Rano Kau, Easter Island. At 324 metres, isn’t the highest climb in the world. 
Phase One A-Series, 23mm Rodenstock, f11 @ 30 seconds, ISO 35

It’s interesting the things we associate with different photographs. Most readers will agree this looks like an interesting place – and it certainly is! It’s the crater of a volcano on the tip of Easter Island and through a gap in the caldera wall you can see three small islands which have cultural and historical importance. However, having just watched a documentary about Easter Island where most of the historical views about Easter Island seem to have changed since I was there, let’s leave it at that.

I first visited Easter Island 40 odd years ago with my wife Kathie, spending an enjoyable fortnight with a 4x5” cherry wood view camera and being told the only thing to eat was lobster. It was a pity we were both vegetarian. Then around 10 years ago, I did a job for Qantas and its inflight magazine which included a few short days on the Island. This is when the above photograph was taken.

I was staying at the explora hotel. The staff arranged to drop me off at the base of the volcano, telling me I could walk through the orchards up to the rim of the volcano and they’d collect me at the top. So, I grabbed my camera bag and tripod and set off.

Within 10 minutes, the weather changed – which is not unexpected out in the middle of the Pacific. I was smart because I’d packed a rain jacket in my bag, but I wasn’t that smart because I hadn’t brought any waterproof pants.

The rain continued. In fact, it poured, but there wasn’t anything I could do except continue my damp ascent and keep the hood of my jacket over my. However, while the top of me was relatively dry, I could feel the water dripping off the bottom of the thigh-length jacket onto my trousers. Bit by bit, the water invaded my person, but that was okay: to get good photographs requires us to suffer a little bit, doesn’t it!

But still the rain continued and still the water in my trousers moved south until I felt my socks dampen around the heels. Then my toes felt wet. And on it rained.

Now, I can’t quite remember how long it took me to walk up to the rim, but by the time I reached there, the clouds had parted to reveal a great view over the caldera. There was even a spot of sunshine to make it all worthwhile. Light like this doesn’t last forever, so out came my camera and up went the tripod.

And my memory? Taking this photograph while my feet sloshed around in my wet boots – and a promise to myself to always take wet weather pants!