Giving Rainforest some more thought
19th August 2022
Making my way into Behana Gorge this week..
Last night I attended the Cairns Photographic Society and they were discussing photographing the Rainforest which will be a theme of an upcoming project for them. Rainforest is a subject matter I find very challenging. Probably why I am so keen to make my way through the rainforest to the rivers and waterfalls which I find much more accomodating to photograph.
A tree on the way in.
One of the attendees asked me if I see much fungi in Bahana Gorge and I replied to him that I see plenty. It was interesting how many of us experience things differently. His passion is fungi.
From a trip to Behana Gorge back in November 2021.
As we chatted about fungi I tried to find this photo on my phone to see if this sort of subject matter was of interest to him. I could not find the photo :(
Made it to the river.
On this day, like most recently, I tried to spend more time in the rainforest proper but got drawn to the water in the end. Walking in the water I find very relaxing.
Trying to concentre on the trees not the water.
To avoid feeling bad about not being totally in the rainforest trying to master how to photograph it, I decided I would make the effort to take photos of some of the trees on the rivers edge.
From a trip to Behana Gorge back in November 2021.
Back in 2021 I spotted this section that I thought would be interesting to photograph more at a later date. It is a section in the river where a lot of deadfall builds up on/around/against the living trees. I decided to check it out again on this day as it was not far away.
The same tree in August 2022.
When I arrived however I was reminded how ephemeral any given state of the rainforest is. One day what you think is a healthy tree is standing and the next it is dead fall. The log that was jammed against it had been washed away in this years wet and the tree itself has turned into a log.
Behana Gorge June 2022.
When the big wet comes the water in Behana rises greatly and it will be interesting to see where that large tree ends up. I doubt it will end up suspended in a tree like this one above…….. but you never know.
Some deadfall that has sen a few wet seasons in the same spot.
I kept on walking along the river and soon came across one of the many groups of deadfall that have gone underwater for a few seasons and not been washed away. Eventually they will rot and break down but for now they are covered in moss waiting for the next wet season to cover them.
A log in the water.
You can see with this log in the water that the flow has smoothed out the surface and is gradually eating away the wood. Mother nature reclaims everything.
The last of the sun hitting the trees on this day
With the last of the sun hitting the side of the trees it was time for me to cross back over the river and head out through the rainforest. I always enjoy my time in Behana.
Rainforest is so chaotic which makes separating subjects and finding order in a composition so hard. Then of course there is the issue of that dominant green colour. Something to work on!