Through this week's journal, Jon lets us experience a true wonder of the world with some epic photographs from his trip to Iguassu Falls, Argentina. Look over the edge of a waterfall through Jon's camera and get a real sense of being right there with him.
Jon also gives us a few tips when shooting the landscape, looking at what makes the perfect picture.
"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." - Ansel Adams
Words | Jon Reid
A minister didn’t feel like speaking to his church one Sunday morning, so he decided to call in sick. He drove to a golf course 2 hours away to ensure that none of his church goers spotted him. Slicing his first shot badly, he was elated to see the ball bounce off the nearby wall and back onto the course.
He was even more stupefied when a seagull picked up the ball and dropped it into the hole, for a hole in one. Gabriel, witnessing all of this had to ask God what was going on, to which God responded, “Who can he tell?”
Solo travel is a bit like that story, I see some of the world’s most incredible sites, but without someone to share them with me, words do no justice when trying to explain them. This was a big part of why I started photography. It enables me to share a small window into the world that I see. However, even with a camera, I feel that I haven’t been able to fully share the wonder that is Iguassu Falls. It is something that you have to see and experience yourself.
The waterfalls are one of the great natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO world heritage site. Given its status, I knew surprisingly little about the falls. “Poor Niagra”, the words of the First Lady of America, Eleanor Roosevelt, when she saw them for the first time, best sums up Iguassu Falls. The combination of the awesome power of the falls, the mist and rainbows generated from the falls, all within a tropical jungle create a fairytale like environment, surely one of the inspirations for Avatar’s scenery.
Visiting The Falls
The Iguazu River is the border between Brazil and Argentina. Both countries have a national park alongside the Falls, allowing visitors to experience them from both sides. The Argentine side allows you to get closer to the Falls and covers the entire range, whereas the Brazil side is much smaller, but has a better view.
I started on the Argentine side and spent the entire day exploring the waterfalls. The Argentine side is large, allowing you to escape the crowds and find a section to yourself. The next day, I visited the Brazil side which was so crowded; I was more in awe of the crowds then the waterfall. To buy a ticket, I had to queue for 2 hours, followed by an hour wait for a bus ride. To be fair, it was the busiest time of year. Apparently, in April, you can have the falls almost to yourself.
For a different experience, I took a helicopter ride over the falls. This is the best way to see the entire range in one view.
Tips On Photographing The Landscape
1. Scale – A natural scene looks more impressive when you include something that gives it a sense of scale. The easiest way to do this is to include a human element – either an actual person or something that has been made by a person that we’re all familiar with the size.
2. The Environment – When seeing something like Iguassu Falls for the first time, it is easy to get overwhelmed and focus solely on the waterfall. Showing the environment around the main attraction helps complete the picture and in some cases, makes the picture.
3. Detail – Sometimes, the best images are not of the wide, dramatic scene but are of the subtle detail. Including detail shots also helps a narrative if you’re telling a story.
4. Patience – At Iguassu, my patience was tested more than it’s ever been. Waiting for tickets, waiting for transport, waiting for tourists to capture the perfect selfie. Patience is a crucial element of photography, especially when you’re chasing perfect light.
Next up on Jon's hit list is São Paulo, the largest city in South America with over 11 million people, graffiti capital of the world and home to one of the most influential people in the world of skateboarding - Mr Bob Burnquest.
See you there.
