ABC Wednesday: O is for the Origin of Keelung River

One of the biggest challenge of 19th century European exploration of Africa was the Origin of Nile River.  All the famous explorers, Livingston, Stanley, Speke, Burton and Baker were figured in the search.  Speke is the first person laid the claim that Lake Victoria at Uganda is the origin of the White Nile.  Ripon Falls was the northern outlet of Lake Victoria.  Speke named the Falls after the then President of Royal Geographical Society.

Last weekend, Grace and I set out for our own exploration of the Origin of Keelung River of Taipei.  Keelung River has its origin at the northeast mountainous region of New Taipei City (old Taipei County).  It flows northeast then making a 180 degree turn near Keelung City and passing through Taipei, eventually flows into sea at Danshui.  There is a narrow track railroad follows the river valley from Taipei into the mountain.  It was built by the Japanese for coal mining.

The whole area is now a well organized tourist attraction.  And we have our own waterfall at the Origin of Keelung River, the Shihfen Falls.  We have been to the waterfall twice before.  Once specifically to photograph the waterfall and the second time with Grace's sister and father.

Shihfen Waterfall is the largest waterfall in Taiwan.  Looking at the picture, you can see it is a perfect waterfall.  As those African Explorers, we well also fully equipped.  Grace brought with her the D7000 with 18-200 VR lens and I brought my D700 with 27-300 VR lens.  For the people in-the-know, we basically have the same set up.  I have an additional 20 mm lens with me.  We also brought neutral density filter, polarization filter and remote trigger release.  We used the neutral density filter for most of the pictures but not the other two accessories (too lazy).  More importantly we brought two professional Gitzo carbon fiber tripods.  It was using these tripods that enable us to use shutter speed at 2 to 5 seconds to generate this cotton cloud feeling of the water.

We can walk from the top of the half crescent shaped fall through a footpath to the bottom of the fall and bath ourselves in the water mist.  When the afternoon sun shining from the top of the waterfall, if we are lucky, we can even see a rainbow.  But that is for next time.

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