Lonely tree in Uganda
The photo was taken in the late 80s in Uganda, at the Murchison Falls.
The photo was taken in the late 80s in Uganda, at the Murchison Falls.
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Aug, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the top of Murchison Falls in the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. It is where the Victoria Falls cascade through the landscape, to join the White Nile. We were on a camping trip for a few days, from the capital Kampala. The National Park had just become safe to visit again after post-civil war rebel activity had stopped a few months earlier. The year was 1988.Time
We had set up camp in the ruins of a building near the falls. In the afternoon (probably around 4 pm) we walked to the top of the falls and climbed over big boulders and rocks to get a view down the gorge. The spray from the falls was all around us, creating a magical effect with the sunlight.Lighting
The combination of sunlight reflecting on the water spray and the reflection on the wet rocks made for beautiful photo opportunities.Equipment
The camera was a Minolta SRT-101 with a 50mm lens, also Minolta. No other accessories were used. Not 100% sure of the film type used. In those days I used Ektachrome 64 slide film or Fuji Velvia 100 negative film. I still have the original negatives and positives from those days, but these are stored in another country and I can't easily get to them.Inspiration
We had had a long, hot and bumpy drive that day and set up camp after lunch. Time to relax and look for the falls, which were only ten minutes walking away (but you could hear the roar everywhere). By the time I got to the top of the falls, I was hot and sweaty, but very relaxed. Felt one with the nature around me. That is when inspiration usually hits me and, in this case, resulted in a few interesting photos.Editing
I had my slides and negatives scanned many years later (2006). The picture showed some ageing spots, which I cleaned up in post. Also, the highlights at the top were a little blown out, and I corrected those, resulting in a warmer and more pleasing spray.In my camera bag
Times have changed of course. Now I do most of my landscape photography with a Canon 5D, Mark iii. My go-to lens is a Canon 17-40 mm, 4.0L. I also use a Canon 85 mm prime, 1.8L.Feedback
Go off the beaten track and relax. Absorb your surroundings and give it time. Stay alert and time will give you the opportunities for shots that have meaning for you. And that is, in my view, the most important.
