[DRAFT] SOMERSBY FALLS – A Journey
A funny thought hit me as i began to feel image-saturate last year in 2026… let’s go back in time a little…
From the web…
Most people never see this waterfall, as Somersby Falls is a series of four or five waterfalls descending into a gorge and people tend to only walk down to observe the first one or two. This cascade is much further down the creek however, and as you descend further, the waterfalls become much more spectacular. You can see the small stone staircase off to the right that I climbed down on, to obtain this shot. Notice too, the circular formation at the base of the falls, which is a photographic effect of the turbulence of the water produced by a time exposure.
Also from the Web
Somersby Falls is a picturesque waterfall on the Central Coast but not many people know about it. Hardly any locals go up there – they have seen the sign, but never taken the turn off. The most interesting thing is that there are so many different falls. Many people who´ve been to the top one, think they have seen Somersby Falls. But there are a series of falls and as you work your way down, you realise they are all quite unique. This is about the third waterfall and I shot it vertically because to me the water flowing onto the rocks is like a ribbon of life caressing the rock ledges as it carves its way through the gully. Because it is spring fed, Somersby Falls is a constant flow, but the character of the place depends on how much water is flowing. The moral of the story is that we can have a magnificent waterfall right in our own backyard, but perhaps we have never taken the time to admire or appreciate it. Or perhaps we have given it a cursory glance but failed to explore its depth or beauty.
A timeline of influencers and Social Media exposure
Can you believe the above? – Most people never see this waterfall, and a picturesque waterfall on the Central Coast but not many people know about it. Hardly any locals go up there – they have seen the sign, but never taken the turn off. The text (from ken Duncan) wasn’t written too many moons ago! I’ve just been thinking these past few months. Just how many of the same-same images I now see on social media. Somersby Falls is perhaps a classic example. For a few years the sam eimages were on saturation point.
I can’t remember the exact date of my first visit to Somersby Falls. In the early 90s perahps. I know I had looked on a map and seen a waterfall not too far away, and immediately thought I had to see it. Always been a waterfall hound, that’s me… I recall a lengthy journey off the F3, side roads, poor signage, and an anonymous car park and shed. Soon after that I recall seeing the Ken Duncan had taken – and issued as a limited edition print, an image of the ‘less visited’ lower tier.
To Be Added
This, friends, is Somersby Falls. It has many moods and reactions, shaped by different conditions and events – just like our own lives and emotions. On this particular day, the conditions were close to perfect. The flow of water, creating beautiful patterns as it cascaded down and over the rocks. The atmosphere, remarkably tranquil and calming. This is more than an image. It’s a state of being. And I truly hope it helps you to pause and reflect on the simplicity and tranquillity of nature. Enjoy the Journey!
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