Gallery Pick of the Week
Instead of just showing pretty pictures only, here we have space for contributors to discuss their images every week.
This is a great opportunity to get some insight from the original photographer and the content is entirely open. It could be anything from the personal feeling of the photographer about the image to any photographic techniques or location knowledge he/she would like to share with our visitors.
Gallery Pick of the Week > March 2010
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When you see an ancient tree (or any others), pay your respect as your great-great-grandparents did because they might have touched the same tree many hundred years ago. If you look harder, their fingerprints might be still on the tree somewhere. |
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The Walls of Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania, 18/3/10, Pele Leung It was dark. It was so dark that I could not see my own fingers even my eyes were wide open. I tried again after closing my eyes for a few minutes but the situation did not improve as there was really... |
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Waterfalls in Australia, 11/3/10, Pele Leung In Australia, water is relatively scarce and the flow of waterfalls is always seasonal. In the north, summer is the wet season, many waterfalls in Northern Territory and northern Queensland would have good flow. Just the opposite, the flow of many waterfalls... |
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Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve - ACT, 4/3/10, Barbara Bryan Tidbinbilla is part of the Australian Alps national parks, a series of parks and reserves that span Australia’s High Country. The Visitors Centre can provide maps and other information for a journey... |
Pele Leung - Trees, 25/3/10
Boab "Prison Tree" in Derby, Western Australia - 1,500+ years old
Tree is an amazing species and has been on Earth for a long time, probably well before anything running on land. Without trees, we probably cannot survive alone as this special species helps to absorb a significant amount of carbon dioxide that we cannot ignore. Apart from the environmental contribution, trees also provide an important resource for human being. In the old days with limited choices of energy sources, trees were simply indispensable. It was simple - no tree (wood), no heat. Although we do not rely on wood as a major energy resource anymore, the uses of trees in other areas such as paper making, construction, everyday goods continue to keep their roles in our life as important as ever.
However, as our civilisation has started to expand enormously from the last century, there is a survival crisis of trees and also other vegetation in our foreseeable scope. Most of forests are either shrinking or simply disappearing and we are losing them quickly. Although some of us have realised this crisis, it seems that we are still losing more trees or forests than what we can re-grow.
Do not simply think removing a tree is just losing a single tree. In fact, we lose much more than this. We also lose all kinds of organisms relying on this tree as it could be a habitat of many other forms of life. Therefore, do not chop down a tree without a good reason as trees are valuable much more than we thought.
A large tree near Stanley, Tasmania
In Australia, trees are quite abundant in some regions. In those regions, we do have a better environment for them to grow. Some tough trees could last for over a thousand years and grow pass the height of many buildings in cities. When I travel for photography I usually visit at least two kinds of spots for each location - the highest point in the vicinity for a better vantage point and the largest/tallest trees in the area too.
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Seeing and touching an ancient tree (usually large in size too) often generates a sensitive and deep feeling for me. Trees are a classical miracle of life and a single tree could witness many human lifetimes. Our lifespan, as human being, is just so short when we compare to that of trees. Trees are our good companions so we have the responsibility to look after them. Next time when you see an ancient tree (or any others), pay your respect as your great-great-grandparents did because they might have touched the same tree many hundred years ago. If you look harder, their fingerprints might be still on the tree somewhere.
Pele Leung - The Walls of Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania, 18/3/10
It was dark. It was so dark that I could not see my own fingers even my eyes were wide open. I tried again after closing my eyes for a few minutes but the situation did not improve as there was really no light out there. I thought the last light has just gone for a few minutes only... To most people from the civilisation, an environment in total darkness does not appear frequently in their everyday life so this was also a new experience to me.
Now I was standing next to my tent with a filled stomach. The dinner was not great - just a hiking powder meal served with hot water. I really did not want to carry any extra weight to this wilderness in the middle of nowhere - its name was Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Yesterday I almost lost my momentum as I felt my backpack had doubled its weight shortly after the commencement of my walk! For climbing up some hills, I had to stop for at least a minute for every ten metres. This drove me crazy and I have almost wanted to drop my pack and surrender. Well, I did not give up so now I left my myself in an even worse situation - in the cold and darkness.
It was only about six o'clock in the evening. As the temperature has dropped quickly, sliding into my sleeping bags (yes, got two sleeping bags) seemed to be a wise decision. So there was not much I could do except chasing for a sweet dream. However, sweet dream never came as the cold condition has exceeded the defensive line of my sleeping bags. Believe me, it was not a pleasant experience. At about half past six in the morning, the heaven sent its first ray to wake up the life around me. After an endless painful night, this gift from mother nature was more than welcome.
Boardwalks, track signs and huts are the only signs of human presence in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park
Tarns in various sizes are quite typical in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park
My first glance to the world outside my tent was amazing and it was attractive enough to start shooting immediately. It was a white world - a lot of snow. Yesterday's drizzle has turned into today's snow. What a fascinating phenomenon. It was not a big deal Pele! Okay, I heard what you said but you should not forget where I came from - Melbourne, a snowless city. Apart from some artificial environments, snow is hardly to be seen in any major cities in Australia.
The weather in Walls of Jerusalem was very unstable. Sunshine could come and go in less than a few seconds. I managed to take only a few shots in the morning sun and had to deal with a cloudy and drizzling condition for the rest of the day. The return journey was slightly better as I have consumed most of my water supplies I carried. Carrying 4kg of water was certainly a mistake as water was basically everywhere and all I needed was a water purifier!
A sunny Walls of Jerusalem is quite unusual even in November
Ancient 1000-year-old pine trees are not uncommon in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park
I learned a lot about hiking after this punishing walk in 2003. Weight and comfort are the most important factors in any overnight walks. Although these two factors seem to be against each other, there is always a balanced point somewhere. In many situations, reducing the weight of your backpack would naturally bring comfort to you. If there is anything outside the must-have list, do not carry it. This is what I learned from my Walls of Jerusalem walk.
Now where is next? There is only one destination - the Overland Track in Tasmania but, of course, this is another story.
Pele Leung - Waterfalls in Australia, 11/3/10
After a long walk, one of the most welcome features we would like to see is probably a waterfalls. It would be even better if we could get close to the bottom of the waterfalls and play with the water. In summer, a waterfalls helps to cool down the surroundings and provides a good rest place for any walks. In Australia, water is relatively scarce and the flow of waterfalls is always seasonal. In the north, summer is the wet season, many waterfalls in Northern Territory and northern Queensland would have good flow. Just the opposite, the flow of many waterfalls in the south would drop down to their minimum, if not completely gone. So remember, if you want to see waterfalls in full volume, go north in summer but go south in winter.
As a photographer, I judge the beauty of a waterfalls by its shape, volume of flow and the supporting elements nearby. The most useful photographic gear to photograph a waterfalls are a tripod and a polarising filter. The former helps you take a hand-shake free photo in low light and the latter reduces the reflection and enhances the saturation of the greenery nearby.
Getting close to a waterfalls sometimes could be easier to say than done. The wet and slippery tracks (if there is any) and rocks could be the real dangerous traps to visitors. Due to the safety concern, many famous waterfalls in national parks are now fenced off and viewing platforms are provided for visitors. In other words, exploring waterfalls and surrounds will be impossible. This fencing strategy has both its merits and drawbacks. In one hand, fencing reduces the possibilities of accidents and also the potential environmental damage to the waterfalls. On the other hand, the waterfalls views are limited. In some situations, the fence constructions do not suit the environment well. In other words, the constructions have already introduced some environmental impacts themselves.
There are numerous waterfalls in Australia and it certainly takes some time to visit even a fraction of them. I was lucky to visit a few dozens of the most famous ones. Here is the ten sample photos of my waterfalls collection. I hope you enjoy one of the best combinations in nature: water and greenery.
Wallamans Falls, Queensland (left) and Hopetoun Falls, Victoria (right)
Russell Falls, Tasmania
Amphitheatre Falls, Victoria
MacKenzie Falls, Victoria (left), Milla Milla Falls, Queensland (middle), Ebor Falls, New South Wales (right)
Katoomba Falls, New South Wales (left) and Nelson Falls, Tasmania (right)
Florence Falls, Northern Territory
Barbara Bryan - Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve - ACT, 4/3/10
Canberra offer much more than many visitors realise! Within a 45-minute drive southwest is the delightful Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve which offers outstanding wildlife and natural experiences.
Tidbinbilla is part of the Australian Alps national parks, a series of parks and reserves that span Australia’s High Country. The Visitors Centre can provide maps and other information for a journey either by car or for choosing from walking trails of many lengths. This country has rolling hills covered in cream-coloured giant rocky tors and rounded boulders.
Aboriginal people have had a continuous association with the Tidbinbilla area for at least 21,000 years. Clans travelled through or stayed in this country for ceremonies etc. The Sanctuary offers fabulous nature based experiences with an excellent wetlands ecosystem surrounded by vermin proof fencing so that visitors can see reptiles, animals and birds quite easily whilst strolling around the sealed walking trails which surround about five lakes and swamps.
Juvenile emus, Musk duck, pelicans, and water dragons are also common to be seen in the reserve.
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