Green Valleys in Spring

The hills of South Australia have a seasonal range of colour values, from a green so rich you’d think it was Ireland, in the wet months, to their characteristic yellow-grey in the harshest summer months. Depending on elevation and what sort of season we get, their nature can vary a lot at the same time of year. This is the stud farm at Hope Valley, in the southern hills, photographed on October 9^th, 2022, one of our three consecutive La Nina years. The landscape is still appreciably lush, though spring is well matured and what should be the hot weather is just around the corner. But in these times of strange weather patterns there seem no hard and fast rules any more. This is a medium telephoto shot, framing up the horses in their paddocks against the house on the hill for a very picturesque composition. Contrast, colour and sharpness were adjusted slightly. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

 

Aussie Skies

As I’ve mentioned a few times, Australia can turn on the most amazing skies. We live not far from the sea but can weather-up from almost any direction, and when storms roll in they can range from the merely spectacular to the downright scary. I captured this frame in my front street, looking north-west on September 2^nd, 2016 (one day after my first short story was published—what an ocean of water has gone under the bridge since then!) The palms add to the tropical feel—nothing is as exotic to a northerner born than the sight of great, fronded palms nodding in a breeze against dark and angry skies, with, nonetheless, sunshine in the foreground. The image is already very contrasty and the colours are true to the moment, so the only enhancement was a touch of sharpening. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

 

An Ancient Seaway

As so long elapsed prior to posting the last picture, I’ll post two on consecutive days to catch up.

I recorded this image during my expedition to Tynemouth Castle and Priory, Monday, November 15^th, 2010. I had caught the bus north from Sunderland, then taken the ferry across the Tyne and walked out to the headland, where the Medieval ruins are preserved as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. This has been a busy artery of trade since time immemorial, and remains a major maritime town to this day. The weather was perfect, sunny and mild, and the sea and river were perfect rippled reflectors. This view looks directly out into the North Sea, and the lighthouse is at the end of the north breakwater of the river mouth. I remember the day very well, and the photographic record forms a visual diary, with many excellent shots worth a look.

The image was adjustment slightly, gamma value, contrast, saturation and sharpness receiving minor tweaks. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

 

Long View

This is the view from the top of Mt Alma, South Australia, looking southwest toward an amazing Southern Ocean skyscape. I’ve been over that road many times, and one can never keep going without stopping to photograph the view. From farm lakes that make patches of sky in the landscape, to the rolling countryside and ever-changing cloudscape, it’s one of the best vantages around. Look south-east, you see to Lake Alexandrina, look west there are dark forests... I took this frame on July 1^st, 2018, on a family expedition around the southern vales--the country is wearing its winter green, such a change from the parched summer yellows. The image was enhanced a little, with increase in contrast and colour, decrease in gamma value and a little sharpening. I chose not to square up the skyline, as the angle of the road makes it a bit vertiginous at the best of times. Just a snap, but what a view! Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

Misty Forest

Nature can turn on some amazing views, not all of them grand vistas of sea or sky. Some can only be glimpsed by being “inside” the weather, such as happened on this expedition, a drive through Adelaide’s southern hills on the 14^th of July, 2023. The weather was thick and clouds were hugging the hills, so when ascending from the low-lying vineyards of the McLaren Vale Wine Region into the grey overcast, one found oneself in the densest mist in a long time. An excellent opportunity for a shoot was found on a graded track near Range Road West, where the gnarled gums, frozen in their apparent writhing gesticulation in the hazy airs, created a distinctly primordial feeling. Minimal image processing was used. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.