Red Dirt

Our old bus was called 'Ernest Giles' after the explorer.
'Ernie', as Sharon affectionately called him had covered more than three million kilometres - not bad for an old boy with a dodgy clutch and what looks like a bullet hole in the windscreen.
As Sharon crunched through the gears on the 'crash' box (no modern fangled mamsy pamsy synchromesh here thank you!!) she urged Ernie on affectionaly 'Comnon Ernie, you can do it; Good boy Ernie I knew you could'.
We all grew accustomed to Ernie. So much so that when Sharon announced that the photographers were to transfer the sleek, modern state-of-the-arty MAN bus there was a resounding chorus of 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!'

We all came to love Ernie as he galumped comfortably and confidently down along the corrugated, dusty road red dirt bush roads, past Dooley Downs and on to Cobra Station.

*I believe they even named a milkman after Ernie. Click HERE to listen to 'Ernie'

The irrepressible Aurelie

Worldwide copyright applies to all images on this blog. The copyright belongs to the individual photographers. All rights are reserved. Persons wishing to use any images on this blog should in the first instance make application to copyright@wildheart.com.au.

The irrepressible Aurelie

She was our favorite model on tour - the most photographed person on tour! Aurelei was also the busiest person on tour producing a prolific quantity of images and artist pages. Often seen, brush in hand, trying to meet her quota over the noon and evening meal.

This was taken at Python pool; just before The Python arrived to take back his/her pool.

Honeycomb Gorge - Pilbara - Western Australia

Worldwide copyright applies to all images on this blog. The copyright belongs to the individual photographers. All rights are reserved. Persons wishing to use any images on this blog should in the first instance make application to copyright@wildheart.com.au.

Honeycomb Gorge Photographers 2013

Back rowL-R: Cathy Taylor, Peter Randell, Maureen Thornton, Sue Moss, Carol Ware, Ray Moss, Sue Clarke, Rob Lewis, Paul Bastian, Tony Luha, Aurelie Yeo, Ric Butcher, Jill Luha
Middle row: Dale Neill, Kath Fordham
Front row:   Veronica & Barry Winterbourn, Gerhard Saueracker,  Heather Butcher    

Its late afternoon at Honeycomb Gorge in the Pilbara. We've got good at setting up bush camps and tents in record time. But we bend three out of four tent pegs in the gibber plain. There's a few colourful medical phrases, especially when someone mistakes their thumb fr a tent pole.

I'm proud of my intrepid photographers. They've suffered the slings and arrows of my stories and jokes. Better than that they've heeded a few of my tips and are producing some innovative images. Every third night we have a photography Show and Tell powered by Honda generators.

The more red we drink the better the photos look.

And we all enjoyed honey at Honeycomb Gorge!

Want to learn more about photography without eating red dust. Click HERE for details of Dale Neill photography courses at UWA Extension.

Dump Truck to Nowhere

In  the middle of nowhere - well the middle of the Pilbara - barely a tree in sight - red dust and stony ground  and we came across an abandoned dump truck.

What happened? Did they run out of fuel? Was this a case of stolen dump truck? The 'Mary Celeste' of trucks was surely this sad forlorn creature. The seats were ragged but the hydraulics were shiny chome like they were used that morning. (Worms-eye view on my Fuji X100)

Bus Stop - and MAN lights

On the way back to our campsite we paused for a sunset shoot inthe spinifix and snappy gum and more red dirt

MAN headlights

Just before we boarded the MAN bus I asked the driver Barry to turn the headlights on and snapped this shot handheld on my little Fuji X100 - one of my favourite little cameras.

Paynes Find

Artist, Joanne Payne at Paynes Find

Payne's Find is now just an iconic little roadhouse 430 kilometres north-east of Perth. Named after Thomas Payne who discovered gold there the town was gazetted in 1911 and boasted a population of 500 and a gold battery built.

They make really good chicked pies at Paynes Find. When I asked the lady behind the bar where they got their chickens she said 'Don't ask'

Ibis at Mt Augustus

Circling Ibis

Mt Augustus gave us a very big rock - and our first bed in 10 days and a hot shower. Being undomesticated I thought maybe I should try a spot of washing - socks and other unmentionables were four days mature. I bought the washing powder and threw all my dusty, sweaty red daks into the machine along with Ross Patterson longuns.

When I returned an hour later all my clothes had disappeared. Bugger! But there was a pile of other freshly washed clothes - shorts, t shirts, a Docker's shirt and a dangly black bra. Next morning I plied my trade going from caravan to caravan looking for the owner. Eventually, at caravan no 26 a delighted Docker's supporter and his braless wife looked ecstatic as Iu delivered their washing and I retrieved mine. 

After lunch I was running a photo workshop when the Ibis started circling overhead. They soared in the thermals and waves of the birds weaved and overlapped in a graceful aerial ballet.

Bush Camp - Pilbara Star

There were open roads, red dust and snappy gums.

And at night there was quiet and clear, starry skies.

No rush, no bustle, no traffic, no pollution. Just me and my camera and the night.

Bush Camp - Pilbara

Hamersley Gorge - never let a chance go by

Worldwide copyright applies to all images on this blog. The copyright belongs to the individual photographers. All rights are reserved. Persons wishing to use any images on this blog should in the first instance make application to copyright@wildheart.com.au.

Hamersley Gorge

I was running a photo workshop at Hamersley Gorge when a tourist appeared on a ledge in my pic. Rather than shoo her out of the way I yelled out asked her to pose. She was great! However, when I asked her to do a 'Toyota' jump she gracefully declined.

Fern Pool - Karijini

Worldwide copyright applies to all images on this blog. The copyright belongs to the individual photographers. All rights are reserved. Persons wishing to use any images on this blog should in the first instance make application to copyright@wildheart.com.au.

Fern Pool - Karijini

Nestled in the dense trees between Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool area  cluster of entwined tree roots. The walk down is category 3 (my limit) but the swim at the end is worth it. With a warm waterfall pummelling my shoulders and head it drowned out the rest of the world.

The Fern Pool waterfalls ....

The "Dale" method

Dale certainly knows how to get a different perspective on his group photos. By the end of the tour it was the accepted photo differentiator method :)

This is the other end of a morning landscape shoot group photo

Worldwide copyright applies to all images on this blog. The copyright belongs to the individual photographers. All rights are reserved. Persons wishing to use any images on this blog should in the first instance make application to copyright@wildheart.com.au.