In the north eastern new territories of Hong Kong there is a special place, a place claimed to be haunted , a place where you can truly escape the city and admire nature in it's raw and untamed beauty. I had heard of Bride's Pool before but I have always put off visiting this magnificent waterfall. On an overcast Monday I set out from my home in Sai Kung and took a bus to Sha Tin, then a train to Tai Po market then a bus to Tai Mei Tuk. From there I caught a taxi to the entrance of Bride's Pool trail. The journey itself took around two hours but once I had arrived at the start of the trail I knew that this could possibly be the best landscape photography in Hong Kong.
Upon arrival at the start of the trail I could already hear the thundering of water and it's course through the narrow valley below. With such lush vegetation around it was difficult to see the source and its direction, so I followed the sounds of water crashing against rock. A maintained path led me down the valley and across a stone bridge with a roaring river bellowing below it. Not a soul in sight I had the whole experience to myself. A rare opportunity in one of the most densely packed cities in the world.
My son was born in December 2017 and since then I have only wanted to photograph him. I would spend my free time catching his moments of growing up and admiring his innocence and fragility. A time had come where I was able to leave the home on my day off work, at first I had planned to visit the city and search new compositions for urban photography. At the last moment I had decided to travel to Bride's Pool. A decision that would remind me of my true passion.
After a few hundred steps down to the valley floor I had come across a concrete bridge crossing a river, it was here where I had the sensation of escapism. Considering it's relative proximity to the city I still felt an immense feeling of joy, something I hadn't felt since our trip to New Zealand.
There was not a soul to be seen at this point, only myself the river and the various damselflies which darted above the rushing waters. I typically set up my tripod and 16-35mm lens and aimed towards the source of the flow. After capturing the above image I set off up river to find the waterfall that feeds the river. With Hong Kong being within the sub-tropical climes it was hot for sure but the waterfall creates it's own micro climate within the valley. Already humid air was now filled with water spray and the vegetation appeared more green. The air was so wet that everything was moist to the touch. The roots of trees burst out of the ground and tunneled their way through crevices, Asian hornets buzzed overhead and the jungle was lively with the calls of birds.
I had finally reached the trails end and was met with a a concrete bar warning not to cross over it. There was a couple sitting on a huge boulder directly in front of the waterfall . A fellow photographer had just arrived and we both looked down at the floor of the waterfall to determine of there was a safe route to achieve a suitable composition. I had decided to crouch down and slide my bum across the rocks and tree roots to get to a desired vantage point. Something other people wouldn't do. I had read stories of fatalities in the area and wanted to be as safe as possible.
I ensured my backpack was weighted evenly and only used a low centre of gravity approach for straddling across the wet rocks. It sure was scary but I had finally reached the vantage point I had planned after twenty minutes or so of climbing.
I had little time to set up the shot as a thunderstorm was rolling in and so in my hurried state I had failed to remember to take bracketed shits for the extremely contrasted scene. So here in the above image I have used two frames. One shot mostly for the sky and one for the foreground. On screen everything seemed fine. It was only until I got home soaking wet that I realised the shutter shock issue of the first generation a7r. Something I have been battling for a long time.
After getting the desired shot I raced through the trail back to the main road as lightning filled the sky. Upon arrival I had the most fortunate moment when a taxi had pulled up along the main road.
An adrenaline rush for sure. There are not many places in Hong Kong where you can feel the raw power of nature untamed but here is one such place. A highly recommended location to spend the monsoon season under leaves of bright green and knotted roots of misty jungle climes.
