Monthly Archives: May 2012

R M Williams Outback Magazine

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

A couple of months ago I did a photo shoot of the R M Williams Outback Magazine on Anna Creek Station.

It was quite an experience seeing how the world’s largest cattle station operates.

It might be thought that the country which is roughly bounded by Oodnadatta in the north, Coober Pedy in the west. Lake Eyre in the East and Beresford in the South would be pretty uninteresting. Far from it.

The photo above is of the Margaret range at sunrise and it illustrates just how lush this country is after the summer rains.

I spend nearly two weeks shooting the pictures for the story on this Kidman station, meeting the people who live and work there, learning about the cattle industry and seeing some wonderful country.

The first of these pictures are in the next edition of Outback which will be on the bookshelves next week …the full spread coming up later in another R M Williams publication

You can find out more about the story and the Outback magazine by clicking here

For people in remote areas or overseas there’s even an APP now you can download to get the magazine.

Big country, big bulls….no bull!

A Range of Colours 3

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

People who know my work often comment when they come to the Flinders Ranges and the Outback for the first time that they have actually seen some of the colours in the photographs.

Until then, they thought the colours were unreal.

Nature and her willing accomplice, Light in all its forms comes up with some amazing combinations in my backyard.

In this photo of Lake Eyre, along with the previous two posts, the range of colours, patterns and textures is exceptional

This was taken around 3,000 metres above the lake but in each case the colours in the photographs are true.

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A Range of Colours 2

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

This is what’s called the Warburton Groove and it’s one of the channels where water pours into Lake Eyre on those rare occasions when it fills up.

On the right is the desert sand of the Great Victoria desert, on the left the salt of the Lake Eyre basin and central the clear blue and fresh waters of the Warburton River.

A range of contrasts and colours.

The waters coming down this channel are more a gentle flow than a flood, consequently it will only partially fill Lake Eyre this year.

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A Range of Colours 1

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

Back on the main lake (lake Eyre) from the previous post and the range of colours is quite startling.

This is Dulhunty Island in the north lake where the salt is exposed forming a vast white and very glarey expanse.

However the patterns in the salt are fantastic.

Over the next couple of days I will post some pictures which show the range of colours, which to me have added a whole new dimension to the area since my five trips in 2010.

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Desert Lakes

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

This isn’t quite Lake Eyre but these salt lakes run off the main lake towards the east.

They make interesting shapes and patterns in the desert dunes.

The deep blue areas are rainwater the result of big rains that fell a few months ago.

This rainwater is rapidly evaporating…leaving the discolouration in the surrounding salt.

This photograph was taken about three weeks ago, so the water has probably gone now from these minor, yet quite substantial salt pans.

Posted in Lake Eyre, Outback South Australia | Tagged Great Victoria Desert | 1 Comment

Fun with the Full Moon

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

William Creek aerodrome last full moon.

You may think I’ve used more lights than Joe McNally** to get this shot. NO. Just a torch which I used to paint light onto the aircraft.

It’s a bit of fun and with creative experimenting you can come up with some interesting after-dark shots.

I had a 30 second exposure at f6.3, ISO 400. I judged I needed that amount of time to light the three aircraft.

The stars are just starting to streak because of the long exposure. A shorter exposure would have fixed this.

The camera needs to be on a tripod for this.

The torch I used was an EagleTac M3C4 which has triple led lights and comes with a diffuser that softens the big light output.

** Joe McNally is a a bit of a legend in the photographic world. He has shot stories for Time, National Geographics and a host of other publication over 30 years and is also very well known for his lighting techniques.

If you have even half an interest in photography his blog is well worth reading, especially some of the back articles.

Posted in Photography Tips | Tagged William Creek | 1 Comment

Low Flying Aces

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

Lake Eyre isn’t all pinks and blues and silver salt.

At the top of the main lake and the Goyder Lagoon where some water is flowing in from the Warburton River, it’s quite muddy but there is an abundance of birds.

The pelicans stand out because of their numbers and the apparent ease with which they can glide just above the water’s surface.

However there’s cormorants and black swans. sea gulls, banded stilts and ducks to be seen as well.

There appears to be even more in the Coongie Lake system where the water is fresh and abundant fish to feed on.

Posted in Coongie Lakes, Fauna, Goyder Lagoon, Lake Eyre | 1 Comment

More Things to Come

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

The pictures of Lake Eyre on my visit a few weeks back just got more colourful, particularly around this section near Silcrete Island.

However I will be holding back the most spectacular pictures for my upcoming exhibition in August

Over the next few days I will post images of the lake in its current guise.

They will be of interest to people who have already seen this amazing phenomenon and how much it has changed and an incentive for those who still want to go.

For the less fortunate I hope the photographs are a consolation.

Posted in Lake Eyre | 1 Comment

Of Things To Come

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

The results of my recent to Lake Eyre are exciting.

I didn’t think it was possible the lake would be much different to what I had seen in 2010.

How wrong can you be.

I am still processing the pictures but production will start next week on an exhibition which will be unveiled in August.

While Lake Eyre doesn’t have as much water in it as in the previous two years, it is making up for the lack of water with some stunning scenes.

This is Silcrete Island in the north lake….the subject of previous works which can be found in the ‘Categories’ list on the right hand side of this page under ‘Lake Eyre’ or click here

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