location, location, location
The storms that smashed the South West of Western Australia over the weekend brought wild, windy and wet conditions. The combination of strong winds, heavy rain and a high tide presented shooting possibilities that don’t come around too often.
Although this image was shot during fierce stormy conditions, the use of a long shutter speed (60 seconds) has resulted in a still, somewhat silent image.
I had visualized this image for a number of years now so it’s good to finally put it in to pixels.
Crawley Boat Shed
Perth. Western Australia
In Between
I had fun converting this image to Black and White. The original colour version had quiet subdued blues and greens which I initially warmed to but I couldn’t help but go for a higher contrast black and white treatment in the end.
This is 2 images stitched together vertically with the Canon 45mm tilt shift.
Wyadup Rocks, Yallingup. Western Australia
Change in Season
With a change in weather last week it was great to get out with the camera. I absolutely love this time of the year. Perfect temperatures, still evenings and signs of an increase in swell.
I have been posting extra images on my FACEBOOK and G+ pages so please follow there if you would like to see more of my work.
Striking Distance
Expansive Salt Flat in the South of Western Australia.
40 second exposure to create the movement in the clouds
If you see a penny PICK IT UP! – lightning storm, Dunsborough
I am not a superstitious person. At least I try not to be. I even try to fight superstition with superstition by thinking that if I knowingly walk under a ladder that it will actually bring me good luck rather than bad luck. Take that superstition!
On the morning of the second day of my trip down south I was wandering some sand dunes looking for possible photo opportunities when I stumbled upon a 2 dollar coin. It sat there staring at me and I couldn’t help but pick it up and think to myself ‘see a penny pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck!’. It is hard to ignore superstition in instances like these where the supposed outcome is actually beneficial.
After pocketing the coin I continued on about my day, scouting locations and keeping a keen eye on the weather. Up until this point the skies were blue and the light was harsh, (very uninspiring from a photography point of view) but over the coarse of the next hour or two clouds began to form on the horizon. As the clouds rolled in over the ocean things were starting to look good. There was a nice combination of low and high cloud with plenty of breathing room in between. The combination that often results in a spectacular sunset. As the sun finally began to approach the horizon and draw an end to the day things were looking really good. I scouted a location and composition I thought could make the most of the sunset and waited for the light show to unfold (see image in my previous post). After the light show died down I headed into Dunsborough got myself a feed and a couple of drinks and called it a day.
After a restless couple of hours sleep in the van I heard the unmistakable sound of rumbling thunder. I took a quick peek outside and could see lightning flashes over the ocean to the north-east and noticed the storm was headed in a easterly direction. With a quick time check (2:00am) I decided to head straight to Quindalup Boat Ramp in hope of capturing some lightning images before the storm passed. On arrival at the location I was stunned to see that the storm was currently straight out in front of the Jetty, exactly what I was hoping for. With the storm moving fast I quickly set up, set my exposure for 120 seconds, f8 iso100 and started shooting. I managed to only fire off 2 exposures before the storm had moved to the right of frame. By the end of the third exposure the storm had moved out of frame and the number of strikes dramatically decreased. The image you see here is from the second exposure.
Now it was only at this point that I remembered about the whole 2 dollar coin incident. I hadn’t thought of it from the time of picking it up until just after capturing this image. Did the great clouds and spectacular sunset occur because I picked up a 2 dollar coin? Not a chance! I had observed the weather radar before heading to the Yallingup / Dunsborough area and was expecting conditions to be favourable. I couldn’t help but think however after being woken by thunder, immediately heading straight to this location and immediately setting up and firing off a couple of shots that I could have luck on my side. Is it likely, probably not, but who knows!
Quindalup Jetty / Boat Ramp – Dunsborough, Western Australia
Radiance
1. radiance – the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
2. radiance – an attractive combination of good health and happiness; “the radiance of her countenance”
The waves were continually rolling ashore and feeding into this naturally formed pool on the shoreline of one of the beautiful beaches in the South West of our state. There was just enough time in between waves for a perfect reflection to form on the surface, radiating the amazing colours and forms of an incredible sunset.
Yallingup, Western Australia
Seeking Solitude
I recently took of on a one week road trip covering some of the south of Western Australia. I had been surfing google earth and noticed this area from the satellite images. With a full moon due for January 9 I decided to head to this location as I thought the moon rising over the expansive area may make for a good image.
Salt Flats, Western Australia
2 image stitch with 45mm tse
Sunkissed – Yallingup, Western Australia
The South West Coastline captures the last light of the day.
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Lancelin Sand Dunes – Western Australia
I managed to get up to Lancelin recently for a late afternoon/evening shoot. The conditions were looking good so I headed up there giving myself plenty of time to scout the dunes for a composition I was happy with. After roaming the dunes for 3 hours or so I had two compositions marked out that I felt were strong. It was then a matter of waiting for the sun to meet the horizon and for the lines in the dunes to take shape.
I hope everyone is in good health for the coming holidays. All the best for the new year.
5 images stacked for DOF throughout.
Karijini Colours
Here’s an image above Weano Gorge displaying the variety of contrasting colours after a great wet season.
Weano Gorge, Karijini National Park. Western Australia
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Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls – Karijini National Park
Karijini National Park after a great wet season was incredible. I thought I would start out by posting an expansive view of Dales Gorge, overlooking the popular Fortescue Falls to give you an idea of the lay of the land.
I regard Karijini as one of Western Australia’s and possibly Australia’s top locations for Landscape Photography. The place has a lot to offer, particularly after a good wet season. There are the obvious grand scenes such as the one I have posted as well as the more intimate scenes that are a real challenge to compose and make sense of. I would have liked to of spent more time doing the latter and hope to do so over the coming years.
Windswept – Lancelin Dunes -Western Australia
Hey everyone, I hope all is well.
Well a few weeks ago I headed up to Lancelin for the evening as conditions were looking promising. This was the first time I had shot an Australian Landscape for quite some time and it felt good to get out there. I scouted the dunes looking for decent lines and compositions, but with the light fading I had to work quickly. I did come away with a few different images but this particular one I thought would suit black and white.
A location such as this is forever changing so you don’t know exactly what you will come away with. I have been back there since and the lines and curves of the dunes were completely different to the previous visit.
Also I have finally got around to creating a Facebook Page so please “follow me on facebook”. The page will be regularly updated with discussion, competitions, new images, new blog posts, my whereabouts and other events. Also if any of you have your own page I will be sure to join. Thanks
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Double row 6 image stitch
Back in action….. Hopefully
Ok, I’m back from my little Bali holiday. I have been back for a little while now but I have not had much of a chance to get out shooting. It has driven me crazy to say the least. Unfortunately I did bugger all shooting in Bali. The days pretty much consisted of drinking bintang on the beach and not a lot else.
The shot below is one I took to more or less sum up the trip
I did manage to get away for a little bit last weekend and shoot the canola fields around York. I still have to go through and stitch a few of the shots when I get the chance. Here is one I am pretty happy with. Shot in the afternoon just after I arrived in town.
If anyone is keen to hook up for a shoot sometime let me know.
L U K E A U S T I N P H O T O G R A P H Y 