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Ayers Rock suggestions


nikau

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I'll be at Ayers Rock, Australia, in a few weeks on business but with some "tourist time" available. I want to travel light so that either means an M body or the R6-2 with no more than two lenses. Could anyone who has already been there suggest which focal lengths might be the most useful?

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Standing at the base, a 15mm might get it in. From the Olgas, you'll need a (long) tele.

 

As with all subjects, it depends on your viewpoint and how you like to "see".

 

There is plenty of room around the 'Rock' so you can easily step back to get it all in.;)

 

Watch out for the wild tourists. The dingos are more trustworthy.:D

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Forget the rock, take some photos of all the tourists drinking chardonay and champagne from plastic cups waiting for the rock to change colour, usually in vain, since this phenomenon is dependant on various atmospheric conditions, and of course on the clever use of filters.

 

Andrew

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Guest stnami

sounds like you were one of those tourists waiting in vain for the southern aurora in the night sky to creep over the rock after a red or two manyl:D

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Forget the rock, take some photos of all the tourists drinking chardonay and champagne from plastic cups waiting for the rock to change colour, usually in vain, since this phenomenon is dependant on various atmospheric conditions, and of course on the clever use of filters.

 

Andrew

 

Hmmm, the two times I visited Uluru and the Olgas the colour shift was pretty self evident at sunrise and sunset so long as you were in the right places. It all happens pretty quickly.

 

If you are looking for the classic sunset shots then a telephoto lens will be useful as you don't want to be too close for the best views. The difficulty is finding something interesting to frame for the foreground to make the shot interesting - i.e. you may need to go walkabout from the normal viewing areas.

 

If there's something interesting happening with the atmosphere then WIDE would be useful. Otherwise it's standard walkabout wares - 28/35 or 50 depending upon your preferences.

 

If you get some rain or a storm the views can be spectacular. The first time I visited there had been a rain storm in the region a week or so before and the ground was covered in a carpet of colourful flowers. By contrast the last trip was as dry as a bone with little beyond scrub and the rocks to shoot - pretty much only early or late.

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If you're going to watch the sunset, the viewing area is a fair way from the rock so a 50 or longer would be useful if you want a frame filling view. If I recall I used a variety from 28mm to a 105mm on a Pentax.

 

And you want a 24 or 28 mm for general landscape views.

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I have very fond memories of the couple of days I spent near Uluru. Including the 30 odd backpackers we made up who booked a hotel room for the night just so we could watch the world cup game that was on telly that night!! I was staying in a tent and it was below freezing at night, so spending the night in a crammed hotel room was luxury, even if I didn't make it up in time for the rock climb the next morning!!

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I'd make an effort to see Kata Tjuta instead of Uluru. The Valley of the Winds walk felt more spiritual to me than the walk around the base of Uluru but ymmv of course.

 

May be heading back to Aus next spring but probably won't be heading to the centre this trip.

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It's worth pointing out that Uluru is sacred to the Aborigines who would prefer tourists don't climb it. Most tourists don't give a damn and climb it anyway.

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