Talk about tough choices! In the end I stuck close to home, with all but two images coming from Tasmania. In fact, two of the Tasmanian images were taken from right outside our house.
Aw man! How can you open a diary with that? I can’t even think of anything in Los Angeles that’s cooler than that AND you see it from your house. Man. I’m so completely bummed right now. Gotta show my husband so he can be bummed with me.
Wow, Keres, you know how to do a dramatic opening! All of these photos are spectacular (why should I expect other from you? lol), and thanks so much for sharing such a great album of views.
One of these years we are going to have to rustle up the cash to get down to Tasmania … always been a place I wanted to go, if for nothing else than to see the famed devil, lol.
Cradle Mountain in the peak in the back left of the image. Its uppermost slopes are columnar dolorite, which is a type of basalt. The water in the foreground really is tea-colored, due to the high tannen content of button grass.
Other than to touch up a few dots from bits of dirt on the lens, I didn’t change this photo in any way. It really looks like this. The gorges in the park (with their layered iron walls!) are truly magical. The waterfall fed pools at the bottom of the gorges are crystal clear and make for fine swimming.
The Aborigines ask that you swim quietly, to keep from disturbing ancestral serpents that live in the rock pools.
I didn’t mean that I thought you did anything to the photo — I just meant it had a slightly not-of-this-world feel to it. So ‘magical’ sounds just right.
I didn’t think you did. But with a BFA in photography, I do tweek my images a lot.
What makes good photography great is the ability to take what and how the camera sees and re-assert human sensibilities and perception into the static image. For example, a camera has one aperature for the entire visual field. Your, otoh, widens as it looks at shaded objects and narrows as it looks at bright objects (or areas). Eyes are incredibly dynamic, and fast, and you don’t notice this happening. So, when you photograph a mountain with white snow and black shadow, if your camera’s “pupil” splits the difference, you get washed out snow and black shadows. When your eyes saw all the details in both light and dark areas. That’s why photographers “dodge” and “burn” prints – to restore the details that are under or over exposed. Read about Ansel Adams’ “zone system” to get a better understanding of how this works.
So, in short, it’s rare to get exactly what you want “in the camera.” I used to spend lots of hours in the dark room perfecting an image. Now I do it digitally.
It’s been a tiring weekend for me (and I notice my dyslexia is worse as a result). Fortunately, I’m picking up Imogen from the airport in two hours, so I’ve plently of motivation to stay awake.:D
I have found that after spending time in Europe (I haven’t been to North America since babyhood) I find the Australian landscape also incredibly sharp and stunning. I think it’s the intensity of the light (very clear intense blue skies, except in the smoggier major cities)and also the wide horizons which emphasise the sense of light.
Maria Island is a National Park off the east coast of Tasmanina. A ferry runs each day. There’s no electricity, cars, or stores. What you pack in, you pack out.
That sounds great. I’ve seen the Aurora Borealis. Now that I’ve seen Keres’ picture of the southern version I want to see it too. What time of year is best to hope for an occurrence? Or does it not matter?
So, when are YOU going to start planning this meetup Jim
Is there any study of the size of human population that Tasmania can support without destroying the environment? I’m sure that it depends on how the humans are living, but the landscapes, while beautiful, are so severe.
I’m in love with the landscape, the wild open visitas of my home state, but I do believe I could abandon ND for your country!
Your photos have a very emotional appeal to me. Superb, spectacular!!!
And my first very first time seeing Southern Lights. At first my mind said, Northern Lights, whoopppee!!!. Then I see “southern lights”, and I’m thinking, WHAT!, then Oh, YEAH, RIGHT!!!
You are indeed an artist. It’s easy to see you love your home. I think choosing to show us photos from close to your home is very special. I’ve always wanted to go to Australia…from the time I was a little girl. Now I think my choice would be Tasmania. Thank you for a very special diary.
for the Platinum Southern Cross awarded annually by the Tasmanian Tourist Board for “Outstanding Service in Presenting the Wondrous Majesty of the Flora and Fauna of Our Glorious Land to the World at Large.”
The prize will be awarded at the Tasmanian Tourist Board Headquarters, 3 November 2006.
You may bring one guest and a large dog. Black tie and white tail.
What a beautiful pictorial on Australia & your home. I spent almost a year in Australia, mostly in the south western area. You just made me remember the incredible light that surprised me also, at the time. I still can picture some of the vistas there, even though I was there over 35 yrs. ago.
Thank you.
Taken from our front porch. A cluster of stars near the center of the photo is “the Southern Cross” (it’s a sideways cross).
Click image for larger version.
Aw man! How can you open a diary with that? I can’t even think of anything in Los Angeles that’s cooler than that AND you see it from your house. Man. I’m so completely bummed right now. Gotta show my husband so he can be bummed with me.
Wow, Keres, you know how to do a dramatic opening! All of these photos are spectacular (why should I expect other from you? lol), and thanks so much for sharing such a great album of views.
One of these years we are going to have to rustle up the cash to get down to Tasmania … always been a place I wanted to go, if for nothing else than to see the famed devil, lol.
I agree w/P4… yours is true artistry!
Aurora Australis. (Sorry for the nitpick, but it stands out to my trained astronomer eyes.)
No problem. My spelling is always suspect.
Bruny Island is about and hour away from Hobart and is internal to the great collection of bays that make up most of Tasmanina’s south.
Click image for larger version.
Cradle Mountain is a World Heritage Area in Tasmania. Button grass, named for its button like flowers, is a threatened sub-alpine plant.
Click image for larger version.
Cradle Mountain in the peak in the back left of the image. Its uppermost slopes are columnar dolorite, which is a type of basalt. The water in the foreground really is tea-colored, due to the high tannen content of button grass.
Click image for larger version.
The dirt is intensely red due to its high iron content. The Park is cut though with gorges, and is sacred to the Aborigines of the Pillbara region.
Click image for larger version.
That almost doesn’t look real — everything is so sharp and defined. And yet another gorgeous place.
Other than to touch up a few dots from bits of dirt on the lens, I didn’t change this photo in any way. It really looks like this. The gorges in the park (with their layered iron walls!) are truly magical. The waterfall fed pools at the bottom of the gorges are crystal clear and make for fine swimming.
The Aborigines ask that you swim quietly, to keep from disturbing ancestral serpents that live in the rock pools.
I didn’t mean that I thought you did anything to the photo — I just meant it had a slightly not-of-this-world feel to it. So ‘magical’ sounds just right.
I didn’t think you did. But with a BFA in photography, I do tweek my images a lot.
What makes good photography great is the ability to take what and how the camera sees and re-assert human sensibilities and perception into the static image. For example, a camera has one aperature for the entire visual field. Your, otoh, widens as it looks at shaded objects and narrows as it looks at bright objects (or areas). Eyes are incredibly dynamic, and fast, and you don’t notice this happening. So, when you photograph a mountain with white snow and black shadow, if your camera’s “pupil” splits the difference, you get washed out snow and black shadows. When your eyes saw all the details in both light and dark areas. That’s why photographers “dodge” and “burn” prints – to restore the details that are under or over exposed. Read about Ansel Adams’ “zone system” to get a better understanding of how this works.
So, in short, it’s rare to get exactly what you want “in the camera.” I used to spend lots of hours in the dark room perfecting an image. Now I do it digitally.
and on that teacherly note, I’m to bed.
Good night Andi. I wish I could go to bed too.
It’s been a tiring weekend for me (and I notice my dyslexia is worse as a result). Fortunately, I’m picking up Imogen from the airport in two hours, so I’ve plently of motivation to stay awake.:D
I have found that after spending time in Europe (I haven’t been to North America since babyhood) I find the Australian landscape also incredibly sharp and stunning. I think it’s the intensity of the light (very clear intense blue skies, except in the smoggier major cities)and also the wide horizons which emphasise the sense of light.
To the right are “Bishop and Clerk” peaks, and below edge are the fossil cliffs. “The Hazzards” are on the far horizon.
Click image for larger version.
Maria Island is a National Park off the east coast of Tasmanina. A ferry runs each day. There’s no electricity, cars, or stores. What you pack in, you pack out.
Click image for larger version.
A two hour walk gets you to Tasmania’s furthest southern shore. Waaaay over the horizon is Antartica.
Click image for larger version.
I am voting for the next BooTrib meet up to be in Tasmania.
Yes! I promise to pick you all up from the airport. We can set up the yurt.
I think we should build our own place and have a permanent home for BTrs there. It’d be a great place to go into exile to.
If you set up the yurt on a deck, it is a permanent stucture.
Yes, we really have 700sq.ft. tent.
And you can stand up in them, unlike our tent!
That sounds great. I’ve seen the Aurora Borealis. Now that I’ve seen Keres’ picture of the southern version I want to see it too. What time of year is best to hope for an occurrence? Or does it not matter?
So, when are YOU going to start planning this meetup Jim
Winter is Aurora time. Which means that you can come on your summer vacation!
I’m so down with that. I’ll book the tickets today!
I second the motion. The landscapes are stunning.
These limestone formations cover acres and acres of dunes. The Indian Ocean is just visable in the background.
Click image for larger version.
What an amazing looking place (and great photo).
That looks so different from anything I’ve ever seen … Your photos are beautiful keres.
Nice colors…this is what I picture Mars will look like after 20 years of terraforming.
Is there any study of the size of human population that Tasmania can support without destroying the environment? I’m sure that it depends on how the humans are living, but the landscapes, while beautiful, are so severe.
Back home again. This time looking north from our backyard.
Click image for larger version.
I’m in love with the landscape, the wild open visitas of my home state, but I do believe I could abandon ND for your country!
Your photos have a very emotional appeal to me. Superb, spectacular!!!
And my first very first time seeing Southern Lights. At first my mind said, Northern Lights, whoopppee!!!. Then I see “southern lights”, and I’m thinking, WHAT!, then Oh, YEAH, RIGHT!!!
You are indeed an artist. It’s easy to see you love your home. I think choosing to show us photos from close to your home is very special. I’ve always wanted to go to Australia…from the time I was a little girl. Now I think my choice would be Tasmania. Thank you for a very special diary.
Wow, Keres. Spare, natural beauty in abundance. Looks unspoiled. If we all came, could we keep it that way? I don’t know.
Thanks for all of your wonderful photos, they bring a real sense of place.
for the Platinum Southern Cross awarded annually by the Tasmanian Tourist Board for “Outstanding Service in Presenting the Wondrous Majesty of the Flora and Fauna of Our Glorious Land to the World at Large.”
The prize will be awarded at the Tasmanian Tourist Board Headquarters, 3 November 2006.
You may bring one guest and a large dog. Black tie and white tail.
What a beautiful pictorial on Australia & your home. I spent almost a year in Australia, mostly in the south western area. You just made me remember the incredible light that surprised me also, at the time. I still can picture some of the vistas there, even though I was there over 35 yrs. ago.
Thank you.
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!!