March 2011
Mount Field National Park, TAS, Australia
Canon 5D MkII & EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, 1/4s f/8 ISO400 @32mm
Mt. Field National Park is a small gem that protects some of the last remaining old growth swamp gums (a.k.a mountain ashes) in Tasmania. One feels rather tiny when walking among the massive tree ferns that grow in the shadow below the giants, the tallest flowering plants in the world. The park is also famous for several waterfalls within a short distance from the entrance, which can be easily reached by an educational trail with panels providing helpful explanations about the ecology of the forest.
The day I visited it was partially cloudy with a slight but continuous wind. This made photography in the forest rather difficult, as I did not want any blown highlights caused by the sun, so it was one of those days when you have to wait a few minutes before taking any picture until the sun is covered by a passing cloud. To make things worse, the fern leaves that result in such beautiful foregrounds are also very sensitive to even the slightest breeze, so I needed to wait not only for clouds but also for those rare instants without wind. Fortunately, the wait time was never too much, and I managed to get some nice shots while enjoying the forest. The one above shows aptly named Horse Shoe Falls.