Waterfall at Lipur Forest Reserve - Kota Kinabalu

[kysham]

I had a nice opportunity to go to this long forgotten (in fact, I didn't even know it existed!) forest reserve here in my homeland. The trek was treacherous, slippery & soft (thanks to the extended raining season & the nature of a tropical rain forest). Almost slip countless times. But the photo opportunity at the end of the trekking was very nice indeed. Want to share some of the shots with you guys here. Hope to get more pointers & tips from everyone here, as my nature shots are rather weak. Constructive comments & criticism are highly appreciated.

#1
The path down to the waterfall spot is really slippery. One mistake and one can say bye bye to one's camera gear....

Sony A850 with Minolta 17-35mm F2.8-4. 10 seconds exposure. F13.0. 17mm. ISO200. AWB. An ND8 filter was attached. Shot in cRAW and processed in Capture1 & CS4. Camera was mounted on a tripod and triggered with a shutter release cable.

#2
The waterfall at the end of the treacherous journey.

Sony A850 with Minolta 17-35mm F2.8-4. 10 seconds exposure. F13.0. 17mm. ISO200. AWB. An ND8 filter was attached. Shot in cRAW and processed in Capture1 & CS4. Camera was mounted on a tripod and triggered with a shutter release cable.

#3
Tried to process the shot into a black & white nature shot. Something which I seldom do with nature shots....

Sony A850 with Minolta 17-35mm F2.8-4. 10 seconds exposure. F13.0. 17mm. ISO200. AWB. An ND8 filter was attached. Shot in cRAW and processed in Capture1 & CS4. Camera was mounted on a tripod and triggered with a shutter release cable.

This forest reserve is under the care & protection of the Sabah Forestry Department.

[Birma]

Hi Kysham. Three very beaitiful shots. It looks like we have both been photogrpahing waterfalls . I think no. 2 is my favourite; you have captured the blurred water briliantly and I like the green canopy of trees and bushes surrounding the fall.

I wasn't sure why you had used the ND filter to slow the shutter speed in the first shot? I tried using a polariser yesterday to keep some of the sheen off the rocks and water, perhaps worth a try?

[kysham]

Hello Birma, many had asked me the same question. Actually it wasn't my intention to leave the ND8 filter on, as it was unnecessary for that shot. However, as I was on my way up that slippery cliff, my hands were covered with mud and so happened the ND8 filter was on the camera. There was no way I was going to open up the filter with my muddy hands, so I had to leave it on and took a long exposure shot instead.

Does the polarizer works to keep some of the sheen on the rocks? I know it can cut off some reflections off the water surface, but never thought of using it on rocks. Anyway, I am not familiar with using polarizer in the first place, not having owned one at all... guess I better start looking.

This is one of the very few attempts I had on shooting waterfalls. I know I probably should be shooting more waterfalls, as I live relatively near to many of them....

Thanks for your comments. Really appreciate them. And thanks for the tips on the polarizer!

[Greg Beetham]

Hi Kysham, I like the illustration of the natural order of things in the rainforest in the first photo, from the death and decay of the old will spring new life, but there is a small unanswered question there, the photo doesn’t explain why there is a split in the old log and what is holding it apart, but it is dramatic just the same with it’s dark underside, maybe it was a tree that was killed by lightning...just guessing.
I like the flowing waterfall shots, the bright opening in the background is kept under control well, and good rock and moss detail, and dark shadows to remind one where the setting is, a secluded waterfall in a the rainforest. You don’t have more shots at all? I would like to see one almost the same but with the foreground rock pushed to the right a little (not much) so you could see a bit more of the waterfall…just to compare.
Greg

[Anne_LilyofTheValley]

Hi Kysham. This is so beautiful.

Thought maybe the green colour in this pictures is not that pleasant to my eye.

[gio67]

great photos, brings back memories ,
I've been to Kota Kinabula too, must try and dig out some photos, I got some great ones of the water village it was a photographers dream

[Birma]

Does the polarizer works to keep some of the sheen on the rocks?

It cuts down scattered light from any wet surface or very shiney surface e.g. the rocks next to the fall. I've reduced my use of a polariser in shots with any sky in it as I was not happy with the effect, but it can be interesting on water sometimes. I have a Kood slot in (e.g. Cokin type system) circular polariser which was not too expensive, but it is not wide enough for my 11-18 lens. I've just been looking at the large Lee polarisers (105mm) and you can by a lens for the price . I will have to have a long think about that investment .

[Dr. Harout]

I love the second shot most.

[kysham]

Greg, I do have a shot with less of the log and more of the waterfall, but I didn't really get the effect I wanted. I couldn't quite "feel" that shot. I believe the log in the first shot was due to some errant illegal logging (although I could be wrong). But you are right, I should probably had given more thought on the story of the shot, instead of hanging it like that, literally.... Really appreciate your thoughst & comments. That's really great!

Anne, is the green too bright?

gio67, you've been to my homeland?!?! oh yes, the bajau laut clan of Semporna is a photographer's paradise. I have yet to make my plans to go there yet... Will do it one day.... and sure to post it up here too.

Birma, yikes! that is way above what i intend to spend on nature photography at the moment... unless i start making money out of it.

Dr. Harout, thanks for your kind words.

[aster]

Hi Kysham,

As a lover of nature, I, but can only appreciate these lovely shots of some sweet spots. Especially, the moss-prone rocks and surfaces are signs that there really was some strong rain in the region which actually makes everything in the scene all the more interesting.
The rotting tree trunk, that's disintegrating inside...the subtle reflections on the green leaves all work nicely for me.

A real, after-the-rain forest scene for me. : )


Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

How very true kysham, you must obey your 'feel' for the shot, I agree, and then that's the shot it is. And sometimes that shot is greater than the sum of it's parts.
Greg

[kysham]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts & encouragement! Really good! Anyway, some of my photo buddies actually snipped me at the waterfall while I was taking those shots. Thought of sharing with you guys the condition at the location, so here goes (p/s: the guy in the pictures is me!)







Yes, I was THAT close to the waterfall, and yes, at the end of it, my camera was virtually wet! Nice to know that the camera was able to withstand the mist really well. No operational issues during or after the shots at all.

[Greg Beetham]

The waterfall is about three times bigger than I thought it was, it would probably look good also from further back with a longer lens, even from a highter vantage point maybe, if there was a clear shot that is.
Greg

[Birma]

Interesting shots with you as the star . As Greg say, the waterfall looks much larger now.

[kysham]

The waterfall is about three times bigger than I thought it was, it would probably look good also from further back with a longer lens, even from a highter vantage point maybe, if there was a clear shot that is.
Greg

Greg, good suggestion. But I am afraid there ain't no vantage point where I can take the shot you have suggested (I will need to build a platform for that!). Also, I don't have a long lens. My longest focal length is 135mm, which is a M42 mount lens. Nothing in the region of 200mm and above.