BIRD & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

The Golden Hour ~ The Golden Rule ~ Silence is Golden

Our Photographic Workshop was conducted over a two weekend period, falling on Saturday 17th May 2014 (Day 1) and finishing up on Saturday 24th May 2014 (Day 2).
Colin and I gave our time gratis to The Willunga Environment Centre as they promote our photographic book "VIVONNE BAY BLUE" & DVD "Wings Above~Island Below".

We ventured out with an avid Nature Group of people from all different walks of life into the "Wilds" of the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park, South Australia on day one of our Workshop, then off to Old Noarlunga, South Australia for the second one.

We met and were greeted by many eager faces in one of the car parks at the Scrub. Some of the group were wearing unusual & colourful apparel, a couple had new boots on..! Most were carrying different types of cameras and a few were in just for the walk.
Off we set, me in the front and Colin coming up in the rear as the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park can be quite daunting to the novice and sometimes also to the knowledgeable.
Single file along the Western Grey Kangaroo tracks was where we guided them, sometimes stopping just to gaze in wonder at the magnificent Resin the Wattle trees produce when under stress. We were fortunate to be able to show how the sun beams through the Resin creating amazing star bursts and equally amazing how Resin can actually resemble Nature itself.

Resin from Wattle Trees

In this Resin you will see a Frog on a tree.
As we wandered along, I mentioned to the group that they be watchful of Spider Webs as occasionally one does walk through a web and the thought of a Spider crawling in your hair or sitting quietly on your back does give rise to a little concern..!


Along the track we explored many beautiful dead and gnarly old gum trees, trees that at one time held the vast sand drifts together. The Coral Lichen was a rare sight and the Yacka's prevailed everywhere.
No Snake sightings, as there was a fair bit of gossip and noise along the way from the troops so this would have moved the snakes on fairly quickly...!
Bird sightings were not abundant as it really was a little too early in the afternoon but we assured the group that the Golden Hour would bring on a pleasant display.
Photography with Birds and Wildlife does require patience, also the need for silence is of paramount. It is very difficult when as I mentioned, we had people from all walks of life who were on board for very different reasons but at the end of the day we had made some firm friendships.
We moved on further now beginning to circle back to where we had begun but first we had to make a stop at Cliffs Waterhole where normally there are an abundant variety of Birds to be seen.
Pelicans, Ducks, and the Australian White Ibis were enjoying the Waterhole as now after the breaking rains it was again full. The Ibis were inquisitive to say the least, all the while watching us from high up on one of those very old gnarly dead gum trees.

Australian White Ibis

Reflections

The reflections in the water were simply exquisite as there was no breeze inside Cliffs Waterhole which is thickly surrounded by masses of sapling Gum trees so once again cameras went into action.

The day was drawing to a close, the light was beginning to fade, the Dragonflies were making the most of it in the still waters, the reflections in the late afternoon were simply magical.

Dragonflies

As we found our way out from Cliffs Waterhole, we all clambered through wire fences where the Kangaroos had managed to break through. Weary from our very long walk especially in the soft sands, all the while climbing over broken boughs from dead trees to ducking under prickly bushes, my thoughts were on a nice hot bath. One gentleman who had purchased a brand new pair of walking boots found that they indeed needed to be broken in, so he actually walked the entire distance with only his socks on his feet. Thank goodness the sand was soft...!
The highlight of Day One were the Western Grey Kangaroos. It was now dusk, it was still and very calm and quiet, we had set out at 1.00pm that day and now all were quite weary, so we stopped a while and watched the Kangaroos waking up from their day of rest as the sun was beginning to go down. Some of us stood and some of us sat but everyone who had a camera was focussed on the Kangaroos...! They were giving us all a grand performance with most grazing on the grasses, some females were feeding their young Joeys who were out of the pouch but the amazing sight was all the boxing going on with the young males. A few older males were meaning business and laying down their territory but mostly it was a Boxing Kangaroo Session that stole the day.


Western Grey Kangaroos

    The Golden Hour ~ The Golden Rule ~ Silence is Golden

As Colin and I ventured out for our second Bird & Wildlife Photography Workshop we realized that it should have been called a Nature Photographic Workshop. Our mostly budding and a couple of skilled photographers were photographing anything and everything that Mother Nature had created. We had had excellent feedback from the week prior that everyone had enjoyed themselves immensely so much so that they would like to form an ongoing photographic, walking and sometimes talking group but Silence really is Golden and necessary when photographing Birds and Wildlife.

The Golden Rule, is more a photographers code: Take Nothing and leave only Footprints, and The Golden Hour, photographing at Dawn and Dusk when most Wildlife is very active so patience is definitely a big plus...!

We met again this time at Old Noarlunga, South Australia and todays Workshop was indeed going to be very different. Today we were going to talk cameras and settings, what the group may have achieved from the week prior, walking around the delightful Old Noarlunga's Onkaparinga River banks and hoping to see a different variety of Birds and maybe the odd Koala or two.

We ventured across the sway bridge, it sways a little to some but when you are trying to take a photo from this bridge and someone is walking across it, it sways quite a lot and no amount of camera shake nor OS is going to stop vibration...... The reflections on this part of the Onkaparinga River are absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth a shot or six..! 

Sway bridge Reflections



 

We came across Monarch Butterflies mating and laying their eggs, we listened to Kookaburras laughing in the trees, not too much around again as it was a bit early in the afternoon so now was that time when patience is a virtue and a must for a Bird and Wildlife Photographer. The Golden Hour was still a few hours away so it was time to walk, chat, compare, watch, listen and learn. We all learnt many valuable examples in the two day Photographic Workshop and sharing knowledge is what Colin and I were giving to this wonderful Group and yes Colin and I also learnt a few more tricks as well.

We came across Ducks, little Grey Teals paddling in the reflection of the waters, it was a great chance to gain some beautiful photography if only for a colourful scene. There was a Darter sunning and drying itself off giving us all a grand display turning and twisting, rotating itself and showing off every angle of its body and wings. Photography was difficult with this bird as there were so many reflections from not only the bird, but the grasses that surrounded it as well.



Australasian Darter (male)

Grey Teal (female)

The day was now progressing on and everyone had seemed to split up. We had little groups everywhere dotted around the town of Old Noarlunga, fortunately mobile phones kept us informed as to the where-about of each person. Today was okay to split up as we had lots of land marks that we could all meet up again at, but in the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park the week prior that was impossible as you could go behind a bush if nature called and bingo, where have all the people gone...!!!!!

The Golden Hour was approaching and the birds were becoming more active, the Kookaburras were really laughing at us now and the Wood Ducks were waddling their way to the River....



Laughing Kookaburra

  

Wood Ducks

The Nankeen Night Herons had been sleeping all day as they are night feeders, unlike most other birds that go to roost at night... We had managed to photograph them when we first arrived at Old Noarlunga, South Australia and for those in the Group who had not seen this species of bird before, well this was a real treat for them. The adult Nankeen Night Heron is a very striking bird and never have I seen one unclean before. They must preen themselves for hours as we did witness this prior to them leaving their daytime roost.



Nankeen Night Heron

Well the time had come and the Golden Hour was upon us, some of the group had gone due to commitments elsewhere, a couple of others gave up as frustration had set in while waiting for Birds to appear but most stayed on patiently. We chatted about cameras and their settings, we chatted about further photographic workshops, one lady asked me if she could take me home with her and Colin, well he shared his wonderful knowledge about "WINE"....

To sum it all up Colin and I had a wonderful time with this enthusiastic group of budding, novices and skilled photographers. They learnt, we shared, they shared, we learnt..!



 Thank you

The Golden Hour

 

Canon EOS 1DX
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

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SUNRISE & SUNSET APPRECIATION

Through the camera lens to Nature's Canvas

The sensational colours that are so pleasing to my eye are always depicted in a Sunset or Sunrise. Where could one possibly gain more pleasure, than from sitting a while soaking up all the colour that explodes across the skies when the sun is rising and when the sun is setting.

I call it the "Golden Hour" 

Maslin Beach ... South Australia

A phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering causes light from the Sun to bounce off tiny particles in the atmosphere and scatter in different directions. Sunlight consists of many different colours from red, which has the longest wavelength of all visible light, through to violet at the blue end of the spectrum which has the shortest wavelength. Blue light is scattered more effectively than the other colours and this is why the sky normally appears blue to us.

At sunrise or sunset, however! When the Sun is low on the horizon the light rays must pass through more of the atmosphere and therefore bounce off more molecules than at other times of the day, this means that more blue light gets scattered away before the light reaches your eyes.

Other colours such as red, orange and yellow can therefore continue to pass through the atmosphere unaffected, creating beautiful colours at the start and end of the day.

Maslin Beach ... South Australia

Maslin Beach ... South Australia

Evening twilight displaying the separation of orange colours in the direction from the sun below the Horizon to the observer and the blue components scattered from the surrounding sky.

Bushfires, pollution, dust, volcanic eruptions will also create spectacular Sunsets and in these two photos below a few days after fires had raged out of control in Victoria February 2009 the skies in Adelaide went blood red.

Maslin Beach ... South Australia  ~  February 14th 2009

My love of photography extends way beyond birds and wildlife. Mother Nature at her best can give any photographer such thrills, whether it be skies, seas, storms, sunlight casting shadows on green and yellow fields, whatever and wherever it may be it is all about being out there and getting that shot...!


 I have always stated, looking through the camera lens you will see Mother Nature's palette, which she has painted onto her canvas for All...!  To simply enjoy that Sunrise and Sunset.
Here are a few canvasses to enjoy ... Cheers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I hope you have enjoyed my gallery of Sunsets and Sunrise, and last but not at all least is a composite of Maslin Beach ... South Australia, photographed 4th March 2014

 

~ Thank you ~

 

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A PHOTOGRAPHER'S DAY OUT:

Wildlife Abounds in the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park

Many times we go out photographing, sometimes we come back with memorable photos! But on occasion we come back with something stunning that tells a tale of excitement, wonder and nature at her best at the same time giving us a workout that no gym could possibly ever give!

While keeping an eye on everything that moves in the air to the ground, occasionally we find something keeping an eye on us!

Southern Boobook ... Ninox novaeseellandiae

We wend our way through the scrub ever watchful for snakes that may slither through the tall grasses or be sunning themselves around broken limbs from trees that are decaying on the ground!

Lizards at times may appear but the danger of snakes is a high risk especially on a hot summers day.

Brown Snake
 

 

Bearded Dragon

Our focus is mainly on sounds, sounds from birds, sounds coming from dense foliage, looking up, looking down! Listening.

It may be the humming of busy bees, the call of a Nankeen Kestrel high up looking for its mate, it may simply be the chewing noise from the Kangaroos feeding from the grass or the trees but whatever it is it is always the sound that gives us a the thrill that some form of wildlife is definitely close by. 

Red Kangaroos abound this wonderful Conservation Park and we have noticed that the more we venture there, the wildlife accept our presence. 

The other day when the temperature was around 43deg this male Red Kangaroo seemed not too interested in me so I sat and rested a while in the shade of a Wattle tree and spent some time enjoying his company.

Red Kangaroo

Wildlife photography for Colin and myself is all about capturing the moment. It can be anything that Mother Nature creates. While I sit in the shade of the Wattle tree Colin is photographing same.
His photography is very different from mine. Colin photographs macro (up close) and the thrill of finding the incredible resin that leaks from these Wattle trees is a reward in itself. It is the beginnings of how Copal/Amber starts. Sometimes he finds insects trapped inside the resin, sometimes it may be a leaf but in all instances each tiny piece of resin that leaks from these trees is spectacular in every shape and form whether it be yellow, pink, red or blue.

Resin from the Wattle tree

From Brown Goshawks soaring high up in the blue skies keeping vigilant in their vast domain to the little Grey Fantails flittering about in the dense growth.
The Red Kangaroos lazing around sharing this amazing park with the Brush-tailed Possums, Short-beaked Echidnas and Bats.
The  Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park is home to an abundant variety of birds and wildlife for all to enjoy.

It is home to a diverse range of rare plants and is recognised as a significant area for the conservation and protection of the region's flora. Situated in the Willunga sub-basin, the Aldinga Scrub is an impressive backdrop of sand dunes, and sand blows (mobile dunes), mallee scrub, remnant red gum forests and closed heaths.
Several walking trails provide fantastic opportunities to enjoy the park's habitat and coastal plant life.
Lacy coral lichen, nardoo, hairy sedge and several species of orchids are among the park's rare species of flora.

Brown Goshawk ... Accipiter fasciatus

Grey Fantail ... Rhipidura albiscapa 

 

 The pleasure of being with nature and being able to share a Photographer's Day Out with everyone is about as good as it gets.
As we leave the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park for the day the sun is beginning to go down and a calm is settling in. The Red Kangaroos are quietly grazing, the Magpies are heralding their magical harmonies, the little birds are all going to roost but we are not alone as eyes from deep within the trees have opened wide watching us leave, and I take my final photo.
 
Barn Owl ... Tyto alba

Gillian and Colin Rayment

 

We wander back to our vehicle past the Aldinga Scrub Wetlands and how could I possibly resist taking just one more photo.

An elegant Australian White Ibis going to roost displaying the Willunga Hills in the background.

 

 THE ARTIST'S PALETTE 

Australian White Ibis ... Threskiornis molucca

 



Canon EOS 1Dx

Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

 

Please come back and visit: www.wingsandwildlifephotography.com.au