Australian Landscapes - Open Thread

[Fridtjof]

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[MarkP]

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Lovely textures in this rock. Where did you take this photo?

[david strachan]

Lovely textures in this rock. Where did you take this photo?

+1

 

It look a bit like Pittwater..

 

..

[MarkP]

Granite boulders, dappled sunlight and ferns - Myanba creek on the coastal escarpment of the Monaro.

MM/APO50

 

 

Dee, you have done very well with this excellent photograph, especially in B&W .  I say that because I often find it very difficult photographing scenes such as these in the Australian bush.  Landscapes are easier for image composition as opposed to 'close ups' of the bush.  There is so much fine detail with extreme contrast that the photograph often just looks cluttered and messy.

 

There was a discussion here on just this subject some years ago with an Australian sculptor who was a member for a while. He commented on photographing the Australian bush outside a 'classic' compositional structure.  https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169033-hyperfocal-distance/page-2?hl=australian%20bush.  The relevant discussion starts at post #22. Interested on your thoughts.

[Fridtjof]

Lovely textures in this rock. Where did you take this photo?

West Head, which is on the western side of Pittwater north of Sydney.  This was a walk down to Flint and Steel Bay where at the northern end there is a very nice rock platform.  High tide wets the rocks (good colours in the sandstone), low tide would allow you to explore and fossick more.  Definitely worth driving the final kilometre to the end of the road as well for the spectacular view of Broken Bay, Barrenjoey and Pittwater.  Weekends would be more crowded so try a weekday.  The kookaburras take the food from your hands, almost out of your mouth, so watch out.  We saw a swamp wallaby on the beach eating some orange rind too (good for evicting lice they say.)  These photos were sans polarising filter but it would have been useful to have one with all the water.  There are quite a few good little day walks off the West Head road.  McCarr's Ck Rd is closed for road works during the day at the moment so check out the RMS web site first.

[Fridtjof]

Another rock photo.  Sydney sandstone is wonderful.  Summilux 35.

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[MarkP]

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I've driven through the park and have of course been to the West Head Lookout opposite Barrenjoey Head but have not explored the park further. Now it's on my list, thanks.

 

For those of you who don't know, this is what we're talking: about.https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.5836834,151.2807757,7506m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

 

I see you live in Canberra. We're often down there as my daughter is studying at ANU.

Perhaps you may want to catch up some time over a coffee or whatever.

 

Mark

Edited August 29, 2017 by MarkP

[Fridtjof]

I've driven through the park and have of course been to the West Head Lookout opposite Barrenjoey Head but have not explored the park further. Now it's on my list, thanks.

 

For those of you who don't know, this is what we're talking: about.https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.5836834,151.2807757,7506m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

 

I see you live in Canberra. We're often down there as my daughter is studying at ANU.

Perhaps you may want to catch up some time over a coffee or whatever.

 

Mark

Great idea!  The interesting thing about photography is that you can look for big vistas or detail, and Capability Brown type perspectives or Fred Williams textures.  West Head has both.  There are some very good opportunities for detailed photos (eg angophoras, rocks or cabbage tree palms), mid-distance forests (eg the beautiful spotted gum forest on the northern side of Lovett Bay) or just big views.  Some excellent Aboriginal rock carvings too, and WWII-era fortifications.

 

Your comments on the Australian bush are interesting.  I understand most of the early settlers thought the Australian bush a pretty untidy and useless place until they had cleared and cultivated it.  I'd be interested to read the impressions of North American and European readers as it still seems to me fairly cluttered and haphazard, and hard to get a striking composition in the everyday bush.  As someone suggested, not too much sharpening might reduce the apparent complexity.

 

Off to India in about 7 weeks- I used to be quite reluctant to take people/street photos, but India is very friendly and there's always something interesting as you wander around.  The problem in much of India is dust, so I think the MATE is going to be the main lens there now that I have a Leica, except when trekking in the mountains where it's less dusty and changing lenses is safer.

 

John.

[platypus]

Dee, you have done very well with this excellent photograph, especially in B&W .  I say that because I often find it very difficult photographing scenes such as these in the Australian bush.  Landscapes are easier for image composition as opposed to 'close ups' of the bush.  There is so much fine detail with extreme contrast that the photograph often just looks cluttered and messy.

 

There was a discussion here on just this subject some years ago with an Australian sculptor who was a member for a while. He commented on photographing the Australian bush outside a 'classic' compositional structure.  https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169033-hyperfocal-distance/page-2?hl=australian%20bush.  The relevant discussion starts at post #22. Interested on your thoughts.

 

Oh Mark...I'm so sorry but I'm going to disappoint you, I am completely hopeless when it comes to technical stuff, I'm allergic to analysis and the only thing in life that bores me is a discussion. 

 

I've just read the 'relevant discussion' in the link you provided but had to Google "hyperlocal distance"....although I have photographed obsessively since childhood I've never had the benefit of formal training,

the visualisation involved in the making of my photos is completely instinctive and so is any technique I may (or may not) have.

 

However...I really did enjoy seeing Clive Murray-Whites's sculptures (I had not heard of him) particularly as some of them are made from Gocup Marble. Some years ago I owned the property (farm) between Tumut

and Gundagai where that marble mine is located, as far as marble goes it is a rather drab white and grey but he has managed to make it look quite dramatic.

Edited August 29, 2017 by platypus

[MarkP]

Dee, that's why I wrote to start at post #22 to avoid the technical crap, as that's where we started talking about 'untidy' bush and composition.

 

Yes, his sculptures are interesting.

 

Regards,

Mark

Edited August 29, 2017 by MarkP

[platypus]

        Thanks Mark.

Edited August 29, 2017 by platypus

[Fridtjof]

Summilux 35, M10

 

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[anindyo]

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The Entrance, NSW.

M2, Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 50/1.5, Tri-X

[david strachan]

Nice textures

 

I assume they are ripples in the sand...unusual type.

 

Film works well.

 

cheers...

[platypus]

Canola crop fence line, Monaro high plains - New South Wales.

M262/21SEM

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[erl]

Dee, your 'take' on landscapes is always so refreshing and 'lookable'.

I won't ponder the techy stuff that I know you hate. If fact, you and I have very similar attitudes and history regarding photography. Like you, all my knowledge is self mined and intuitive. It gives a sort of freedom that says if you are comfortable, it must be right.

[platypus]

Dee, your 'take' on landscapes is always so refreshing and 'lookable'.

I won't ponder the techy stuff that I know you hate. If fact, you and I have very similar attitudes and history regarding photography. Like you, all my knowledge is self mined and intuitive. It gives a sort of freedom that says if you are comfortable, it must be right.

 

erl,

Thank you...but that rather sounds as though you have a "techy" based quibble with regard to the above 'Canola crop fence line' shot, however (nice man that you are) you hesitate to criticise. What's on your mind?

[erl]

erl,

Thank you...but that rather sounds as though you have a "techy" based quibble with regard to the above 'Canola crop fence line' shot, however (nice man that you are) you hesitate to criticise. What's on your mind?

No, no, no! Absolutely no quibble. On the contrary, I don't know anyone else who can make a steel farm gate and wire fence look so appealing, as do you Dee. I did have a techy education, but ultimately rejected it. I found, as do you, that using one's eye and 'gut feel' is more reliable and pleasing. In some scenarios I find myself using tecnology to get to a certain point, but then refine it with  whim.

 

I avoided techy talk about you pic because in an earlier post you had declared a dislike of such talk. Otherwise I would have remarked on the techy stuff you got right, clearly by another intuitive method. To be admired IMO.

 

I hope that is clearer now.

[MarkP]

Thanks for resurrecting this thread Dee. Time for a big revival.

Edited November 4, 2017 by MarkP

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[MarkP]

Green's Pool

Denmark, Western Australia

M10, 28-90 Vario-Elmarit-R

 

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