Kermits Pool Karijini NP

The story behind the image

Practice photography in spectacular surroundings. Find out more about our photography adventures here.

Being in the moment  –

Kermits Pool, Hancock Gorge

Kermits Pool, Hancock Gorge

It’s March in the Pilbarra, Western Australia and day time temperatures are still hitting 35  degrees plus. Meanwhile cutely named Kermit’s Pool lies deep in the shadows,  in the cool depths of the Hancock gorge system.

I’d been down there the previous day but got there too late as hard shadows were climbing down the walls and creating too much contrast. So I noted the time and made plans to climb down much earlier the following day.

Like many images we want to photograph,  its one that I’d seen before in my research and wanted to not just photograph  but also to experience and see it. Why wouldn’t  you? For me that’s an important factor.

The “experience ” is in many ways more important than the photograph. Taking a little time to fully appreciate the place will temper the excitement that can often force or rush the photograph. I remember being there, sitting in the cooler air listening to the sound of the water pouring over the red stone lip  into the emerald pool and just pondering how this place had come to be. The more we look, the more we see. This can reveal and also present more “good ideas” when it comes to composing and also visualising the final image.

Once settled, I went about taking the images from about 3 different positions at various heights. Once satisfied, I  loaded my dry bag and swam across to the light on the other side. I unpacked the dry bag again and took a couple more exposures in both directions taking my time to get everything right.

It is a truly remarkable place and one that rests in my memory all the better for just taking the time to watch, look and listen. The more times I visit a place then often the better the result. We become calmer and the expectation and pressure we put on ourselves is less. Then we tend to think and see more clearly, using that energy for more creative purposes. That’s my theory at least.

Nikon D800E

Nikon 16-35mm F4 VR  lens at 24mm

f13 @ 5 seconds 100 ISO

Gitzo Tripod.