After a couple of rained out days at Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park , the drive out revealed some of the most stunning scenes for or trip!
Golden rays pierced through sheets of rain, momentarily lighting up the Tasman Valley!
One of the main goals of my trip to Tassie late last year was to spend some time with and photograph Pandani plants (Richea pandanifolia).
These ancient looking plants are only found in the alpine areas of Tasmania, and some rainforest.
They didn’t disappoint!
From a magical trip Mitch and I did back in 2017.
Timed to coincide with the Milky Way being in this position, solid driving for 3 days, making a beeline for Uluru in our camper.
The weather was just perfect.
Mitch surprised me with a gifted sunrise flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa - magical.
A few days camping in the Grampians capped off a wonderful 10 days
From a ‘handheld’ session in the rain, in Cradle Mountain, which proved to be a fertile hunting ground for shooting Telopea Truncata!
From a 3 week camping trip to Tassie late 2024, with a ‘focus’ on photographing Tasmanian Waratah and the pre-historic looking Pandani plant.
During a late afternoon walk, we spotted this group of trees, and thought, if the sun were to set just near ‘there’ … could be nice!
Then waiting for the sun to set, trying to avoid this pesky blood sucking … 'worms'!
Worth it … just!!
A few days spent exploring the Victorian High Country with my son @mitchgreenphotos.
A new part of Oz for us to explore and more of a scouting trip than anything, we were keen to seek out some Snow Gums, with a view to return later in the year.
Despite lots of these gums dying off (they’re being eaten alive by a native wood borer - Longicorn Beetle!) we did mange to find a couple of groves of these stunning trees.
We returned for 2 sunrises to shoot them - which meant a 4:30am start, 90min drive from Bright, a bit of a hike. Frost, icy wind … at least the company was great!
Before sunrise, a 30min drive, a hike through the scrub, just to take in these Karijini Colours! So worth it!
In early August 2022 my son Mitch and I travelled to Karijini National Park in outback Western Australia for a week dedicated to Photography and Hiking in Karijini's amazing gorges. This adventure had been on our mind for a while and we finally had the opportunity to do it!
We had another great time together, catching up, listening to podcasts and music, only one loaf of banana bread this time (thanks Coles, Tom Price) and photographing the amazing Ghost Gums, the stunning red cliffs and fields, wildflowers and hiking the gorges.
Deep in an ancient forest, down Manapouri way, a sun star briefly burst through the dim light, as if honouring these fallen beech trees.
Crown ferns, still, forming a guard of honour.
It’s a humbling experience to stand alone in these ancient forests, amongst giant trees hundreds of years old … only birdsong breaking the quiet.
When I saw these fallen trees, for some reason, my thoughts turned to fallen soldiers.
I felt the need to honour them.
From a road trip down south to explore Wilsons Promontory.
The Big Drift hike at Wilsons Promontory National Park was definitely one of the highlights!
Beautiful area, wonderful to explore, conditions not so wonderful to shoot in - 50km gusts of wind and all that sand! 😱
In early August 2022 my son Mitch and I travelled to Karijini National Park in outback Western Australia for a week dedicated to Photography and Hiking in Karijini's amazing gorges. This adventure had been on our mind for a while and we finally had the opportunity to do it!).
What a surprise it was to see this window to a hidden world! A great adventure hiking through Knox Gorge with Mitch, with a couple of tricky sections to navigate - thanks for the assistance and encouragement Mitch!
A slow wander around a forest of Pine and Beech, drizzly rain - a perfect early morning!
These bold tree roots carpeted by the fallen Beech leaves create a stunning intimate landscape!
Just back from another Photography Adventure with my son Mitch. This time our focus was to immerse ourselves in the wonderful New England National Park, part of the Waterfall Way.
Lush green, ancient forests of Antarctic Beech trees, thick fog drifting in and out, basalt cliffs …
Just stunning. And then being entertained by the amazing song of Lyrebirds!
Lots of rain and beautiful waterfalls, however our focus was the forest … that lush, mossy green-ness that these forests nurture.
There are many wondrous gorges in Karijini. Often the scramble to descend is challenging, and the hike along the floor often presents its challenges along the way. However the effort is rewarded with stunning scenery, often magical rock pools, curved and tortured rock formations, and beautiful scenes like these 3 Ghost Gums stretching skyward to catch the light.
The morning before, my son Mitch and I headed west to explore the valley that we had driven through on our first day of our Karijini adventure. We were looking for possible vantage points to shoot either sunrise or sunset, interesting trees, red ridges dotted with spinifex. Lots of bush bashing. Our research indicated that snakes are quite plentiful in the park, so we had taken the precaution to bring our trusty snake slippers (gum boots!) with us. This morning, an hour before sunrise, we headed out across the plain, then up a ridge, snake slippers on …
I was on my way back to the car after trudging around the bush, the rain was getting a lil’ heavier.
Then I saw off to the right this beautiful Fern, providing a window through the fog.
Had to stop!
Like a scene from Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones …
Literally stopped my in my tracks …
My son Mitch and I had set up camp deep inside The Grampians, 9km down a windy dirt road, off the main road to Halls Gap. A beautiful campground, all to ourselves, nestled in amongst tall gum trees - kangaroos with joeys, emus wandering in, cockatoos, blue wrens, kookaburras, magpies.
We were keen to get to Mt Abrupt for sunrise - that meant a 4am start, 70min drive south to the southern end of the Grampians. Then it was a 90min hike in the dark to the summit. Very steep, path was mostly good, however several sections crossing over slippery, wet rock. A steady wind “enhanced” our feeling of “being alive” !
Eventually we made it, just in time for first light, and were rewarded with this awesome view!
Many thanks to Mitch for all of his assistance in getting his 'old man' to The Peak!
Summer in Australia’s alpine region - great hiking and bushwalking, and stunning views, made all the more eye catching by our beautiful Snow Gums and wild flowers!
Just back from a magical Photography Roadtrip to the iconic Flinders Ranges!
Lots of rain, freezing temperatures, even a hail storm.
Just made me more determined to get out explore as much as I could!
The Elder Range - one of the many Heysen-esque views I was fortunate to take in!