Taiwan – Central Mountains: Taipingshan to Henuanshan
In September 2024 we spent two weeks in Taiwan — not a popular tourist destination, and one that may change fundamentally over the coming years. A small island, around 400 km long, it offered the Chinese way of life in a democratic environment, extraordinary food, and mountain scenery unlike anywhere else we had visited.
Taiwan is formed from the junction of three tectonic plates, which have created an extraordinarily jagged mountainous spine down the centre of the island. Still rising, still seismically active, the mountains are steep-sided and clothed in subtropical evergreen forest — a quite unique and photogenic landscape. These photographs cover the first leg of the journey from Taipei south through Taipingshan to the Henuanshan mountains.
Because this was a travel experience rather than a photography-oriented trip, I took a small, lightweight system — the OM System OM-5 — and it worked remarkably well with few compromises.
Photographs in this album include: Shifen waterfall, fishermen on the north-east coast, the Japanese-built logging railway at Taipingshan, ancient cypress roots, tea and apple plantations at Lishan, wild mountain tulips, and an Alpine Accentor on the Henuanshan mountain road.
▸ Technical data — all 25 images
| Image |
Camera |
FL |
f/ |
Shutter |
ISO |
GPS |
| Shifen waterfall | OM-5 | 34mm | f/7.1 | 1/6s | 200 | 25.0444°N, 121.7786°E |
| Fishermen on the north-east coast | OM-5 | 125mm | f/6.3 | 49s | 200 | 25.1281°N, 121.8536°E |
| The rocky north-east coast | OM-5 | 19mm | f/6.3 | 52s | 200 | 25.1281°N, 121.8536°E |
| The Japanese-built logging railway at Taipingshan | OM-5 | 17mm | f/4.5 | 1/15s | 320 | 24.5236°N, 121.6200°E |
| The Japanese-built logging railway at Taipingshan | OM-5 | 55mm | f/7.1 | 1/100s | 320 | 24.5236°N, 121.6200°E |
| The Japanese-built logging railway at Taipingshan | OM-5 | 14mm | f/3.5 | 1/100s | 250 | 24.5236°N, 121.6200°E |
| The Japanese-built logging railway at Taipingshan | OM-5 | 21mm | f/5.6 | 1/25s | 800 | 24.5236°N, 121.6200°E |
| Taipingshan cypress root | OM-5 | 40mm | f/5.6 | 1/100s | 320 | 24.5236°N, 121.6200°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 102mm | f/6.3 | 1/200s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 46mm | f/5.6 | 1/640s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 77mm | f/5.6 | 1/320s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 55mm | f/5.6 | 1/800s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 65mm | f/5.6 | 1/320s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 19mm | f/5.6 | 1/1250s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 24mm | f/8.0 | 1/400s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 109mm | f/5.6 | 1/640s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 115mm | f/5.6 | 1/500s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Tea and apple plantations at Lishan | OM-5 | 46mm | f/5.6 | 1/640s | 320 | 24.2556°N, 121.2556°E |
| Sights on the Henuanshan mountain road | OM-5 | 97mm | f/5.6 | 1/640s | 320 | 24.1997°N, 121.3033°E |
| Sights on the Henuanshan mountain road | OM-5 | 28mm | f/5.6 | 1/2500s | 320 | 24.1997°N, 121.3033°E |
| Wild mountain tulips (clusiana) | OM-5 | 14mm | f/5.6 | 1/320s | 320 | 24.1997°N, 121.3033°E |
| Sights on the Henuanshan mountain road | OM-5 | 40mm | f/5.6 | 1/2500s | 320 | 24.1997°N, 121.3033°E |
| Sights on the Henuanshan mountain road | OM-5 | 115mm | f/5.6 | 1/640s | 200 | 24.1997°N, 121.3033°E |
| Alpine Accentor on the Henuanshan mountain road | OM-5 | 140mm | f/5.6 | 1/100s | 200 | 24.1997°N, 121.3033°E |
For camera settings, techniques and equipment used in shoots like this, see the Technique posts on mcaughtry.photo.
