Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Australia

First, let me apologize for the delay between posts. I was on a trip through India, Oman and the UAE for a month with little time to write.

Second, AUSTRALIA!

No other country is also its own continent, complete with the vast biodiversity and quirkiness that is Australia. No other country also get mixed up in people’s minds with Austria, either.

This is the sixth country we are covering in the reader fueled DPS Travel Photography Inspiration Project.

If you would like to be involved in the next country’s post, drop me a line here.

Pastel beauty with moon, Pilbara, West Australia by Andrea Westwood

The rising moon at the setting of the sun makes for beautiful shots, and the trees themselves are photogenic. I like the way the light fades into soft pastel shades. Use a tripod, and you can be guaranteed stunning images.

Bliss by Ashley Strong Photography

Description: The photo was taken in an open field along the highway going from Melbourne to
Jervis Bay, Australia.

Tip: If the lighting is right, take a moment to stop what you’re doing and capture. This picture
was taken right around sunset by simply pulling over on the side of the highway and exploring the open
land right in front on my eyes. Also, play with various angles and subjects within open fields of land. Do
not be afraid to hang upside down, lie on your stomach, stand in a tree or look straight ahead toward
the setting sun.

Natural Arch by Dev Wijewardane

Description – The Natural arch was created over millions of years by water tumbling through a roof of a basalt cave in the Springbrook National Park in Queensland.

Tip – Identify exactly what you want to see and photograph before getting to Australia. Distances are vast and getting to places that are far from main cities can be time consuming.

Ficus Tree, Royal Botanical, Gardens, Sydney, New South Wales. Infrared image converted to Black & White by A. J. Marcella

Jervis Bay is in the South Coast of New South Wales, roughly a 3-hour drive from Sydney. Find Jervis Bay via the Grand Pacific Drive. This costal journey begins at Stanwell Tops in the Royal National Park and goes through the city of Wollongong, Kiama and Shoalhaven.

Melbourne Cow by Nathan Spencer

Victoria, and particularly Melbourne has lots of weird sculptures scattered around the place and I just couldn’t resist this night scene. This is a good example of always taking a camera with you. This was taken on
the way back from dinner and I just happened to take my camera because I expected some interesting night scapes to develop.

Sunset on Fraser Island by Bill Ward

The island is one of the largest sand islands in the world boasting a diverse collection of Flora and spectacular suspended lakes providing numerous photo opportunities.

Stormy Whitsundays by Juliette Giannesini

I love this picture because it’s the opposite of what I was looking for that day. I headed to the famous Whitsundays for a day, and expected blue sky, clear water and lots of sun. Well, I got that but we were caught in a monster storm on the way back to Airlie Beach, and I snapped this shot from the boat. It turned out to be my favourite picture of the day because the colours are so unique.

Sydney Opera House by Alexis Meyer

A trip to Australia just isn’t complete without taking in the sites of the Sydney. There’s always something happening in the CBD, and it’s 2 most famous landmarks (the Opera House and Harbour Bridge) are a must. Buttressed by the Royal Botanical Gardens, hosting a multitude of native plants and thousands of flying foxes, and the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House is a perfect spot to take in the Aussie culture and stunning harbour views.

Make way; Northern Highway, West Australia by Andrea Westwood

We came across this monster on the highway between Broome and Perth. The highway is mostly just two lanes, and from time to time one encounters these massive trucks which take up the whole road. Australia is vast, road trips north of Perth may mean you only see one or two cars in six hours of driving, so make sure you are well provisioned with fuel and food – it’s a long wait for a ride.

Incense by Ashley Strong Photography

Description: This picture was taken in a parking lot in Bells Beach, Australia along The Great Ocean road.

Tip: Details. Pay attention to details. Just because you are in a parking lot, does not mean something won’t capture your eye. Everything and every being is amazingly unique and by paying attention to detail, one can capture that uniqueness even if it is a simple as a piece of wood and barbed wire.

Sydney Harbour by Dev Wijewardane

Description – Reflections of the Sydney CBD across the Harbour

Tip – There are a number of locations around the city from which the CBD can be photographed across the harbour.

Infrared image of Australian coast at Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, roughly three hour drive south from
Sydney by A. J. Marcella

Morning fog in the country by Nathan Spencer

Couldn’t resist the sepia-toned fog scene near Minnie Waters, which is off the main highway between Grafton and Coffs Harbour. I love road tripping all over Australia because there is just so much to see, but some of the most interesting subjects are hidden away from the main roads. Don’t be afraid to explore off the beaten track because there are interesting subjects to be found at all times of day almost everywhere.

Rock pool Coogee Beach Sydney by Bill Ward

Coogee beach is situated in the South Eastern suburbs of Sydney and is a splendid spot to visit for not only sea and sun but good food at reasonable prices. The sweeping views from most vantage points are very
special.

Sydney From Above by Juliette Giannesini

This is the last picture of the trip, and one of my favourite ones. We were flying back from Sydney to LA and the pilot treated us to an amazing trip over the city. To take pictures out of a plane window, don’t stick your lens too close to the window and switch to manual focus.

Raven and Kookaburra by Alexis Meyer

Australia has some of the most unique creatures in the world. The bird life is plentiful, and while most species in the cities are lackadaisical about humans, a long lens allows you to get some stunning behaviour shots.

Ancient Art by Andrea Westwood

Just a small detour off the road can take you to hidden aboriginal sacred sites, many of them are unknown and it takes some local knowledge to find them. Always treat them with respect, these are sites of great antiquity. The brilliant blue skies of Australia contrast with the red rock of the desert; it is almost impossible to get a bad shot.

Another World by Ashley Strong Photography

Description: The photo was taken outside the Chinese Garden of Friendship in downtown Sydney, Australia.

Tip: Be curious – if you see something from a far and cannot determine what it is, move closer toward that specific subject. Move as close as possible as one does not need a macro lens to capture the minute details and uniqueness of a subject, such as this Australian flower that appearance to be from “another world.”

Sylvia Falls by Dev Wijewardane

Description – The blue mountains region of NSW is full of stunning waterfalls and is definitely worth a visit.

Tip – Take a tripod!

Lookout by Nathan Spencer

This man was standing there checking out the surf up the beach and I justcouldn’t resist. There are so many interesting things to take photos of at Australian beaches, from panoramas to portraits. The key to this shot was to make sure I looked down enough to get the beach in and give context, even if the background is blurred.

Chinese gardens, Sydney by Bill Ward

These gardens are situated in the heart of the Darling Harbor redevelopment and provide a welcome respite from the busy hot summer streets. There are many opportunities to take photographs in these peaceful gardens where some people dress in traditional costume.

Blue Mountains by Alexis Meyer

Just a 2 hour train ride outside of Sydney is the town of Katoomba, the entrance to the Blue Mountains. Known for it’s geological wonder of the "Three Sisters," the national park offers easy hiking trails and stunning landscapes in an easy day-trip from New South Wales’ capital city.

Beauty Reflected; Karijini National Park WA by Andrea Westwood

When travelling, some of the most interesting shots are the ones reflected in water. Here the colours of the Pilbara region are reflected in a water course.

Wetlands Sunrise by Nathan Spencer

Ibis’ silhouetted against the rising sun at the Hunter Valley Wetlands centre near Newcastle.

Sometimes going to wildlife parks isn’t a bad thing when travelling, especially when they are a very natural setting like the wetlands centre (not just animals in cages). I tend to like excluding the sun from most rise/set shots and silhouette something in the foreground against a colourful sky, just make sure you focus on the silhouetted subject.

Termite Man, Pilbara West Australia by Andrea Westwood

These termite mounds take the most interesting shapes, and make for great shots. They are found all around the continent and during different times of the day can provide intense colour shots.