The Hoëgne in the Belgian Ardennes is a river where woodland, rocks and flowing water sit close together. Long exposures play the main role in this series: they show the water differently from the way you see it on an ordinary walk.
The Hoëgne runs through a wooded valley with rocks, small waterfalls and rapids. Around the bridge at Belleheid and further upstream, footpaths follow the water. The alternation between quieter stretches and narrow passages is precisely what makes a river like this interesting to photograph.
You do not always need an expansive view. A small passage between stones can be enough for a picture that clearly shows the direction of the current and the shape of the water. The wood provides a very different backdrop from an open landscape.
From four to 579 seconds
For these photographs I used shutter speeds from four to 579 seconds, with a B+W 110 MRC ND filter. That is a dark neutral-density filter that lets you extend the exposure. At 579 seconds, the camera spends almost ten minutes recording what happens in front of the lens.
The stones stay put, but the flowing water changes shape. The longer the shutter remains open, the more that movement blends together. Short streaks of current can become a calm surface. A long exposure is therefore a choice about the picture you want, rather than an automatic improvement to every waterfall photograph.
Leaves and branches can also move during an exposure like this. A sturdy tripod prevents camera shake, but it cannot keep the wood still. The difference between those moving parts and the fixed rocks is part of the result.
Paths and wooden footbridges along the river can be slippery. Walking routes can also change because of maintenance, water conditions or diversions. Use local route information if you head out yourself; this photo report is not a walking guide.
Above all, these photographs form a series about time: the same flowing water takes on a different appearance through the chosen exposure, while its surroundings remain the fixed reference in the picture.
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