Rodney Campbell's Blog

After two nights in Carnarvon we headed west to Gascoyne Junction and then north to the Kennedy Range National Park

Neither myself nor even my parents had ever been to the Kennedy Range, so this was all going to be new

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 70 mm, 1/800 sec at f/8, ISO 400

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.

During the trip we saw quite a lot of large raptors (eagles, kites, etc). Usually just perched on the tallest trees or even tall anthills (where they were sometimes the tallest things in the area). Sometimes also feasting on the roadkill at the side of or on the road

Some of them were very large (2m wingspan) which is pretty impressive to see when they are just a few metres from the car as you drive past

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 70 mm, 1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 90

On the way out to the Kennedy Ranges we saw these interesting looking plugs, mounds and hills off in the distance. We decided to stop and fly the drone over to investigate. They didn’t look all that far away but it turned out they were over 3km away by the time I got to them. This burned most of the battery just flying there and back, so I didn’t have all that long to do any photographs or video whilst I was there 🙂

Plugs

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/80 sec at f/4, ISO 100

We left Karijini and continued on our way. First stop was a night in Tom Price – essentially so we could do some much needed washing 🙂

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 38 mm, 1/40 sec at f/9, ISO 80

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.

Then it was onward past Paraburdoo to Barradale and then to Carnarvon

Curved Paths

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/1250 sec at f/4, ISO 100 x 21 Frames

Iron Bound

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/1600 sec at f/4, ISO 100 x 21 Frames

Here at the end of the trail at Weano Gorge we have the Handrail Pool

A stitched panorama from a single row of five (5) horizontal frames with the fabulous Nikon Z7 plus the 14-30/4 Z lens at 23mm

Handrail Pool

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 23 mm, 4 sec at f/8, ISO 64 x 5 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.

… and just for comparison here is that panorama compared to two I took with the Mavic 2 Pro

Those are comprised of three (3) rows of seven (7) horizontal frames with a 28mm equivalent lens. And these are the straight out of drone JPEG pano’s

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/30 sec at f/2.8, ISO 400 x 21 Frames

At this size and even full screen on my computer they compare very favourably

The differences appear when you view it zoomed (like at 1:1)

The Z7 pano is 21,000 pixels across and has superb detail and clarity even zoomed to 1:1. The Mavic 2 pano’s are 8,200 pixels across and not anywhere near as clean

I suspect if I stitched the RAW images out of the Mavic they would be better but still I expect not near the Z7

Still for what it is and the portability, convenience and indeed possibilities… the Mavic 2 Pro produces very nice and usable images

This little circular pool is the precursor to the main attraction on this walk into Weano gorge. The Handrail Pool is just another ten metres through a narrow gap between the gorge walls on the other side of this pool

I’d taken a punt and not packed a waterproof wet bag this time around. Instead I carried my normal camera backpack. I was hoping I’d be able to be careful through the wading points and make it to the end of Weano gorge without it

I wasn’t planning to swim past the end of the trail at Handrail Pool into the Class 6 region this time around anyway

In the end it was all too easy. The water in the gorge was much lower this time around and I reached the Handrail Pool without even getting my feet wet at all

Precursor

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14 mm, 15 sec at f/11, ISO 64

Most of the rest of my aerial shots this morning weren’t much chop. The sun was now rising… I was still the only one here at Weano gorge… It was 7AM so that’s no great surprise I guess…

Karijini Sunrise

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/500 sec at f/4, ISO 100

Time to go and do my more traditional landscape photography and walk down one of the gorges with a “real” camera and tripod 🙂

If it was anything like last time I was visiting Karijini… I’d still be the only one here hours later when I’m walking out of the gorge… Only us mad keen photographers get up way early and come here when the light is good 🙂

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.

Lined

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/120 sec at f/4, ISO 100

My landing pad… see those solar panels on the roof of the car… turns out they make for a very good takeoff and landing pad 🙂