Rodney Campbell's Blog

Very excited that one of my images achieved a Gold Award at this years EPSON International Pano Awards 2016.

Regans Curve

NIKON D750 + 16.0-35.0 mm f/4.0 @ 24 mm, 15 sec at f/13, ISO 100 x 4 (12) Frames

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Regans Curve was taken during an extensive trip through the Northern Territory and north Western Australia last year. This image was taken just above Regans Pool in Hancock Gorge. One of the absolutely amazing gorges within Karijini National Park.

The standard of the entries in this competition is amazingly high. Simply scanning through the Winners Gallery for 2016 should give you some sense of some of the truly outstanding work out there. I’m pretty stoked to have had an image included within the top 2% of entries.

I’m also honoured that my entry was also included as one of the Top 50 images in the Amateur – Nature / Landscapes category.

Coolah is one of several towns to claim bragging rights as the home of the legendary “Black Stump”. It was here that the colloquial saying “Beyond the Black Stump” is said to have originated. This is the name for an imaginary point beyond which the country is considered remote or uncivilised. Therefore an abstract marker of the limits of established settlement.

Green Scape

FC330 + 3.6 mm @ 3.61 mm, 1/60 sec at f/2.8, ISO 167

Coolah’s claim is supported by a document showing land boundaries declared by Governor Darling in 1826. This boundary line passes through the centre of a property known as “Black Stump Run”.

In 1905, a fire engulfed the Black Stump Wine Saloon which was the said to be the location of the original black stump. Today, a rest area and replica stump mark the historic location.

Continuing my daughters learner driving experience we headed out to the grandparents second property. It’s out along the appropriately named Black Stump Highway past said Black Stump rest area.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

On the way back we noticed a few places which we might be able to take some images. Thankfully it had also briefly stopped raining. The below image is the BTS (Behind the Scenes) for the abstract aerial which leads this post. It’s amazing how something as simple as a patch of farming land can look when appropriately composed and viewed from above.

FC330 + 3.6 mm @ 3.61 mm, 1/120 sec at f/2.8, ISO 185

Not far from the above we also found this lovely little dirt road heading off into the distance under this row/canopy of trees. I was actually planning to shoot this from above with the drone, with the lovely lush green fields to either side. Unfortunately by the time we arrived here it was raining. This shot with the trusty D-SLR at ground level will have to do. The water resistant D750 is significantly more robust in these conditions than the somewhat exposed electronics of the drone :).

Country Road

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 160 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 1100

We were sad to be leaving Montague Island. It had been a wonderful four days but it was time to say goodbye. Even the wildlife wished us well on our journey tho.

Goodbye

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 230 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 640

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Memories of Montague

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 55 mm, 1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

We all really enjoyed our stay here and I think would definitely go back again. If you’re ever thinking of a place where you can really get away then it’s well worth considering this spot. The accommodation is very comfortable, the views are spectacular the whole day around. You feel at one with nature and there’s so much to explore and see. It feels nicely isolated but you still have all the modern creature comforts including mobile reception across the island. But with very few people and being outnumbered thousands to one by wildlife you can really get away and refresh.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 220

The next day was very overcast with lots of rain. Perhaps a drive out to Coolah Tops National Park would brighten things up.

Country Lane

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 100 mm, 1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 125

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

My eldest daughter is learning to drive this year. Learners here in Australia need lots of hours of practice before they can go for their licence test. So we take every good opportunity we can to rack up the practice. Especially to try different driving conditions – not just day and night but different road conditions and types. Today as it was pretty bleak I figured I’d let her take me for a drive out towards Coolah Tops National Park. We’d never been out here and who knows I might get lucky and get a break in the rain and do a little flying or photography.

Alas it rained most of the time but I did manage a few handheld shots when we stopped in a few interesting places during our drive.

On the Land

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 160 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 140

Montague’s famous fur seals are a year-round feature. Viewed from the boat around the northern edge of the island, these animals peak in number around late winter and spring, with counts of more than 1000 regularly spotted.

Marine mammals feature as the most frequently seen wildlife, other than birds, on and around Montague. A rich East Australian current brings nutrients, fish and squid to the waters immediately around the island. The Island is home to NSW’s largest colony of fur seals, as well as thousands of penguins.

Three on One

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 450

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

We were unfortunately leaving the island today. Just after midday we’d packed and boarded the boat to head back to the mainland. Before leaving however we had a tour around the island on the boat which was fantastic to see and photograph the abundant wildlife from just off the shore.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 250 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 800

Two species of fur seals are year-round inhabitants. The more numerous Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) is distinctive for its behaviour of sitting in tightly-packed groups on the rocks, often partly on top of neighbouring seals. There are also New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctocephalus fosteri).

Sleepyheads

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 250 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 220

Another marvellous row of cormorants perched nicely in line for me, silhouetted against the sky.

Two heads and better than …

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 160

and what about two rows – birds and mammals apparently living in harmony.

Seals and Cormorants

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 250