Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Melville Rocks, Loddon Valley, Greater Bendigo, Australia

 


Earthy rugged landscape used to be something I got obsessed for a while. Since I live close to the arid part of the state.

This is a good location for photographing milky way at night. I just dont have the guts doing so.


Sony A7RIV

FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM


Cave posts









Thursday, June 30, 2022

La La falls Warburton

 







This is a fall that I did not anticipate to find after years of search. Funny it was located perfectly on google map


Sony A7RIV + FE 14mm f1.8 GM


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Grampians National Park via a photographer's perspective



I love Grampians. It is also called "Gariwerd", which means "ranges" in traditional aboriginal language. This is a place where photographers would find it challenging to photograph: the harsh lighting from the typical angry sun, dense dark foliage of native plants (not reflecting colours) and the gale that would blow your mind away (because your tripods get blown away too).

It is reported that over 60 cultural sites have been identified in Grampians. The murals are certainly worthy of visits for any photographers - the tracks leading to the murals are often good photography opportunities.

Over the past 20 years, I have frequented this place for photography opportunities. It turned out this place had turned into an escape from the reality for me. I love the Gala screaming their lungs off every morning. I love the kookaburra squeaking like a group of zombies every sunset.

This is a little summary of my photography experiences in Grampians:

* Visit in winter months - diffuse light from cloudy sky is better than harsh light in summer. Summer is high risk for bushfire as well. The frequent rain often creates mood for the photo ops and great to get mists/fog to render better pictures.
* Do check news about closed roads/paths through national park website
* Always bring a GBS phone and bring plenty of water with you. Drive a 4WF.
* Bring food and groceries from Melbourne as the pricing in Halls Gap is often at least double of the city prices
* Photograph in early mornings or late afternoon

Waterfalls

Pentax Da 50mm
Mckenzie fall - part of it - funny that I cannot find any more photos of this largest fall in Victoria. But this one was different from the generic full frontal shot seen on the web everywhere.




Pentax 16-50mm f2.8
Ferret's waterfall - disappeared after the bushfire in 2006


Pentax 10-22mm
Silverband waterfall - not a long walk, pretty much flat track. Problem is this fall dries out easily. Only to visit after a rainfall. And watch out brown snakes in the area!


Pinnacles
This is a good 5 hour track return trip. Three major phases in geographical changes as you walk through this region. This place is all about rocks.


Pentax Da21mm Limited

Pentax Da21mm limited

Pentax Da21mm limited

Voigtlander 12mm R4A


Wonderland Carpark











Balcony Lookout

On a sunny day, strong UV cast really sucks. There is no point to visit in the day hours. The photos will turn out shit really.

This lookout is bad for sunset shots at the magic hours. This is because the sun goes down on the completely opposite side of the look out. So you dont get much light at all except occasional purple sky at times.

Canon 50mm f1.2L


Canon 50mm f1.2L
Canon 300mm f4L IS - wide angle lens is pretty much useless at this lookout. Best to use 50mm + focal length.

Canon 300mm f4L IS


Reeds Lookout

This lookout is more photographer friendly - at least sun is going down within the view of the look out.

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro




Lake Fyans

Olympus 150mm f2



Canon 50mm f1.2L


Leica 25mm f1.4


Tracks

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro

Pentax Da21mm limited

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8

The colour is certainly better in a foggy and wet condition. I prefer to shoot in the rain in here.

Pentax Fa 31mm f1.8 limited

Pentax FA43mm limited

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8




Giant Koala - Dadswell Bridge Victoria


Nice for a visit if you get really bored like it is raining cats and dogs or it is just simply too hot to bear in the extreme heat. Not a long drive north to Grampians. There is also a waterfall nearby - single span but puny water flow. Lucky to see it after a rain fall (I did have a few shots at it and they turned out like a poor stream wee due to prostate enlargement)



Wild life

I could easily captures shots on most of the native Australian animals in Grampians. Not much effort required. Just wander in parks or myriads of tracks in early morning or near sunset.

Olympus 150mm f2

Near Lake Fyans after a rain fall


Olympus 150mm f2

In the reserve park near central Halls Gap


Olympus 150mm f2

At the carpark near Wonderland car park entrance

Olympus 150mm f2


Olympus 150mm f2

Olympus 150mm f2

Useful resources:


Travel and Accommodation 

Park Victoria - Grampians National Park


Grampians Map

Grampians Map


Halls Gap

Halls Gap - the nearest town

3 breakfast cafes there in the central. Always packed with people. I tend to get specials of the week for the sake of getting something new each time.

Among these, this middle eastern sausage was memorable because it looks like number 2 in the toilet. But it tastes really good though. From Black Cat Cafe




Sunday, November 10, 2013

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Coffee Machine


This cafe has painted this coffee machine beautifully. Acland street has that art deco feel whenever I took a walk there.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Black Cod from Shoya - 1 hat restaurant in Melbourne CBD


It is really a busy day that it took me 4 hour to drive to Warrnambool then 4 hours driving back to Melbourne. Soooooooo tired...

This was the special dish ordered in Shoya where the moist juicy fish was roasted in miso paste. It tastes heavenly.

The restaurant is in this link http://www.shoya.com.au/ 

The photo was taken by Voigtlander 40mm f2 



Monday, August 13, 2012

Run to induce endogenous endorphin!


A good habit to run every morning. I wished I could do the same and keep it up. In the winter times. it is just hard to bare any skin to run. 

Running exerts 10 times more force on our bones comparing to normal day to day walking. That is called weight bearing exercises to keep our bones strong.

This was captured on south bank. With 50mm f1.2 lens.



Saturday, August 11, 2012

What is the purpose? Federation Square, Melbourne


He only managed to stay in the middle of no where for about 10 minutes. While I was drinking coffee, I saw him packing everything to leave the spot altogether... Why?

Taken by Pentax Da* 55mm f1.4

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Squid in Bonito sauce


In one of the cafe located in QV, I had a Entree dish to taste.

It was a taste in heaven where the sauce was the concentrated dried skip-jack tuna fish (Katsuwonus pelamis, sometimes referred to as bonito ). It was a good addition to a small glass of sake in deed.

QV is a significant location in Melbourne CBD. It is a redevelopment of historic Queen Victoria Women's hospital site. Now it is a popular commercial central to various food courts and fashion clothing stores.

The image was taken by Pentax 31mm ltd






Friday, August 3, 2012

Grilled Ocean Trout flooded in lemon juice


The special of the day from a restaurant on Glenferrie st in Hawthorn

A lot of posh looking ladies trying to eat similar dish in there. This plate is full of lemon!!! So sour that I want to cry