Behind the Lens - A Waterfall Adventure
Costa Rica is a great place for adventure photography. There are just innumerable companies offering one breathtaking adventure after the other and it is a bit of a mind-boggling task to make a decision as to where to go and what to do. I set up base for some days in the beach town of Jacó, about an hour and a half drive away from San José. It is a great place to do business as it is bustling with tourism and the main road is just brimming with adventure companies. Some of them have their own offices, but mostly they just have a stand set up right out on the street so that they can snatch tourists off the sidewalk and whisk them away on some ridiculously exotic adventure in the mountains or at sea.
On Assignment in the Rainforest
I very quickly found a company, Playa Hermosa Vacation Rentals, that I liked and we set up a photoshoot for a 10 waterfall hike tour just outside of Jacó, in the Las Monas Rainforest. It was going to be a first for me as I have never taken my camera along on a waterfall hike. Especially not after being advised to bring water shoes as we will be walking in water up until our waists at times. But I am not one to turn my back on an adventure like that, I just had to make sure that my camera was safe and secure at every step of the way.
We got picked up by a minivan at 10:30 in the morning, which I thought was a little late, considering how hot it got there during the day. But I understood that first and foremost they wanted to appease tourists who might still be recovering from a Friday night bender, so I went with it. The sky was overcast and I though that was really lucky for the photos. For one, it was cooler but I also like this kind of weather when I need to photograph in places that would be extremely contrasted if I had to deal with direct sunlight. The white clouds disperse light in a very pleasant manner and I found that even in the woods I could take well-lit photos of people and the environment.
Photographing the Experience
We had a company of five people plus our very knowledgeable guide and we set off hiking at around 11 AM. My idea during a photoshoot is not only to get some great shots of the people and places we go to, but tell a story throughout. I find the best way to do that is to take a variety of close-up and wide angle shots that show the various details of the trip: walking through a stream, hiking up and down the mountain side, taking little stops to admire nature and of course arriving to and ascending the 10 consecutive waterfalls. There were also some animals along the way that I wanted to include in my photos, such as the giant ants with the notoriously painful bites, a little neon-colored frogs and the ever present grazing cows. Usually I also try to get in various angles to make the shots more interesting and provide more variety.
Our guide was super helpful throughout, and even though I wrapped my backpack and camera in all kinds of waterproof protection, he offered to help lift and pass the bag over the more challenging parts. And for good reason as well, because many a plunges have happened along the way as we were trying to cross over slippery rocks in knee- to waist-high water.
A lot of the time I hung back to capture the team advancing towards the falls or climbing up ropes and I went ahead when I could to also get some variety in the shots. The most dangerous yet interesting and exciting part of the photoshoot was when I myself was standing in the water, taking pictures of the others climbing or swimming in the pools collected at the base of the waterfalls. I always tried to make sure to have a sure footing and place to hold on to with my hands. In the worst case scenario, I would spot a dry area where I could promptly toss my camera should I take the plunge too.
I had to take good care of the camera more towards the end of it as I was increasingly drenched in water. I brought along a small towel just for this purpose, because even though my camera is weather proof and should be able to sustain light water exposure, I didn’t want to take the chance.
In the end it was a truly fun experience, hard to believe that it was also a day at work. And that is what I think will bring the best pictures at the end of the day: to have fun and be fully present in whatever you do, instead of trying to capture every single moment to choose from later. Always deliberate what is worth shooting and how big a risk you want to take to get a certain shot. Even if you imagine the coolest, best shot, it might not be worth risking your camera to get it.
