Waterfall Photography

When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

This is the incidence from 2019 just before Covid started. I was on my drive through forests in search of Beautiful spots for waterfall photography. This was my usual weekend program to go out for photo shoots.

This time due to monsoon season at its peak I decided to go for waterfall photography. I started my drive from Pune towards Tamhini ghat. The route is scenic and beautiful. Lush green surroundings and beautiful views. Once I reached a spot I saw beautiful waterfall. I decided to shoot that waterfall though there was no road available towards the site.

I got down from the vehicle and asked the tea stall owner about the waterfall seen far away from the place. He said no one has been there yet but we can try. I said will you join me to trek there. He said sorry I can’t join you but my younger son will accompany you. I was surprised to hear this. No one has yet reached the waterfall point and the road was completely through dense vegetation due and he is sending his son with me. Inside such a dense vegetation and monsoon season the snakes are quite active and such places are their best habitat. I expressed my concern to him but he said he will carry a big knife for branch cuttings and a stick for any serpent.

This was a great risk I took because walking through such dense forest during monsoon is extremely dangerous. And if you’re lost then it is very difficult to find the way back.

We started our trek towards the waterfall. The boy was swift and quick in his reactions. By cutting lower branches of the tree which were stopping our way forward and beating the stick on the ground we were moving forward. Almost after an hour of adventurous walk, I heard the sound of flowing water. I was so elated and said to the boy that we have reached. He said another half an hour to go and the way ahead is very difficult.

We continued our walk for another half an hour on a steep gradient with my photography gear and then I saw the most beautiful scene. Lush green hill and the milky white water just gushing down the hill. I was mesmerised to see the beautiful view and realised that there is no place to stand and keep the tripod for slow shutter photography. Somehow I managed to stand there with my camera and the tripod stand. It was too risky because if I fall down then directly into the deep valley. This fall could have been fatal. But for my photography passion I took the risk. And then clicked many photos. And moved down to safe place quickly.