Landscape

Tale of Twelve Apostles

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Grotto, London Bridge, Gibsons Steps and Twelve Apostles – it’s the popular stretch along the Great Ocean Road in south-west Victoria with the great names and unique landmarks.

Breathtaking. The word that comes to mind wandering towards dramatic cliff edges staring on to massive stone formations which sit just off the shore while massive turquoise-blue waves crashing against their outside walls making a sound as loud, forceful and constant as if a Boing 747 is starting right beside you.

When I came down to this part of “Down Under” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I only knew the Twelve Apostles – they are the word famous landmark you have to see once in life. What I got was so much more.

Yes, the 12 Apostles are a breathtaking sight. The sun sets, the day fades away and these massive limestone stacks are illuminated in most beautiful yellow and orange hues – magic of our wonderful planet.

Not so magic: the masses of tourists flogging to the viewpoints with their selfie sticks pushing forward aggressively to get the snap for their trendy social media profile without looking once at what’s actually right in front of their eyes.

They are loud and brash. They give those few who want to appreciate the moment of pure natural beauty no room.

Nothing new. Popular tourist spots look like that wherever you go these days. Though while the masses destroy any atmosphere one could potentially grasp at the Apostles, the same tourists – and most come by bus ona day trip from Melbourne – ignoring all the other magnificent landmarks on the Great Ocean Road.

Those places mentioned at the beginning are solitary. The London Bridge or Arch are breathtaking in their very own right, however. I found them equally as impressive as the 12 Apostles. However with nobody around, just standing their soaking in the atmosphere –  those special moments one remembers forever I truly believe.

What has to be said – and this is to the enormous credit of the Victorian Tourism Board – all these attractions are completely free. Including parking. Even at the Apostles. As it should be…. yet this is not a given thing in our modern world.

As for photography, the Great Ocean Road is a pot of gold. So many potential compositions one can explore. Of course time is the enemy for a photographer on a schedule. If I could only would visit these places again and then at different times.

Nonetheless I feel I made the most of the opportunity – both in termsof  experiencing the rich beauty in the here and now while also getting memorable photographs which will remind me of this trip for days, weeks and years to come.

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Loch Ard Gorge – 17mm, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/40 sec 

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Johanna Beach – 17mm, ISO 100, f/20, 1/25 sec

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Twelve Apostles – 50mm, ISO 100, f/11, 1/200 sec

Top image: Twelve Apostles – 110mm, ISO 100, f/11, 1/13 sec

Hike to the Three Sisters

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Another day dominated by the weather. Not so much by rain, though it lashed for a couple of hours yet a gain – however, while not pleasant, at least you can prepare for it.

What you can’t prepare for is fog. My hopes for getting a grand vista of the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains were literally dissolved in the thickest layers of fog I can remember for quite some time.

The closer & the higher I got towards the Mountains the thicker the fog would become. So thick that it was impossible to get out of the first gear as there was simply nothing, and I means absolutely nothing to see in front.

Consternation. Irritation. Around the National Park Center those few people who made the effort to come up here looked baffled, unsure of what to do next. The great view everyone came for – not gonna happen.

I was here, though, and not prepared to give up. At least a small hike is always possible and with the camera in the bag maybe this would open up more intimate nature to shoot.

And so it did. As touched on in yesterday’s blog, it still holds true every single day: if you make the effort you’ll be rewarded more often than not.

For a brief moment fog gave way to unveil at least parts of the ‘Three Sisters’ and the valley – a brief window of opportunity to get the camera out and get a shot. I managed to find a composition with the fog framing one of these huge rocks with the valley covered in fog and clouds on the other site of the frame (feature image above).

Minutes later it was all gone and a thick mush of grey was back were it was before.

Panoramic Puerto de Mogan

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Gran Canaria, October 2016

Only one way out

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A drive through the spectacular Barranco de Guayadeque is an experience to saviour – but not if you’re behind the wheal of a car. Only one narrow road is leading up the mountains and back down to the sea. Take your eyes off and the end is near.

Out of the Cave

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Hiking the Roque Nublo was the initial goal, but turned out to be a mission impossible. The iconic mountain of Gran Canaria is fully covered in thick layers of fog. Rain is relentless, lashing down from the dark sky.

I’m soaked, seeking shelter, so I climb up right into the dry safety of a cave inside a gigantic rock formation. Little holes in the wall, some filled with little sticks and leaves combined to nests.

So far I didn’t get a single shot. No point getting the cam out. Light’s bad, rain’s bad, visibility’s bad. I turn around and the whole beauty of the forest presents itself in front of me, fittingly framed by the walls of the cave. Finally an image!

Apocalyptic Degollada de La Yegua

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Standing atop the Mirador Degollada de La Yegua, mother nature’s force in full swing – one could imagine how it feels  when the time has come and the end is near.

Standing there at sunset hour? Anyone can do that. Standing there when the winds reach 100 miles an hour and the rain hits your face hard? You got to be devoted.

Gran Canaria, October 2016 

Guayadeque Tree

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Just back from a ten day long trip to Gran Canaria. No Internet, no phone, just the focus and the beauty of the island. A full blog on the trip will follow in the next couple of days – for now I only want to share the experience on this photo:

Hiking the Barranco Guayadeque at this time of the year can cause surprises. The sun was sky high when starting the hike, though things turned for worse midway through. Thick fog and heavy rain made life miserable.

Nonetheless I vowed myself on the way down that I would get my cam out at this one place where human history and nature meet in a compelling play of colour and force. Despite lashing, I got to shoot some interesting compositions – this one the one I loved most.

This lonely three, a stand out there for its wonderfully green leaves, as if it would say: I’m strong; I’m standing here proud and loud. Rain, wind and fog – you can have my a**!

Night falls at Dublin Bay

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Mullacor Mountain Hike

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Rain soaked, covered in mud, the shoes filled with ice cold mountain water, the legs hurt, the lungs make strange noises….but it’s totally worth it! Because up here there’s nobody else. It’s only you, the rain, the wind, the sun and the odd double rainbow!

I just survived the latest downpour in my quest to concur Mullacor Mountain – one of the easier hikes in the Wicklow Mountains National Park – in dismay I look at those heavy rain clouds which made my last half an hour so miserable.

But then, suddenly and certainly out of nowhere, the sun is back! In fact, at the exact place where only minutes ago I was cursing mother nature, now a glowing stream of vibrant colours  forms the most stunning double rainbow.

It’s those moments that are reward for the one who makes the effort to go out into the wild, to explore what the world around us feels and tastes.

At the same time it makes me realise – quite literally – that day in day out I’m actually just sitting in front of a brightly glowing screen and start losing a sense for the real world out there.

So, memo to myself: go out more often! Let’s try this right away…….

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Unknown Beauty – Three Castle Head

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Three Castle Head – also known as Dunlough Castle – is a truly special place. Located right on the tip of the Mizen Peninsula in  the south of Ireland it offers breathtaking views – but be warned, you don’t get there easily.

Well, special place warrant special journeys, I guess. To find your way to the castle you have to take a short but steep and strenuous hike through the hills. And when you think there’s nothing to find, then, quite suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, this hidden gem appears down in a protected valley.

It’s a place of unspoiled nature, yet magnificent history with the castle being one of the oldest Norman castles in southern Ireland, dating back to 1207.

What I love most about this place: not many tourists know about it! When I was there none else was there – on what was during the heights of the tourist season on a late afternoon. This place is so far out there and tricky to reach – seemingly too much for the conventional tourist.

But that might be a blessing in disguise for the area itself and for those who how take the effort to explore this hidden gem.

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