It was in March, during a trekking activity by Cengiz EKREN (Club Trekking Kocaeli) when I first learned that there was such a waterfall (Cenedere Waterfall) in Kocaeli.
Photographs for Cenedere Waterfall that I shot then were beyond satisfaction since it was wintertime. I set my mind to get there once again to update my archive.
On a warm June morning during blue hour, I was on my way to Cenedere Waterfall through Cenedere Canyon. I wanted to reach my destination before the first lights of the sun enlightens the waterfall down the canyon.
Parking and leaving my car at the Derince Picnic Area I got my backpack and footed forward.
Cenedere Canyon
And I should confess that I was a little uneasy. A wolf, a hog, a bear; how can you tell? Sure you can’t, otherwise nobody would get there alone. (I can almost hear trekkers criticising me “how dare you without a buddy!”) Lust for photography urges you to do involve such things though.
The mountain ridgeway, first hours of the day, nature and me…I marched to destination inhaling the fresh air of the mountain. And I should confess that I was a little uneasy. A wolf, a hog, a bear; how can you tell? Sure you can’t, otherwise nobody would get there alone. (I can almost hear trekkers criticising me “how dare you without a buddy!”) Lust for photography urges you to do involve such things though.
While I was walking mesmerized by the beauty of the nature, suddenly I realised that I was not alone. Two big dogs were walking fast towards me! “It’s over” I said to myself, for an instance. And another showed up, another, one after another and there were something like 10 of them at last. After a massive amount of adrenalin being pumped in my body, thanks to God that two trekkers emerged, we approached to each other as a crowd. Feeling that the dogs were not interested in myself, naturally relieved me.
As we were abeam with the trekkers, one of them, as if he felt my anxiety, said: ”No worry, the dogs are with us.” And we greeted, wishing a good day to each other. We did not know each other nevertheless we have rights on one another, as life set a meeting for us on Cenedere Way at that very early time of the day. From that time on, I felt that a nice day was about to rise for me with the warm feeling inside.
Cenedere Waterfall
Walking along Cenedere, numerous little waterfalls were also worth to set a tripod.
Arousing my interest, different flowers, dragonflies, mountain scene were all factors made my voyage more enjoyful. Losing time perception, I was like “let me shoot this one, that one” I found myself looking down the waterfall having finished 5 km track.
Hardest part of the job begins here; I have to crawl down 40-50 meters through steep rocks holding the rope which was tied up there by “some nice people” yelling a “thank you” for them with my backpack and tripod on my shoulders. One or two slippings and stumblings and I’m on target as one piece.
Let the party begin… The waterfall is not much of a huge one but anyways it was there and would show herself to no one except who bothers to come here. So I can enjoy my poses documenting the waterfall, “no pain no gain”. For my camera was almost brandnew, I hadn’t have time to buy an ND filter, so I wasn’t able to shoot a long exposure. However, I set my tripod and shot several frames from different angles.
Besides, shot myself while shooting the waterfall resorting means of technology.
You can also have different nice frames on the flow direction of the waterfall. Meanwhile, a dragonfly on the rocks let me take his photograph while he was waiting for the sun to dry the morning dew on its wings.
After finishing waterfall shooting, I faced the harder side: climbing. Again holding the rope with the same equipment, a though track was awaiting. I took my time climbing up and I made it “upstairs” without a bruise at last!..
Way back was a little bit different with the diffused daylight, sun showing itself, bees buzzing, butterflies flying, nature waking up…and I have a wish to come back with an ND filter for a long exposure on my mind.
04.02.2018