Australia
The Red Top lookout at Mungo National Park lived up to its name the evening I was there. As the sun slipped below the horizon, the sky appeared to be on fire, with the clouds highlighting the orange and red hues of the sun. It was a spectacular sight to behold, and continued for longer than I thought it would. Mungo National Park is a place I have wanted to visit since moving to Australia. It is in the Outback of New South Wales, about 1,000km southwest of Sydney. It is remote, and only approachable on dirt roads that are closed after heavy rain. The national park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Willandra Lakes Region, an area of 2,400 square kilometres that incorporates seventeen dry lakes. The remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains discovered in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest known human to have been ritually cremated, were both discovered within the park.
Every year the city of Sydney lights up for Vivid Sydney, a showcase of visual arts. The entire event takes place at night, so the art installations are all dealing with light: static light sculptures, light in motion, and vivid displays of color. Perhaps the most incredible sight is to see the iconic Sydney Opera House lit up in a repeating loop of colorful images and graphics, set to accompanying music, and projected on the Opera House from across Circular Quay. If the Opera House looks good during the day in and white, it looks incredible at night in color. I had the chance to visit and photograph Vivid Sydney twice the year I captured this image. The first night was rainy, but still yielded good results. The second night was clear and spectacular. The projected show on the Opera House lasted about six or seven minutes, so I got to watch it over and over again. My favorite part of the show was the colorful geometric patters of this image. They colors transitioned smoothly over a short time, but the vibrant blues, purples, reds and oranges were my favorite.
One of the iconic locations along Australia's Great Ocean, this rock has withstood thousands of years of beating from the sea. I stood in this spot for an hour or so, watching the clouds move in and away, and the waves crashing against the shore. It was a beautiful Summer day, shortly before Christmas; the water was a deep blue, almost the same hue as the sky; and the clouds were rolled slowly across the sky. Is there a better way to spend a Summer day?
The Walls of China is the main attraction for Mungo National Park in southwest New South Wales, about 1,000km from Sydney. This is a place I have wanted to visit for years, after seeing some stunning images of the Walls. It takes a little imagination, but once you’ve got that it’s easy to see how the Chinese immigrants in the area named the lunettes and sand dunes that have formed on the eastern edge of the dry lake bed. During the day, from a distance, with heat waves rising from the ground, the sand dunes and rock formations look like the Great Wall of China does from a distance. It’s really incredible. Once you get closer, you see the intricate patters formed in the rocks from thousands of years of wind and rain. This specific view caught my attention as it looked almost like a brain sitting in the Outback. The smooth curves and folds of the landscape resembling brain matter. The sunset this evening helped accentuate the otherworldness of this area. The national park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Willandra Lakes Region, an area of 2,400 square kilometres (930 sq mi) that incorporates seventeen dry lakes. The remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains discovered in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest known human to have been ritually cremated, were both discovered within the park. They were buried on the shore of Lake Mungo, beneath the 'Walls of China', a series of lunettes on the South eastern edge of the lake.
The Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia, is considered one of the best drives in the entire world. It's not hard to believe seeing pictures of it, and actually driving the road from one end to the other is a great experience. The sights and scenery are immense. The most famous sight is the 12 Apostles, a series of incredible rock formations that have withstood millions of years of relentless pounding by the ocean. Yet, against the never ending power of waves, these rock formations persist and rise from the ocean in defiance of continuous onslaught. The weather didn't cooperate during my time on the Great Ocean Road, with neither morning nor evening providing the beautiful light that photographers seek. Instead, I focused on the mood that the incoming storms provided. Power, a growing darkness, and sea spray rising against the cliffs helped define that mood, with a long exposure accentuating what I was seeing.
There is perhaps no greater iconic symbol of Australia than that of Uluru / Ayers Rock, the massive sandstone rock formation in the middle of the country. Described by some as the heart of Australia, due to it's physical location near the center of the country, and the iconic nature, Uluru also a sacred to the local Aboriginal people in the area. Photographing this icon is difficult, not for technical reasons, but rather trying to get a unique image of one of the most photographed natural formations in the world. All the different angles, times, seasons, and weather have been captured in the past. So, trying to capture something new is nearly impossible. All I could hope for is good light to craft my own images from. I got it on my first sunrise shoot. Captured from the Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) sunrise viewing area, this silhouette of Uluru is simple and powerful. While I was expecting to photograph The Olgas as the sun rose that morning, I found that Uluru made the more compelling subject that early morning. The sun had yet to peak above the horizon, but was turning the lower sky a deep orange, while the sky overhead fought the onslaught of the coming sun, attempting to keep the dark blue that had blanketed the area over night. Gradually, over the course of just a few minutes, the rising sun won as the dark blue was transformed by the orange glow. I love the feeling this image portrays, though the scale is difficult to judge. Uluru is large, at just over 348 meters high, and a total circumference of over nine kilometers. This image was captured from about 15 kilometers away, yet the Rock is still large and imposing.
The Walls of China is the main attraction for Mungo National Park in southwest New South Wales, about 1,000km from Sydney. This is a place I have wanted to visit for years, after seeing some stunning images of the Walls. I captured this image just hours after arriving at Mungo for the first time (and after a 1,000km car ride that day). I made my way to the Red Top lookout to try find some good compositions for sunset that evening. There was ample choice, and for about 90 minutes I carefully moved amongst the lunettes to get different views. It was a great evening. This image is one of my favorite from Mungo National Park. The sunset was simply stunning, and made the clouds appear as if they were on fire. Even after the sun dropped below the horizon the sky was bathed in warm, rich hues.
I wish I could remember exactly where I captured this image. I know it is somewhere along the Great Ocean Road, west of the 12 Apostles. But, beyond that, I'm at a loss. Obviously this before I started using a GPS unit to record where I shot my images. The thing with the Great Ocean Road is that there are so many different photo opportunities along it's distance that it's almost as if one location blends right into the next. The views are also so grand that a single shot usually didn't capture the greatness that I was seeing, so I would shot multiple frames and combine them into a panorama, such as this image. The fact that these rock formations are still standing, especially the one on the right which is surrounded by water, is amazing to me.
A view down the coastline of Victoria, Australia, with some of the 12 Apostles fighting the continuous onslaught of the ocean waves. This was a place I'd wanted to photograph for years, and finally had the chance during my first trip to Australia. Spending several days along the Great Ocean Road, I visited the 12 Apostles view point several times. Alas, the weather, while good during the day, turned overcast as sunset approached. Changing tactics, I went for long exposures to smooth out the sea and sky, and accentuating the rock formations and shoreline cliffs beyond. Converting to black and white helped bring out the mood I experienced while shoot.
There are several great places inside Mungo National Park to see the sun go down. My first evening there I choose the Red Top lookout, which was easily accessible after the 11 hour drive from Sydney. Red Top provides the visitor with a great view from above of the haunting and fragile lunettes. These lunettes are formed from the wind and rain that pelts this area of the Outback, and creates these unique formations at what is called “The Walls of China.” I’ve seen many sunsets in my life, but some of the best have been in Australia’s Outback. Be it in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, or New South Wales, there is just something special about an Outback sunset. Mungo National Park is a place I have wanted to visit since moving to Australia. It is in the Outback of New South Wales, about 1,000km southwest of Sydney. It is remote, and only approachable on dirt roads that are closed after heavy rain. The national park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Willandra Lakes Region, an area of 2,400 square kilometres that incorporates seventeen dry lakes. The remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains discovered in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest known human to have been ritually cremated, were both discovered within the park.
During a day trip from Melbourne, I headed out to the Grampians, an area and mountain range to the west of Melbourne. Not having any concrete plan or time constraints, when something caught my eye I would turn the car towards a newly discovered goal. That's how I came across this scene, a beautifully sculpted tree located down a dusty dirt road, probably transversed by no more than 10 cars per day. The grass was a golden color, the sky a deep blue, the clouds a pure white, and the tree one of only a few. I love these types of scenes where the subject, even when something mighty and massive as this tree, seem so small and almost insignificant. I'm attracted to these lone subjects, and I can't explain why.
Australia knows how to throw a party. Be it for New Years, Australia Day, or any other special day, the Australian’s don’t need an excuse to have a good bash. The Centennial Anniversary of the Australian Navy was no exception, and in October 2013, there was a party to prove it. Rumors swirled for weeks that the fireworks show for the 2013 International Fleet Review would rival New Year’s Eve; those rumors were understandable since it was the same company preparing the fireworks show. The fireworks came off the Harbour Bridge, four barges in the Harbour, and several Naval vessels. There was a projected light show on the sails of the Opera House, and massive spot lights that cast their beams from the Bridge. It was incredible. By the end it was getting harder to have a clear view, since so many fireworks had been set off, in so many places, that smoke was beginning to hang over the Harbour. But, that same smoke provided another rapidly changing visual feature, as the spotlights and fireworks were reflected off the dense clouds. It was amazing.
The Twelve Apostles, the most famous sight along Australia's Great Ocean Road, is a great place to visit. The walk in was nice--and not too far from the car park--but even the short walk provided glimpse of the blue ocean, the green vegetation, and the occasional kangaroo hopping away from gawking tourists. This image was taken as the sun began to set over a cloudy sky. This is the perils of landscape photography on a deadline: sometimes the weather just does not cooperate. I tired several evenings while I was in the area, and this was the best. I think it actually turned out better because I was using film for this shot, which helped capture the full range of colors, no matter how minute they were to the naked eye. I'll definitely head back to the Great Ocean Road in the future. Hopefully with more time so I can wait out the clouds for the perfect shot.
Captured on my second sunset shoot at Mungo National Park, this is one of the more iconic views of the Walls of China. These lunettes are created from the wind and rain that batter the sandy rock all year long (albeit more wind than rain). As a result, these beautiful and otherworldly grooves and folds in the rock come into being. The Walls of China is the main attraction for Mungo National Park in southwest New South Wales, about 1,000km from Sydney. This is a place I have wanted to visit for years, after seeing some stunning images of the Walls. Why is it called the Walls of China? Well, a nearby wool shed was built by Chinese immigrants in the 19th Century. During the day, and from a distance of about 20km, the heat distortion rises off the dry lakebed, and given the height and color of the dunes and rock formations, from that distance they look similar to the Great Wall of China. I didn’t see it at first, but that’s because I was too close. To understand why its name fits, one has to be quite a ways from the Walls. This was a great evening for photography. Enough clouds were present, far into the distance and low on the horizon, that they caught the last rays of sun and turned an incredible purple, all while the sky transitioned into a deep blue hue.
My first attempt at sunset and nighttime photography at the Sydney Opera House and I was rewarded with an incredible 15 minute firework display. It was the highlight to a multi day corporate conference for a large insurance firm. I just happened to be in Sydney at the right time, and by chance choose the right evening to go take pictures of the Opera House.
Even after the sun set, it’s rays far in the distance keep providing a gentle glow over the Outback of New South Wales and the lunettes of Mungo National Park. Following an 11 hour drive that began well before dawn, I ended the day exploring the lunettes of Mungo’s Red Top area. Red Top provides the visitor with a great view from above of the haunting and fragile lunettes. These lunettes are formed from the wind and rain that pelts this area of the Outback, and creates these unique formations at what is called “The Walls of China.” This was the last shot I got that day, as the light became too weak and the sky too boring shortly after this image was captured. Ending the day in this shallow valley of lunettes was a great way to conclude the evening. Mungo National Park is a place I have wanted to visit since moving to Australia. It is in the Outback of New South Wales, about 1,000km southwest of Sydney. It is remote, and only approachable on dirt roads that are closed after heavy rain. The national park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Willandra Lakes Region, an area of 2,400 square kilometers that incorporates seventeen dry lakes. The remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains discovered in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest known human to have been ritually cremated, were both discovered within the park.
Located a short helicopter ride away from Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) in Australia's Northern Territory is Lake Amadeus, the dry salt lake bed. It is a huge lake, measuring some 145 km long by 20 km wide, but even after heavy rains would only be several centimeters deep. Most of the time the lake is dry, and a brilliant white due to the large amount of salt. In fact, it is estimated that the lake contains 600 million tons of salt. This image shows just a small part of the dry Lake Amadeus. Taken from a helicopter, the scale is deceiving, especially since the height of the trees and bushes is obscured due to having to shoot through the helicopter's plexiglass window, which reduced the clarity and sharpness of the vegetation. It was the contrast between the white of the salt and the orange-red of the Outback dirt that caught my eye and drew me to this image. Coupled with the unique shoreline coming into the vegetation, I just loved the sight. I was told that it is possible to walk on the lake bed, but best not too. Supposedly a few weeks before I took this image a few guys took their dirt bikes on to the salt crust and actually made it quite a ways before they became stuck. It took them over five hours of walking before they could get a mobile phone signal to call for help.
Dark, cold, and still. That is exactly how it was early one morning when I drove into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and made my way the 50km from the park entrance to the Kata Tjutu sunrise viewing area. I was the first visitor though the park gate early that morning, and the first to arrive at the viewing area. The bitter chill that hit me as I exited the car betrayed the high temperatures that would come in mere hours. The sun had not yet begun to highlight the horizon, though that change was approaching. The landscape was still; no people, no sounds of tires on asphalt, and only the occasionally faint sound of a wide animal beginning their day. I expected to shoot Kata Tjuta as the sun rose, capturing the rocks glowing a deep red as the sun crested the horizon and watching as the sun rays hit the rocks. Instead, I found myself facing the other direction; the direction of the coming sunrise. I'm grateful I did. When I captured this image I was still the only person on site; while others would arrive within minutes I cherished my time alone watching this scene unfold. The cloudless sky slowly began to glow red and then orange along the distant horizon, while the sky remained a black that transitioned into the deepest blue. The moon, big and bright, cast shadows on the ground, even as the sun continued approaching. Even the stars remained visible until just before the sun rose. Through it all, as the horizon went from black to blue, from red to orange, the silhouette of Uluru became more pronounced and defined. Despite being nearly 50 kilometers away, it was an imposing sight on the horizon. Then, just as quickly as it began, it was over. The sun crested the horizon, the landscape in front of me became bathed in light, the moon and stars disappeared. Twilight turned into day.
Walking from the parking lot to the 12 Apostles viewing area, I came across not only kangaroos, but also new growth vegetation interspersed with the remains of a recent wild fire. I was taken by the contrasts between the new grass growing between the burnt remnants of the previous bushes. Converting the image to black and white helped bring out these contrasts.
Beyond the grand vistas of the 12 Apostles and other massive rock formations along the Great Ocean Road, the smaller details sometimes get overlooked. On a rainy day, I made my way for a few hours along a rocky shore line where, instead of the beautiful white sand, the beach was comprised of rocks smoothed by eons of wave action. What I especially liked was that the smaller pebbles were sitting atop larger rocks, equally worn smooth over the years. The lines created by these two substances created a scene that leads the eye through it.
