Landscape Photography with the Nikon Z6

I have been visiting Lamington National Park for many years, taking advantage of it’s bountiful walking tracks, rain forest views and opportunities to mentally disconnect. I’ve done a lot of walking there, but never on a track over 10km. But today would be different. That was because I was testing out my new Nikon Z6 and 14-30 lens. So what better way to break in an expensive camera than by going on a 20km hike, hunting for waterfalls?

 

This post isn’t about consumerism and how fulfilling and wonderful it feels to buy expensive plastic, no, its about experiencing the joys of a massive day hike, walking for hours through rain forest rain storms, feeling the muscle memory pain of marathons past, and oh yeah!, actually photographing landscapes.

Being someone who does a lot of landscape photography, planning is always number one. The day was meant to be mild and sunny. Maybe some cloud cover here or there. So, a lovely day to spend in the woods. As Lamington National Park is located in a rather mountainous area, it’s the start of many creeks and rivers, which eventually feed down into the dams and urban areas near the coast. These hills and creeks also create a lot of waterfalls. And so this was the point of the hike – to capture waterfalls.

 

I set off on the Coomera Circuit, a 17.5km return trip, with 4 waterfalls in mind. One of the hardest things to do post-hike is to find the names of all the waterfalls in the area. There doesn’t seem to be any known record of what they are called, except at the waterfall themselves.

Arriving at the first waterfall, I noticed the weather had started to change. No longer was the day mild and sunny, but it was now getting colder and more overcast. Rains were coming. I decided to take my time with the first waterfall – the colours, sounds and overall rejuvenating feeling from being close to something as beautiful as this, was glorious. After basking in the glow the area, it was time to commit to the rest of the walk.  My waterfall itch hadn’t been scratched just yet, so I just had to continue on.

 

At each successive waterfall, the weather started to completely change. Small drops of rain were beginning to fall. Each waterfall seemed to be even more beautiful then the next, and with all of my planned photos now done, the rain came. And boy, did it come. Who would of thought that it rains in a rain forest? 

 

A hiking pamphlet I read ages ago talked about how creek crossing can be hazardous after heavy rain. As I was currently in heavy rain, the hazard seemed to be on the cards, as I knew that there were a few creek crossing ahead. Putting that out of my mind, I carried on. Walking through such torrential mountainous rain was amazing. It felt very sacred, and seemed like something that only a few people are allowed to see. The forest really came alive and more unto itself. Hard to explain, but when the sun is out, the animals were in charge. Bird calls left and right. Lizards. Wallabies rummaging around for food. Such activity. But when the rain came, the forest took over. Walking through sloshy, mud soaked trails, surrounded in mist and rain and the scent of damp ancient wood echoing around the surroundings, was just a truly awe inspiring, sense overloading experience.

As much as this was incredible to see first hand, it was also quite miserable. Having just the basic of water proof clothing on, after time, the rain did it’s job – soaking through many layers of clothing. It was at this time that I kicked into marathon mode. Having run long distance many years ago, there’s a mindset that happens when you’re neck deep on a long run. Everything else gets shut out and you just focus on powering through whatever is in front of you. As I have taken a few years off from running long distance, if I begin to move close to those same distances, my body seems to remember, and begins to reject this adventure. As a result old war wounds began to re-surface. Mainly, hips and calves. And, I hit the wall. But the rain kept coming, and my pain kept increasing.

 

So with the prospect of dealing with drenching heavy rain, aching hips flexors and a 6km up hill hike, I just couldn’t stop, I had to keep going.

 

Let me tell you, it was an enormous struggle to get through those last 30 minutes. But the feeling of returning to the Binna Burra carpark, just the as the rain stopped and the clouds parted, was very much like hitting a personal best on an enormous run. Completely exhausted but exhilarated.

 

Now, it was back to the hotel for a shower, food and a sleep.

This is why I love nature photography. To be outdoors, making complete use of the day and experiencing nature with no one around. To have the opportunities like this to experience these moments, means that I have to be respectful when capturing them. I have to ensure that I am making the most of what I’m seeing and experiencing as they have been offered to me, so I have to capture them to the best of my ability. 

 

So what did I learn from this hike? I learnt that the Nikon Z6 is a great camera. That the 14-30 lens is a great lens. I also learnt that I need to pack more wet weather gear and that I need to prepare my body more for these long hikes. I learnt what it was like to experience the rains of the rain forest, and just how beautiful and awe inspiring it is. I also remembered how good it was to eat like an absolute pig after moving such long distances too. Nothing tastes as good as something carb filled, meaty and greasy after moving 15+ kilometres.