StillLight - moments in photography

Uluru Stars,
Northern Territory
By the time we took this picture, the carpark at the Uluru sunset viewing area was empty except for us and a photographer from Canada.   Everyone else had headed back to camp to cook dinner and have a well earned beer while we flirted with getting locked into the park by the rangers to get the stars.  I would have liked to have been there for another half an hour, because the stars look amazing as it gets darker.

Desert Survival,
Northern Territory
A simple study in desert survival, perched high up on a gorge, this tree has managed to get a foothold in the rock and gathers enough moisture to survive.

arburton Channel I,
Lake Eyre, SA
The Warburton Channel is a natural depression in Lake Eyre which fills first, bringing the water right through the middle of the Lake and depositing it at the other end of the vast area - in effect back filling the Lake with water.   It is the first part of the Lake to fill and the last to dry out.  The water that we were seeing in August was the same water that had created the floods in Queensland at the start of the year, finally making its way inland 6 months later.

The Castle, Chambers Pillar,
Northern Territory
Chambers Pillar is just one of several geological features in the same area. While the pillar itself gets all the PR, I was drawn to the Castle.  I love the deep red of the dirt and the soft cloud patterns.  Taken just outside of the camp area, I spent quite a while on the roof of my landcruiser waiting for the light to happen, much to the enjoyment and entertainment of my fellow campers - should have taken a gin and tonic up there with me!  I know that worked a treat while photographing Uluru at sunset!

Lake Eyre I,
South Australia
This is one of my favorites from the whole trip, and was quite unexpected, from my point of view.  We wanted to take a flight over Lake Eyre, to see it in flood, something that only happens once in a generation (although our generation has seen it twice!) I asked the pilot if we could go to the point where the water flows into the lake as I thought there would be some good images to be had looking straight down.  I was told that as we only had the plane for 2 hours before sunset, that there would not be enough time to get to the mouth of the lake and back before it got dark!  Slowly, it was setting in just how big this area was!  What we did find was the edge where the water met the sand as it slowly spread out to cover the whole area.  I love the subtle hues and gentle curves.

Uluru Sunset II,
Northern Territory
All afternoon, I had been looking up at a cloudless, clear sky and wishing for some structure that would make my evening shot of the rock stand out.  As we got ready for the shoot, the clouds started to roll in and the diagonal cloud started to move from the right of the image, arriving over the rock just as the light turned to this beautiful pastle pink.  Next time I go, I will be putting all my thoughts into organising a rain storm!

Devils Marbles Trees,
Northern Territory
The light changes rapidly at sunset, and although I was there to photograph the Devils Marbles, this stand of trees kept calling to me!   The light was wonderful, and knowing that we were only going to be there for one sunset, I wanted to take the time to make sure I made the best image that I could. Quite a few fine adjustments saw me setting my tripod in very thick deep grass and I could not help but think about the snake population of the area!

Trephina Gorge I,
Northern Territory
Another gorge, another morning with the whole area to myself, and a few moments where all the elements come together to make an image that captures the stillness, and the beauty of the place.

Moments later, the  harsh sun broke its way onto the hills in the background, and the magic was gone for another day.

Lake Eyre Sunrise I,
South Australia
Camped on the edge of this amazing body of water, dawn produced a wonderful display of light which played on the clouds and the still surface of the water to produce shapes and patterns, reflections and colour. 

On the way back to the tent, I found a large sign that said “No Camping”  so we packed up and left!

Ormiston Gorge, NT

We arrived mid-afternoon and worked out the angles fairly quickly. I set up my camera, Vicki read her book, and we waited. Sitting by the water in the cool shade of the trees it was great to just be still and absorb the  landscape.  So many people came, looked, grabbed a couple of shots and left again.  Some sat for awhile, some paddled their feet in the water and still I waited. I had hoped that towards the end of the day all the elements would come together and make the picture that I had in my head, but eventually I had to concede that the light had gone without fulfilling its potential. Back to the campsite for dinner and an early night. I was back at the first hint of light on the horizon, and had the whole place to myself as the gorge slowly awoke to the day. Bit by bit, the details became distinguishable, and finally, after nearly 14 hours of waiting the light was right for my picture.  It lasted about 3 minutes and was gone! I waited for another hour just in case something else happened, but nothing did.  As I was packing up, the first of the new day,s tourists arrived to snap their pictures and dip their feet in the waters.