34