This April, I spent three weeks on a road trip through New Zealand's South Island, and it was an incredible experience. The country's landscape is absolutely spectacular. One of the highlights was exploring the Catlins, a stunning area that's surprisingly less crowded with tourists.
I've shared some photos here from my hike to McLean Falls. The McLean Falls on the Tautuku River in Catlins Forest Park descend a number of steep drop offs and terraces, with the very top of the waterfall, where it meets its first waterpool being 22-metres. It then descends for many more meters over a series of terraces. The walk to the falls winds through a beautiful, lush rainforest. Photographing the falls was a bit of a challenge due to the limited space and the size of the falls, but the conditions were ideal, allowing me to capture some great shots. While you can climb to the upper falls, I decided not to risk the slippery ascent and stuck to photographing the falls from lower section. It was tempting to climb up, but I'm happy with the compositions I got from below.
Thanks for taking a look, and I'd love to hear your thoughts and critiques!
Edit: Reuploaded 3 & 4 as I just realized that I had previously uploaded wrong size file. Thanks
Lower Falls
Canon EOS R5EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens28mmf/11.01/2s250 ISO0.0 EV
As I climbed up, I came accross this beautiful staircase of waterfall
Canon EOS 5D Mark IIIEF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens24mmf/9.01/2s500 ISO0.0 EV
McLean Falls
Canon EOS R5EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens16mmf/14.01/2s200 ISO0.0 EV
McLean Falls - slight different angle to get unobstructed view of upper fall
Canon EOS R5EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens21mmf/11.01/2s200 ISO0.0 EV
Small stream while heading back, looked interesting with some soft light
Canon EOS R5EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens16mmf/9.01s250 ISO0.0 EV
View of rainforest and stream from the bridge.
Canon EOS R5EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens16mmf/9.01s500 ISO0.0 EV
Dang, these are cool! I really like the choice of your shutter speed, something I always struggle with. The rainforest walk looks amazing. You made some really good stops on the way to falls. I like the lower falls image and Mclean falls (first one). Good work.
CA_Fstop wrote:
Would mind sharing the settings for your image please? Photographing waterfalls is always a struggle for me with shutter speed
I have just added EIFX information. Hope it helps.
Even for me it's a struggle getting it right, its a matter of preference. Usually, I try to look for images on internet of waterfall I am trying to photograph, I save it to my desktop, then I go into properties and then detail tab of that picture to find out the shutter speed used. It gives me a baseline to start with. Then I shoot with few different shutter speed and then see what I like.
Hope this help.
CA_Fstop wrote:
Dang, these are cool! I really like the choice of your shutter speed, something I always struggle with. The rainforest walk looks amazing. You made some really good stops on the way to falls. I like the lower falls image and Mclean falls (first one). Good work.
Thanks, this whole region is absolutely stunning and the rainforest walk was more fun. So many opportunities of woodland photography but I just didn't have time. I am a very slow photographer and my non photographer wife don't have that much patience
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douter wrote:
Nice study, KC!
Douglas
Thank you Doug
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Steve Miller wrote:
Beautiful set, Parul. I'm sorry we didn't make it there in February but glad I got to see it through your lens! Steve
Thanks Steve, NZ is so amazing and I am sure you will be heading back there again. Thanks for sharing all your tips and information.
xicimummy wrote:
Great view, wish i would be there when I get a chance
Thanks, the views are absolutely amazing. The walk in itself is a lot of fun. Lush green and the sound of falls was a treat. I certainly hope your wish turns into reality
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IndyFab wrote:
A very nice series of waterscpes comps
Thank you, I love waterfalls and it happens to be one of my favorite subject to photograph. Glad you liked them.
