Monthly Archives: November 2011

A Certain Aura

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

I’ve always thought Bolla Bollana waterhole on the Arkaroola Creek had a certain aura about it.

It is something that is very hard to illustrate.

I’ve taken and seen a lot of a few pictures of Bolla Bollana waterhole.

A couple of my efforts can be seen here and here but I don’t think I’ve ever got the essence of the place.

Perhaps with this one I’ve come fairly close.

The shot was taken on a quite overcast day.

I used a polarising filter to bring out the colours and to slow the shutter speed just enough to create a sheen on the water created by the gusting breeze.

f22, ISO 100, shutter speed 1.6 sec, focal length 135 mm, tripod

Posted in Arkaroola, Gallery Photo | 2 Comments

A Quiet Celebration

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

I’ve been saving this picture up for a while in the hope that this beautiful country would not become the site of a uranium mine.

Late last week, the Arkaroola Protection Bill passed through the lower house of the South Australian Parliament.

Supported by all three parties the bill finally, after many years, moves to protect the Arkaroola Wilderness sanctuary from mining and steps are being taken to place it on the State Heritage list.

Readers will know the Sentimental Bloke has been a supporter of these actions, and while it still has to be passed in the upper house, it would seem that this is to become a reality.

Posted in Arkaroola, Gallery Photo | 2 Comments

Wing Power

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

Wildlife isn’t something that I am either equipped for or patient enough to specialise in, but this magnificent creature did all the right things for me.

I took these images a couple of days after a workshop at Arkaroola last week.

I had been working the Arkaroola waterhole with two very keen and experienced photographers when one spotted the bird, which is quite outstanding for this part of the world….maybe a bit smaller than a wedge-tailed eagle.

It’s a White-necked Heron or Pacific Heron and I’m guessing it’s a little out of it’s normal habitat which is usually well established wetlands….not semi-arid country and fast drying waterholes.

Nevertheless it wasn’t keen to move from the pools in the Arkaroola Creek which is probably why I was able to see it some time after the first sighting.

It also gave me enough time to set my focus to A1 Servo for moving objects and check the exposure.

All were taken at f5.6, ISO 200 and focal length 300 mm. The shutter speed ranges from 1/1600th sec to 1/3200 sec.

Posted in Fauna, Photography Tips | 2 Comments

Floating Along

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

There’ll be a short break in new work being posted by the Sentimental Bloke from today.

Workshops are pretty full on and there’s not much time for anything else while they are in progress.

More photos later in the week.

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Ebbing Away

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

A sign of the times…..the receding waters of Lake Eyre in central Australia creating a kaleidoscope of gorgeous patterns.

With the heat of approaching summer already beginning to take effect, it will not be long before Lake Eyre returns to being a giant salt flat.

For the last two years the lake has filled with water providing a wonderland for visitors and wildlife alike.

Only the gods know if it will fill again next year. It depends on summer rains in northern Australia and while the La Nina weather pattern continues theres a possibility that might happen.

Three years in a row would be an unusual occurrence.

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On The Road

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

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Sunset and Sand Dunes

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

The muted colours of a recent sunset on sand dunes near Mt Deception, seen here in the background.

Mt Deception is not far from the mining town on Leigh Creek and is a major landmark in the area.

Recent strong spring winds have created unspoilt ripples all over the dunes here on Nilpena station.

They are miniature versions of the sand dunes in much of the desert country of northern South Australia.

You can see images of a couple of these types of dunes here and here.

As I have mentioned before, the desert dunes were originally formed by long and powerful wind storms in the last ice age.

Shot at f22, 1/4 Sec ISO 200 on tripod.

Posted in Lake Torrens Area, Outback South Australia | Tagged | 1 Comment

Backyard Bloom

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

These speculator little blooms are from a tree in my back yard. They are from the Crimson Mallee tree, a Eucalyptus tree (E. landsdowneana).

The buds occur in groups of seven and are bright red and sometimes pink.

These are the empty pods once the blooms have gone.

Crimson Mallee is usually found on rock slopes in the Gawler and Flinders Ranges, rather than my backyard, and it is considered to be a rare species.

Posted in Flora | Leave a comment

Spring Scene

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

Emus enjoying the wildflowers.

I suppose you can call Salvation Jane a wild flower because it’s mostly out of control around the central and southern Flinders Ranges.

It looks pretty enough though.

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On The Road

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

The road leading into the hills and mountains of the Warraweena Conservation Park, northern Flinders Ranges.

The late afternoon sun from time to time, lights up the hills around here with a distinctive hue that starts off red and runs into purple.

Invariably it only last for a few minutes but you can see a touch of it in this photograph of the track leading from the old Sliding Rock mine to the Warraweena homestead.

f3.5, 1/100 sec ISO 100, hand held.

Posted in On the Road, Warraweena | 1 Comment