The Changing Faces of Lookout Mountain: DeSoto Falls in Winter and Spring

There is a unique magic to the Mentone area that keeps drawing me back to Lookout Mountain season after season. As a landscape photographer, returning to a favorite location isn’t about repeating myself—it’s about witnessing the incredible ways nature shifts, breathes, and completely reinvents a landscape throughout the year.

To truly appreciate a place, you have to see it at its extremes. Recently, I had the chance to capture DeSoto Falls at two completely opposite moments in time: trapped in a deep winter freeze, and waking up in the peak of spring.

Phase 1: Winter’s Stark Grip

The Image: "Icy DeSoto Falls"

This year, I returned to the exact same vantage point to witness the reward of a new season. The contrast was remarkable. The heavy winter ice and bare branches were long gone, replaced by a powerful, thundering flow of water rushing over the precipice after heavy rains earlier in the week.

Standing in the exact same spot, the layout of the falls felt entirely different. You can easily trace all three distinct chapters of the waterfall’s journey: the regulated spillway of the upper dam, the churning middle tier carved deeply into the stone, and the final, massive plunge into the emerald basin below.

The real star of the return trip, though, was the foliage. The dense gray rock of the canyon walls was suddenly framed by the most vibrant, electric spring greens imaginable. It no longer felt like a cold, stark canyon—it looked like a living, breathing paradise tucked away in the mountains.

The Behind-the-Scenes Strategy

Whether shooting in the freezing cold or the mild spring air, a few technical rules stayed the same to keep these images sharp and cohesive:

The Rock-Solid Tripod: When you are trying to capture the texture of rock or ice while blurring water, camera shake is the enemy. Both shots were locked down firmly on a tripod.

Slowing Down the Shutter: By slowing down the shutter speed, I was able to turn the chaotic, roaring torrent of water into a silky, graceful ribbon. This smooth texture creates a beautiful contrast against both the jagged winter ice and the soft spring leaves.

Which Season Speaks to You?

That contrast of sharp ice vs. exploding life is exactly why I named the second piece “Heart of Mentone.” It captures the living, breathing essence of why people fall in love with this mountain town.

Every location has a story to tell, but sometimes you have to read more than one chapter to get the full picture. Whether you prefer the dramatic, frozen architecture of “Icy DeSoto” or the lush, thriving energy of “Heart of Mentone,” they stand together as a beautiful reminder of how stunning change can be.

Both prints are available at bamaprice.com — each one ready to bring a piece of Lookout Mountain into your home.

Last year, I headed up to the falls right after a brutal Alabama hard freeze. When I arrived, the entire gorge felt quiet and frozen in time. The surrounding trees were completely bare, stripped down to their stark grey branches, which opened up a clear, uninterrupted view of the massive canyon walls.

While the water was still powerfully carving its way over the drop, the true details were hidden in the edges:

• Giant, dramatic icicles hung like crystal chandeliers from the dark rock shelves beneath the falls.
• Frozen shelves of white ice lined the rim of the plunge pool.
• The water in the basin below took on a chillingly deep, rich teal hue.

It was a beautiful scene, but it felt heavy, quiet, and stark. I loved the architectural quality of the ice against the rock, but the moment the weather warmed up, I knew I had to plan a return trip.

Phase 2: Spring’s Full Glory

The Image: “Heart of Mentone”

This year, I returned to the exact same vantage point to witness the reward of a new season. The contrast was remarkable. The heavy winter ice and bare branches were long gone, replaced by a powerful, thundering flow of water rushing over the precipice after heavy rains earlier in the week.

Standing in the exact same spot, the layout of the falls felt entirely different. You can easily trace all three distinct chapters of the waterfall’s journey: the regulated spillway of the upper dam, the churning middle tier carved deeply into the stone, and the final, massive plunge into the emerald basin below.

The real star of the return trip, though, was the foliage. The dense gray rock of the canyon walls was suddenly framed by the most vibrant, electric spring greens imaginable. It no longer felt like a cold, stark canyon—it looked like a living, breathing paradise tucked away in the mountains.

The Behind-the-Scenes Strategy

Whether shooting in the freezing cold or the mild spring air, a few technical rules stayed the same to keep these images sharp and cohesive:

• The Rock-Solid Tripod: When you are trying to capture the texture of rock or ice while blurring water, camera shake is the enemy. Both shots were locked down firmly on a tripod.
• Slowing Down the Shutter: By slowing down the shutter speed, I was able to turn the chaotic, roaring torrent of water into a silky, graceful ribbon. This smooth texture creates a beautiful contrast against both the jagged winter ice and the soft spring leaves.

Which Season Speaks to You?

That contrast of sharp ice vs. exploding life is exactly why I named the second piece “Heart of Mentone.” It captures the living, breathing essence of why people fall in love with this mountain town.

Every location has a story to tell, but sometimes you have to read more than one chapter to get the full picture. Whether you prefer the dramatic, frozen architecture of “Icy DeSoto” or the lush, thriving energy of “Heart of Mentone,” they stand together as a beautiful reminder of how stunning change can be.

Both prints are available in my Alabama Waterfalls Collection — each one ready to bring a piece of Lookout Mountain into your home.