This years main Photography Adventure was a return to a familiar place. … a stunning red landscape, carved out of rock that is over 2.5 billion years old …
The Flight North
Mitch and I were meeting up at Perth Airport for our adventure north - our second trip to Karijini National Park. Our first visit was back in the winter of 2022. We were both left a bit spellbound by what we experienced there, and both agreed we had to return … one day. Today was that day!
The flight north from Perth is just under 2 hrs - flying over the red and veined landscapes below us was strangely reassuring … and exciting! Arrival at Paraburdoo says it all - red dust everywhere, 4WD mining vehicles, lots of workers in fluoro enhanced work gear … "We're not in Kansas anymore Toto!"
"We're not in Kansas anymore Toto!"
We picked up our rental car and headed north to Tom Price for supplies and a quick check-in at the Visitors Centre. Last time here we didn't visit Hammersley Gorge, but Mitch was keen to have a look this time. I'd read that the road there was a bit of a shocker so I wasn't overly keen! The very helpful lady at the Visitors Centre told us the road had only just recently been graded - she'd done the trip in the family car the weekend before - all good! Mitchs' eyes lit up and he gave a me a cheeky grin. Turned out that Hammersley Gorge became one of the highlights of our trip for both of us!
Groceries for a few days purchased, fuel topped up and podcasts loaded we headed east to Karijini.
Base Camp Karijini!
We arrived just on dark. Our EcoCabin was ready, mostly … just missing the main light. Reported and fixed the next day. We were here for 6 nights and sooo looking forward it! I'd taken my lil' Jetboil stove so it was Soup and bread in our cabin for dinner. Later that night a howling gale started blowing around and through our cabin. A challenge to get some decent sleep!
This first morning we headed to Knox Gorge for a quick look, having fond memories of there from last time. The rising and setting sun, when it hits the spinifex grass, is something else, add in soft light on the red layered rocks and ghost gums - just stunning!
Back to camp, a quick breakfast outside our cabin, standing in the warming sunshine. We packed some fruit and snacks and headed off for our first look at Hammersley Gorge.
On arrival, the car park was full, we managed to squeeze in behind a large van. Hats donned, we headed down the 400m rocky descent to the gorge floor. Many of the steps are roughly hewn, uneven stone adding to the adventure. The first thing we noticed was the banded rock formations - sooooo prehistoric! The main pool is striking, shaded by an old gnarly ghost gum. We spent some time looking for potential compositions for a sunrise shoot. As the sun rises and the sunshine hits one side, soft light should reflect across to the other side - perfect. We'd seen enough and walked back to the car. A short drive to the north is a stunning drive that takes you on a single lane section of the road, steep red rock walls either side, deep blue sky above. Fortunately we didn't encounter any the large B-double trucks on the way!
We took the "short cut" home, potentially saving us nearly an hour. A real "bone rattler" of a drive - the Outlander, and the 2 of us survived! Back to Knox Gorge for sunset …
The next day I proclaimed 'World Weano Day" … Weano Gorge for sunrise AND Weano Gorge for sunset! 😉
On our way to sunrise, we saw our first and only family of kangaroos. We didn't see much wildlife during our stay. A few birds, a lone dingo near Tom Price.
Coffee and catching up on some reading at the resort was a nice change of a pace. It also gave us a chance for a little planning for our remaining time here. Mitch had a couple video calls to prepare for - potential job opportunities that sounded almost as important as not missing a sunrise shoot! 😉
On our 2022 visit, Mitch had photographed a stunning group of Ghost Gums, across the gorge at Knox. We were keen to see if we could find them … and see if they were still stunning. So it was off to Knox Gorge for sunrise. That afternoon we explored around Dales Gorge. Apart from Hamerseley, it's the furthest from the camp. Again those stunning Ghost Gums, the red ground and bluest of blue skies. And a lovely family of Spinifex Pigeons making there way through shrubs looking for food. Seemingly not bothered by my proximity!
The view from the main lookout at Dales Gorge is, in my opinion, one of the best! You look down into the floor of the gorge to see rock pools and lush trees, flanked by both sides of the gorge heading off into the east. Leading lines?? 🤔
The next day we were heading back to Hammersley Gorge for sunrise. A very early start, and to save a bit of time Mitch had convinced me drive via the short cut - "What's a few bumps between friends” ! The pre-dawn light and dust made the drive a little eerie. We past a couple of cars, and towards the end of the short cut, we’re driving through what seemed to a mist. Eerie indeed!
In the pre-dawn light we set about working out which compositions to shoot first. Was great to have this wonder to ourselves for the first hour or so. We'd packed the Jetboil and some surprisingly tasty Hazelnut Moccona Coffee - time for a quick break and a coffee. There's a small water crossing to the left that gets you to the other side, face to face with sheer cliffs of endless layers of ancient rock. Lucky my trusty guide, let’s call him ‘Mitch’, was on hand to help me across! So amazing to see the folded bands of coloured ancient rocks - the bends and curves are mind-bendingly beautiful! Add to the scenery rockpools and small water falls - too much! 😍
On the drive back too camp we were both buzzing - the beautiful sunset setting at Dales Gorge last night, now sunrise at Hammersley!! Could this day be any better??
A stop at Tom Price on the way back to camp, an easy afternoon, then we headed back out to Knox Gorge for sunset. We were there a few afternoons back, trying to capture the Ghost Gums and Spinifex on sunset, but both felt we didn't quite do the scene justice. This time, with a bit more consideration and observation, we were both pretty happy with our shots. A couple of bonus pics of the gorge itself were , well, a bonus! 😃
On the way back to our cabin we both agreed that the last 24 hrs had been the best, most enjoyable "photography experience" in "GreenBoys History" 😃
It was our second last night at Karijini, and we treated ourselves to dinner at the resort. Both our meals looked amazing and tasted so good! The service was great as well!
Next morning we headed to Weano Gorge for the hike down and to explore inside the gorge. The rock structures, layers and colours were again stunning.
For our last afternoon we headed back towards Knox Gorge. We'd noticed a couple of great looking old Ghost Gums earlier. There was full moon. Could we combine the two? The first tree was a beauty. The largest we'd seen, however the angles didn't quite line up.
The other tree was just off the main road, a bit of 'bush bashing' involved. It had a much 'cleaner' foreground, and it looked like we could get the rising moon in just the right place … if we were quick!
The last shoot for this trip turned out to be my favourite …
By the Light of the Silivery Moon …
Again, on way back to camp, we both were saying what a stunning trip this has been. Such awesome scenery, great company. I jokingly said we should play our Bandits Tennis Team victory song, it felt THAT good!
Mitch obliged … Star Wars theme all the way back baby!!!
"DA-DA-DA, DAA-DAA! DA-DA-DA, DAA-DAA!"
Home Time …