03-04-09 Take A Leap (02)

By Scott Shephard

This photo was taken on Battle Creek at what is called "the Hippy Hole" or "Big Falls," near Rockerville, SD. My friend, Scott, and I were staying at our family's Black Hills cabin for a few days and decided to try to find this spot. Though it was somewhat difficult to get to, it was worth the effort. Initially, we had the place to ourselves but eventually several teens showed up to enjoy the amazing natural pool.

This photo is lucky, given the composition of the two jumpers - both are frozen in their jumps and in fair focus. The main figure in the green suit was doing a back flip and the one on the left looks like he's headed for a belly flop (though he lands feet first). The fall from the ledge to the water, incidentally, is about 15 feet.

Canon 5D f7.1 1/500 Canon 24-105mm 4.0L (24mm) iso500

03-03-09 Take A Leap (01)

By Scott Shephard

This is South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii. South Point is billed as the southern-most point of the United States. So why not jump off the edge of the US? I didn't jump but my son, Brian, did. I love the scream that seems to be frozen at the time the photo was taken. It turns out that Brian over-rotated and landed a little on his tailbone, which hurt for a few days after this jump. I sometimes use this picture to illustrate the concept of a "leap of faith." It is one of my favorite family photos.

Canon 1D f16 1/640 Lens unknown 28mm iso500