organic colours. If you’re trying to achieve a silky smooth water
effect use a smaller aperture (f/11 to f/16) and ISO 100, as this
will allow you to use a slower shutter speed. Anywhere between
1/5s to a few seconds will give you the desired effect. If the light
is harsh then try using a neutral density filter (ND filter). It can
help with getting longer exposures to smooth out the water.
Most people photograph rivers looking upstream, however you
can also try shooting downstream to capture the water f lowing
away from your position. You will want to capture clean lines,
the curvature of the river as it snakes through the forest, rocks
that pull the viewers’ eye towards a waterfall in the background
or an overhanging tree branch framing your shot. Be creative
and don’t be afraid to get your feet wet, but be careful. Make sure
your tripod is firmly footed when it’s placed in the river; slippery
rocks and the force of the water can spell disaster!
06
Choosing your subjects
Rainforests are busy environments, often
cluttered and full of distractions. It can sometimes become
overwhelming when you’re trying to choose your subjects.
An over abundance of trees, foliage, roots, rocks, vines can
make or break your shots. The old adage of ‘less is more’ is
correct, and composition is equally important as light. A great
rainforest image requires balance and structure in order to
make visual sense of it. You might already have an idea in
your mind for the type of pictures you want to create. Scope
out the location and look for details which immediately catch
your eye. Once you’ve found your subject study it from various
angles to work out what is effective and then frame your
composition. Keep in mind you’ll often be shooting at small
apertures, which means your background will also be
in focus, so it will need to complement your foreground.
It’s always nice have something interesting in the foreground
that leads the viewer’s eyes into frame. My all-time favourite
rainforest picture was shot from the ground; I was literally on
my stomach shooting up at the canopy with a dominant tree
in the centre of the frame as my focal point. In this shot the
background is very busy, but by finding a solid focal pointAUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY + DIGITAL JULY 2015 AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 31
FAR LEFT
Clear water
cascades over
limestone formations
and gathers into
layers of turquoise
pools – a popular
tourist spot in Laos.
I visited multiple
times to get the light
spilling through the
canopy onto the
falls. The image
required an ND filter
since the sky was
clear and sunny, I
also used a circular
polariser to cut glare
from the water and
help saturate the
colours. Canon 5D
Mk II, 16-35mm
f/2.8 @ 32mm, ISO
50, 1s @ f/18, 2
stop ND, circular
polariser and tripod.LEFT
Antarctic Beech
forest in New
England National
Park NSW, draped
in moss enveloped
by morning mist
on top of Point
Lookout. I wanted
to show the texture
an Antarctic beech
forest shrouded in
morning mist. This
photo was taken
on the edge of the
escarpment and
involved climbing
halfway up the tree
in order to focus
on the texture and
detail. Canon 6D,
16-35mm f2.8 @
35mm, ISO 200,
1s @ f/5.6, circular
polariser and
tripod. Contrast,
curves, levels,
clarity adjusted
in Lightroom 5.
Dodge, burned
and sharpened in
Photoshop CS5.HOW TO Shoot Great Rainforest Images