Category Archives: Flinders Ranges

Shearin’s Done

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

Depot Springs station, northern Flinders Ranges.

There’s something quite charming about an old shearing shed.

The wood stands out. It’s been polished by the lanolin from the wool of many thousands of sheep and the constant activity that goes on in the shed when shearing’s in full swing.

The Depot Springs shed is over 90 years old and despite its age has stood the test of time.

A pair of hand made boots that have seen sheep aplenty meet the shearer at this spot, stand ready for the next morning’s work.

They are built for comfort, anything to make the hard work more bearable.

The woolshed photo was shot at f3.5, 1/200th sec, ISO 1600 with off camera flash

The boots shot at f6.3, 1/125th sec, ISO 1250, no flash

A 24-70mm Cannon L series zoom lens was used in both photographs.

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Summer’s Last Hurrah

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

A stark reminder of the drought years of not too long ago.

Summer at its worst with not a blade of grass to be seen.

Sheep grazing country between Hawker and Quorn in the central Flinders Ranges

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Summer’s Last Hurrah

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

It might have been a mild summer and it certainly went out on a soggy note but I’m not finished with it yet.

Shooting in summer, particularly in the early morning or late afternoon can often produce really vivid colours.

However photographing outside of these times, particularly in the middle of the day brings dramatic tones that illustrate the harsh summer conditions of Outback South Australia.

Old ruins, like these at Partacoona station between Quorn and Hawker in the Flinders Ranges show how hard life would have been for the early settlers.

Not even a tree for shade.

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Stormy Skies

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

The Elder Range on Arkana Station, just south of Wilpena Pound. central Flinders Ranges.

The calm before the storm…..

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All the Rivers Run

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

While most of the creeks and rivers in the FLinders Ranges and the surrounding Outback are now just gently flowing streams, a last chance to show the full force of the recent floods.

Again the Parachilna Creek in the northern Flinders Ranges.

Interestingly, while clambering down the slippery banks of the creek to get these shot I saw what turned out to be a large euro, or hills wallaby bobbing in the waters close to the bank.

The Euro must have been washed downstream in the fast flowing waters but managed to scramble to safety in calmer current.

It quickly disappeared into the nearby bushes.

Unfortunately I wasn’t in a position to record any of this little life and death drama.

Posted in Flinders Ranges, Outback South Australia, Parachilna, Weather | 2 Comments

Another Roll of Hills

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

Experience says that summer is the best time to be photographing in the Flinders Ranges and and Outback.

The colour are supposed to be brighter, more vivid.

All you have to be able to do is put up with a bit of heat, a few flies and a couple of other small inconveniences…..easy!

This photograph, taken from Depot Springs station in the northern Flinders Ranges, looking down across Maynards Well to the central ranges in the far distance puts paid to that argument.

I think there’s 6 or 7 ranges of hills in the picture.

What it is not indicating is that the temperature was around 13 degrees Celcius and there was a 40-45 kilometre an hour wind blowing. It blew right through you and it seemed even colder.

A tripod was no help, so the picture was taken leaning on the side of the car and trying to shoot between the gusts. The technical details tell it all.

f8 at 1/320 sec, ISO 200 hand held. Not a recommended technique, but the colours are nice.

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A Roll of Hills

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

The rolling hills of Worumba Station in the central Flinders Ranges and a change from the dust storms, lighting and thunders of recent times.

Almost at the top of Mt Plantagenet…one of the higher peaks of the Flinders Ranges and one that commands 360 degree views.

Well worth the effort of making the climb.

f22, 1/5th sec, ISO 100.

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Summer Storms…..Lightning and Thunder

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

The same windmill from the previous post. A different day however but more wild weather, which in this case translates into a very dramatic sky.

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Summer Storms…….Dust Storms

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Peter MacDonald

Thunderstorms, rain, dust storms and temperatures in the 40 plus Celsius…..a typical summer around my part of the world.

Despite that, it is my view that any of the above is going to produce a dramatic photo, so it is wise to be out in the thick of it for the best shots.

The western Flinders Ranges with acres of air-bourne top soil and sand rolling in from the plains.

This was shot at f14 to get good depth of field, ISO 200, hand held at 250th of a second to counter the buffeting wind.

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Down the Line

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Peter MacDonald

This is an interesting rock formation or should I say a ridge of hills.

It is an exposed section of ancient seabed where sedimentary layers from eroding mountains have laid down layers of silt that have turned to rock.

The layers can bee seen quite clearly and it’s a common occurrence in the Flinders Ranges.

This ridge is on the edge of the Wilochra Plain, south of Hawker and it’s near the ruins of an old town called Simmonston.

Shot at f8. 1/200th sec, ISO 100

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