Day 47: A day of green

Andrew suggested a photo walk. From what I've read, these are often tame affairs, usually in town or in parks, a gaggle of camera-wielders stalking unsuspecting flowers or street sights, trying to out-cool each other with their gear lists. Or so I've heard. But photo walks for hikers are a different kind of thing. In this case it was to spend some time near a trail but not necessarily on it, thrashing our way through the undergrowth and hopping over fast-running creeks in search of the ultimate moss or mini-waterfall photo.

We cycled up the Seymour Valley trailway, a paved road leading to the fish hatchery below the Seymour dam, to the half-way point at Hydraulic Creek. We locked the bikes to a (small) tree and set off into the green gloom armed with our cameras and tripods. Except it wasn't really gloomy. Darkened, perhaps, but not gloomy. The green draped trees, whether fallen or standing, shone brightly in the dark. After a short time our eyes became well adjusted to the light level and we had no problem navigating.

Navigation was easy in this second-growth forest: we had clear lines of sight in most directions, even though the terrain was complex. Travel was another matter and we soon redefined the concept of solid ground, picking our way over centuries-old fallen and decaying timber. We first followed the creek, pausing at a handful of waterfalls and cascades, then struck into the forest to capture trees and moss. The highlight of the forest was a huge Douglas fir that had recently fallen and raced down the mountainside, ultimately embedding itself in an earthy bank 100 m from the shattered stump; recently as in less than a week ago. Then it was back to the creek for more waterfalls and cascades, though the prize 50-metre-plus waterfall was just a little out of safe reach.

All too soon (or so it seemed) five hours had elapsed and it was time to head home. To top it all off, we startled a large owl into flight as we cycled back to the car. A worthy experiment, and one to be repeated I'm sure.

Creeping moss


Looking over the photos again I have learned (at least) two things when it comes to this kind of photography. The first is not to skimp on using the tripod. It's a pain to lug around, and annoying to get the framing right, but it really makes a difference when the exposure time is greater than 1/50 of a second. The second is to use a polarizer near water: the bright reflections off wet rocks and/or foliage detract from otherwise pleasing photos of the lush rain forest.