Edenic Pools of Emerald Hues
Kuang Si falls in Laos are the closest I've been to finding Eden. Emerald water glows as it meanders through the rainforest. I biked the 30 km from Luang P...
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Kuang Si falls in Laos are the closest I've been to finding Eden. Emerald water glows as it meanders through the rainforest. I biked the 30 km from Luang Prabang, which entailed some arduous climbs through high heat and brutal humidity. Needless to say, the pools I found were the best thing that ever happened to me.
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Apr, 2018Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this shot of the Edenic Kuang Si waterfalls near Luang Prabang, Laos while on a bike trip through the countryside.Time
It was taken in late afternoon, around 7 pm.Lighting
Once a day, these waterfalls glow with light. The jungle surrounding Kuang Si added to the composition by shadowing the surrounding landscape while allowing the illumination and white reflection from the emerald water. Natural lighting is always tricky to plan around, but with a certain amount of luck and and open mind, nature will illuminate for you what it finds most important.Equipment
This was shot on a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 with a 26 mm focal length, 1/15 sec shutter speed, f/8 aperture, and 100 ISO. The camera was immobilized with a couple rocks as my tripod was not with me.Inspiration
I wanted to emphasize just how enchanting this Eden I had stumbled into was. I was exhausted, sweaty and dehydrated from a stupendous climb through a mountain pass on a rickety rental bike. After a short hike through humid jungle, the canopy opened to cast light on a series of emerald waterfalls. It was as if I had found heaven on earth. These phenomenally unexpected experiences are commonplace throughout the countryside of Laos and are what make travel so exciting. This picture was inspired by what I was feeling in the moment, which was a deep love for Laos and awe for the surreal beauty and gracious timing of these emerald waterfalls.Editing
I shot this one in jpeg and kept the post-processing to a minimum. The only alteration I made was to elevate the exposure minutely.In my camera bag
I am a firm believer that the best camera you can have is the one that is with you when the perfect shot appears. As I am an adventure sports enthusiast, this means I need something that I can climb, mountain bike, and snowboard with. The Canon SL1 has fit that need for me. Recently, I have started to shoot with a fixed-zoom, 1.8 mm lens that has a small profile but has proven incredibly versatile. This combination allows me to toss it over a shoulder, carabiner it to a harness or stuff it in a day pack while maintaining professional quality. Lately, I've tended to leave the tripod and zoom lenses at home, but I still pack these when there is a high probability of wildlife sighting and the day's activities are not as committing.Feedback
Get outside and explore. The more time you spend in the great outdoors the more likely you are to be privy to a rare animal sighting, interesting light, or a breathtaking landscape.
