Karkloof Falls …

I must go back to the Karkloof Falls. Apart from the fact that it is an idyllic and peaceful spot, I really don’t yet have the shot that I want to get. Tumbling down some ninety seven metres, and directly below the Woodhouse Falls from the viewing site these two falls tend to look like a single drop, but I am reliably informed that when a cascade has its own pool and then continues to fall to another reservoir it is quite correct to separate them, nominally at least. As I have mentioned earlier many visitors find this sight preferable to the nearby, better-known and more visited Howick Falls. I think it’s probably a question of accessibility – the Howick Falls being in the centre of the town of that name, reachable by tar road, and easy entry to the gorge below allowing viewing from much closer quarters. There’s little between them in my opinion.

One of the most critical aspects of photographing nature is to get the lighting right, and that means not only being around at the right time of day and the right time of the year, but with waterfalls also in the right season – not too much water, and not too little. There’s no chance of using fill in flash techniques, and water is a reflector, and refractor of light. On the two occasions I have been to the Karkloof Falls light conditions have not been ideal with the falls too shaded – and so like Arnie I will be back!!! And I’ll let you know when I get that perfect shot.