Autumn Waterfall Composition, Victoria, Australia

(Click image to enlarge)

I was unsure whether to photograph this scene. I found the atmosphere and the incredible 200 meter (656 foot) vertical drop captivating, but there were many distracting elements that would ruin a photograph. Intruding light colored rocks much closer to the lens and bright areas of sunlight had no place in the scene I envisioned. On top of that it was autumn, the driest time of year, so there was very little water flowing.

The challenge in a situation like this is distilling the scene; keeping elements what attract you and getting rid of the rest. Photoshop can do that but it's not an option I wanted to consider. Instead I used only composition, but a conventional composition couldn't do it either. The result is an image that many would not see if they stood in the same place, but is present for all to see nonetheless. The photograph shows exactly what the camera saw when the shutter was tripped, without manipulation or alteration.