Fukuroda Waterfall, Japan

 

Lately, I have tried to reorganise some previous travel photos that I have yet properly catalogued. Among them, I spot this whole album of this waterfall in Japan. It is considered as the tallest single span cascade fall in the country. Well, one of friends said to me, "What Fuk u Roda waterfall are you talking about, James?"  That is what boys do in a group bantering on innuendo.

As a tourist, it is a great effort to change transport from bullet train to subway, railway, local tram, then buses. In the end, I got lost. I hired a local taxi to bring me to the mountain foothold in the end. Crazy.

Panasonic G9

Leica 12-60mm f2.8-4

I prefer microfourthirds camera on long trips or overseas travel. Just lighter weight and reliable quality. 

Waterfall posts

Lal Lal waterfall, Ballarat

 

Tons of rains came down really hard in the past 2 days. Cyclone type of weather with rapid cycling of sunny moments and storms. 

Overcast weather is the best for waterfall long exposure. So here we go again at this waterfall with a funny pronunciation. 

Sony A7RIV

FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM

Waterfall images

Hopetoun Waterfall, Otway National Park for Black and White weekend

 

This is probably one of the most photographed waterfall in my home state. Everyone has to get a shot of this location before they die. 

I have been here since the high school days. A lot of memory here. Now there are far too many kids and photographers that the natural vibe is forever lost.

The shot is more high key because microfourthirds sensor easily get blown highlights. Taking the waterfall shot requires a homogenous lighting that one should only attempt in early morning or late evening time. I am lazy lol. So a high key conversion. 

Panasonic G9

Leica 8-18mm 

You can see my other Australian landscape images in the link below:

Australian Landscape

Trentham Falls for Sunday Best

 

This is a waterfall easy to get to. Easy to snap this from the viewing platform. Hard to access to the base of the waterfall though. The tracks going to the base of the waterfall has been shut since 2012. Still plenty of people trespassed the barrier to do so. 

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM

Linking Sunday Best

Waterfall Minoo for Sunday Best

 

From one of many trips to Japan in the past, this waterfall is most poetic. It feels like a waterfall in high mountains of China. The perfection location for photography.

Pentax K10D - surprising what a small sensor and old tech can create a shot like this. 

The double whammy - football final and school holidays render Melbourne impossible to commute. I tried the candid photography in Melbourne CBD yesterday which was quite a shocker. Carp parking fee tripled on the public holidays. Traffic was so congested. There were crowds everywhere wearing Collingwood or Brisbane T shirts. I learnt the lesson to stay indoor even though there was Moon Cake Festival happening today. 

Linking Sunday Best

Grampians National Park via a photographer's perspective

I love Grampians. It is also called "Gariwerd", which means "ranges" in traditional aboriginal language. This is a place where photographers would find it challenging to photograph: the harsh lighting from the typical angry sun, dense dark foliage of native plants (not reflecting colours) and the gale that would blow your mind away (because your tripods get blown away too).

It is reported that over 60 cultural sites have been identified in Grampians. The murals are certainly worthy of visits for any photographers - the tracks leading to the murals are often good photography opportunities.

Over the past 20 years, I have frequented this place for photography opportunities. It turned out this place had turned into an escape from the reality for me. I love the Gala screaming their lungs off every morning. I love the kookaburra squeaking like a group of zombies every sunset.

This is a little summary of my photography experiences in Grampians:

* Visit in winter months - diffuse light from cloudy sky is better than harsh light in summer. Summer is high risk for bushfire as well. The frequent rain often creates mood for the photo ops and great to get mists/fog to render better pictures.
* Do check news about closed roads/paths through national park website
* Always bring a GBS phone and bring plenty of water with you. Drive a 4WF.
* Bring food and groceries from Melbourne as the pricing in Halls Gap is often at least double of the city prices
* Photograph in early mornings or late afternoon

Waterfalls

Pentax Da 50mm
Mckenzie fall - part of it - funny that I cannot find any more photos of this largest fall in Victoria. But this one was different from the generic full frontal shot seen on the web everywhere.

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8
Ferret's waterfall - disappeared after the bushfire in 2006

Pentax 10-22mm
Silverband waterfall - not a long walk, pretty much flat track. Problem is this fall dries out easily. Only to visit after a rainfall. And watch out brown snakes in the area!


Pinnacles
This is a good 5 hour track return trip. Three major phases in geographical changes as you walk through this region. This place is all about rocks.

Pentax Da21mm Limited

Pentax Da21mm limited

Pentax Da21mm limited

Voigtlander 12mm R4A


Wonderland Carpark

Balcony Lookout

On a sunny day, strong UV cast really sucks. There is no point to visit in the day hours. The photos will turn out shit really.

This lookout is bad for sunset shots at the magic hours. This is because the sun goes down on the completely opposite side of the look out. So you dont get much light at all except occasional purple sky at times.

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 300mm f4L IS - wide angle lens is pretty much useless at this lookout. Best to use 50mm + focal length.

Canon 300mm f4L IS


Reeds Lookout

This lookout is more photographer friendly - at least sun is going down within the view of the look out.

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro




Lake Fyans

Olympus 150mm f2

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Leica 25mm f1.4


Tracks

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro

Pentax Da21mm limited

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8

The colour is certainly better in a foggy and wet condition. I prefer to shoot in the rain in here.

Pentax Fa 31mm f1.8 limited

Pentax FA43mm limited

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8




Giant Koala - Dadswell Bridge Victoria

Nice for a visit if you get really bored like it is raining cats and dogs or it is just simply too hot to bear in the extreme heat. Not a long drive north to Grampians. There is also a waterfall nearby - single span but puny water flow. Lucky to see it after a rain fall (I did have a few shots at it and they turned out like a poor stream wee due to prostate enlargement)



Wild life

I could easily captures shots on most of the native Australian animals in Grampians. Not much effort required. Just wander in parks or myriads of tracks in early morning or near sunset.

Olympus 150mm f2

Near Lake Fyans after a rain fall

Olympus 150mm f2

In the reserve park near central Halls Gap

Olympus 150mm f2

At the carpark near Wonderland car park entrance

Olympus 150mm f2

Olympus 150mm f2

Olympus 150mm f2

Useful resources:

Travel and Accommodation 

Park Victoria - Grampians National Park


Grampians Map

Grampians Map


Halls Gap

Halls Gap - the nearest town

3 breakfast cafes there in the central. Always packed with people. I tend to get specials of the week for the sake of getting something new each time.

Among these, this middle eastern sausage was memorable because it looks like number 2 in the toilet. But it tastes really good though. From Black Cat Cafe

Little Snow River Waterfall

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This waterfall was a splendor. It only exists after rain. I still remembered the day I was lost in this national park and my tyres were all deflated by pointy rocks...

Devil's Bowl Waterfall, New Zealand for Treasure Tuesday

 

The walking trail leading up to this waterfall is very steep and challenging. I almost gave up 2/3 into the journey.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Cumberland Waterfall

This is the little cascade waterfall - Cumberland in North East Victoria. The lush green from the old day Pentax gear was somewhat nostalgic.

Corra Flynn Cascade Waterfall, Marysville

 

A really nice hidden waterfall, still present after Black Saturday bushfire.  Love the anions emitted by the forest at the same time.

Linking Randomosity

Hopkins Waterfall for Water H2O Thursday

 

This waterfall is easy to access in western Warrnambool. It was just a slope down the carpark and I can see this falls really close. 

It was in late morning when I took this shot. Funny that it looks ok despite lack of warm tone in the frame 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Joel and I are heading to an airshow. It is forecasted to be 39 degrees Celsius. 

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Post-Bush Fire Stevenson Fall, Marysville, Melbourne

This waterfall was one of the 3 "tallest" waterfall in Victoria, Australia. Why are there 3 tallest single span waterfalls? This does not make sense to me. However, the look of the falls has changed significantly. Mother nature does provide changes in mysterious ways.