Melbourne Landscape Photography Day Course 10th May 09

With only one position left on my 9th of May 2009 Magical Melbourne course, I am releasing an additional date due to the popular demand. The additional date will be Sunday the 10th of May.

Details and bookings can be taken at this link.

Ayres Rock Trip 08

As from my previous posts I’m sure you all know I did a short trip to Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park. My decision to go there was done at the last minute as I had to cancel my planned trip to Kangaroo Island in SA due to poor weather for the images I wanted to capture.

I stayed at Yulara (Ayres Rock Resort) which is the purpose built township for all the tourists that visit the area. The place is pretty much one looped road with all the hotels veering off it.

As I said previously there are a lot of restrictions and rules once you enter the park. As you drive along all the good advantage points are marked as "no stopping areas" and there are signs indicating if you stop you will be fined. Ouch. So your option is to run the gauntlet and park anyway or park at the designated car parks and prepare yourself for a good walk. Either way it’s all about getting the shot in the end.

I don’t think any serious photographer can go to the park without encountering, being questioned or having a run in with a ranger. They are everywhere, like the cops on New Years eve. My encounter was just a polite warning that I couldn’t stop in a certain location. (Got the shot though).

The best light to shoot the area in (no shock here) is sunrise to early morning and late afternoon to sunset, during a clear day the light is very harsh and there is a blue haze over the rock and Olgas. But if you hunt around you can still get a nice composition or two.

When photography is your career and you invest money into a trip like this you need to get the shots you want and maximise each moment. This would be the first time I have headed out and shot and wished I had an assistant with me. My entourage of equipment is for ever growing.

" I have quite a few planned trips for next year so keep an eye out on the blog as a casual assistant position will be advertised. "

Over all the park is very impressive and easy to navigate. It’s a place that I will definitely return to over the coming years and seasons to get different views and colours and maybe a few clouds one time will be nice.

Thorny Little Devil

When I was on my way to Kata Tjuta I saw this small object on the road. As I got closer I saw this little “Devil” basking in the sun on the bitumen road. So I stopped and relocated him to a much safer location.

I then grabbed the 1ds and took a couple of snaps. The best view was to get as low as possible. So here I am laying on the red dirt, spinifex digging into my back and camera in hand with these tourist buses flying by. I’m sure it was a funny sight to the international tourists but it would be no surprise to the bus driver who is probably thinking “Stupid photographer”

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

I just got my slide film back from my trip to Uluru and Kata Tjuta aka Ayres Rock and The Olgas. For a trip without clouds the radiant hues you get from long exposure at dawn and dusk are fantastic. At the moment this shot is my favourite. Taken at first light when the sun just breached the horizon.

I don’t know what it was about this morning but the trademark Aussie flies were out in strength. The morning prior it was great just the odd fly, maybe over night a fresh batch were born ready to harass the tourists.

Fuji GX617 | Velvia 50 | Sunrise | November 2008