Expect to get wet...

Oh don’t be fooled, it was a very wet and cold day!

When I got offered to abseil down a waterfall, I didn’t think much off it. I assumed that I would only be getting my feet wet and maybe a splash in the face. Here in Melbourne, Australia the waterfalls aren’t that big. Or so I thought…

Once the 2 month Covid-19 lockdown ended, myself and 2 friends decided to go on a small adventure to Carisbrook waterfalls. We arrived at the carpark and packed all the snacks and some spare clothes (big mistake… this ended up getting all wet). We scrambled up to the top of the mountain as we carried huge ropes and a bag full of snacks. We arrived to the top and we saw the waterfall for the first time, we were in awe.

In this image is my friend Kenny abseiling down one of the sections of the falls. To give some context, it was at this point that we realised we will be getting wet and that the waterfall was not just a ‘tiny stream’. It was 7c degrees outside and poor Kenny was in a shirt, it was freezing - if only I captured his reaction. Aside from the weather I knew I had to pull out my camera to capture this incredible moment; a roaring waterfall and lush ferns growing in the background, it was a truly national geographic moment.

We continued to descend encountering challenges and obstacles along the way, but luckily we had each other to stay safe. There were a few sketchy sections that made you question if you were going to live another day. I would look below me and see sharp, slippery rocks with water rushing over it. Either way there was only one way down and no way up, so essentially I had to try not die. Thankfully my friends were there to guide me and keep me safe.

And because I was completely unprepared for this trip, I didn’t bring any water proof casing for my precious camera. I knew instantly that we would be going for a swim, and I knew I had to find a way to keep my gear dry. Luckily I had a zip lock bag filled with Oreos large enough to fit my camera inside. It was the only option available so I went with it. Thankfully the $2 zip lock didn’t rip and I managed to keep my camera dry. Not only did this image capture the beauty of the waterfalls, but it was the risk behind the shot that made this image even more memorable.

It took us 5 hours to descend the waterfalls and luckily we made it back before sunset. We were wet, cold, exhausted and ready to eat some Chinese take away. As mentioned earlier, we stupidly brought are spare clothes abseiling so we didn’t have dry clothes to change into. Overall it was a great mini adventure after being stuck at home for weeks.

Reflecting on the image now has allowed me to appreciate the natural wonders that surround us, and the multiple ways we can engage with nature. 24 hours before this photo was taken, I didn’t even know you could abseil down a waterfall. Looking at this photo makes me feel like I’m one with nature. It’s a different feeling when you’re intimately connected with nature, as it feels like you’re intertwined with it. Compared to observing it from afar on those viewing platforms while taking instagram selfies.

I feel like in todays society many people ignore the true beauty of nature. It has become a backdrop that is completely forgotten about, and I feel like people are just sleep walking through life. My only wish is for people to see the true beauties and peace that nature has to offer, such as this waterfall (that is not so little after all…).

PROCESS

Captured on my Sony a6500, E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Lens

Shutter: 1/125

Aperture: f.8

Focal length: 18mm

ISO: 200

I captured the image at 18mm as I wanted to showcase a wide shot that displayed the waterfall, the subject, the rope and the ferns in the background. The wide shot allowed the abseiler to appear smaller and engulfed in the environment. I chose an aperture of f.8 to preserve the detail of the ferns and draw focus on the landscape. I shot in 1/125 as it was fast enough to capture the moving subject, and add a bit of blur on the waterfall to emphasise movement.

I edited the image using adobe Lightroom as I increased the exposure and lifted shadows making the photo to appear brighter. I also increased the saturation and vibrance to create a natural look that pops out. I also added a bit of warmth to the image to create a sunny look.