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.

Photographer's jacket

This is Peter Randell's well-wornversion of the great helper. 

"I can fit a 70-200 lens in the loose flaps on one side and the 24-120 in the other,with battery&memory card in a velcro breast pocket.Other pocket fits a 77mm polariser and big low pockets take the Lee GND filters and holder.If it rains,I have thrust the body  inside the lot too.The body is at risk of swinging and hitting something still with a vest;but I wear the neck strap fairly short. I will send  a 122KB image if this one is too small."

Tips for Outback Photographers

Dick Stein and staff at  Camera Electronic are a font of knowledge when it comes to gadgets and gizmos to make your photography tour just that bit more pleasurable and rewarding.  Ask Dick anything about photography ... (but don't ask him to cook for you!)

Participants in Dale Neill’s Karigini adventures will need to take a number of things on their trip – some will be big items like suitcases and giant camera backpacks, but there are a also a few smaller items that will prove invaluable on the daily bushwalks. See if you can find space in your luggage for some of these:

1.       Rainsleeve camera and lens protectors – two in a packet and good protection for the sudden shower.

2.       A remote release – look at your camera manual and see if it can be set off with either a wireless or cable release. Good for night-time exposures and close-up shots.

3.       A packet of bread crumbs. Lay a trail of these behind you as you leave camp and if Dale gets lost you just turn around and find your way back. Avoid gingerbread houses.

4.       A lightweight tripod. If you have a lightweight camera. Remember that you can have cheap, lightweight, small, and strong, but only two of these at any one time...

5.       A portable power inverter that can run off the cigar lighter – produce 230vAC or a 2.1A USB port. Film shooters can laugh now.

6.       Lowepro Dryzone DF20L camera bag. Impervious to rain or dust and bright yellow so you can see it in the dusk.

Extra memory cards are always a good idea. Not for the off-chance that one will go wrong – they rarely do that. Take them as primary storage and just fill them as you go. You can download to various memory devices as you shoot but taking extra gear and items that can get dusty or wet is not as good an idea as just taking extra memory. It is so inexpensive these days that you really do not need to scrimp on it. By all means get one of the Pelican or Gepe memory card cases – they are sealed items that can survive any amount of bush treatment.

Also remember to turn on all the recording options on your camera to let you know later what you did then. Dale will explain the EXIF data that goes into every image and the various programs – like Lightroom or Aperture that let you see it later. You may find that you do indeed need to know when the sun went down over the ocean at the end of a particular day and if you caught it on the horizon your camera will tell you when. If upon later examination you find that your sunset is over the eastern shore at 4:30 AM you can discuss basic navigation with Dale...remember the breadcrumbs...

Available from Camera Electronic  230 Stirling St Perth. Tel 9328 4405