Made this shot about a week ago from the Larkin Street lookout that is located in Waverton, Sydney, Australia. It offers a very beautiful panorama view to the Sydney Harbour, city and the Harbour Bridge. It is one of 12 best photography spots for classical Sydney skyline. It’s probably not a really well known spot, especially among tourists, but it’s definitely worth visiting it.

In the afternoon very nice clouds formed above Sydney so I expected stunning sunset. However wind moved all clouds away from the city. I made a few shots but that wasn’t what I expected. I decided to stay a little bit longer and made this panorama of the city. It was worth doing that as the twilight was quite nice. I really love shooting at twilight. Sometimes I’m asked if such a photo is an HDR. Usually it’s not an HDR, but just proper timing. For those of you who want to learn how to shoot in twilight I can recommend a really good book on that matter: “Below the Horizon. Understanding Light at the Edges of Day” from David duChemin’s Craft & Vision eBook library. Truly speaking literally ANY book from Craft & Vision library worth much more than $5 you spend on it.

More images: Sydney City Stock Images | Sydney Stock Images | Australia Stock Images | Travel Stock Photography

This is actually my third full rainbow panorama. The first one is Two Rainbows above Canola Field near Dubbo (not actually a full one, but double) and the second one is Double Full Rainbows and The Norah Head Lighthouse at Sunset.

More images: Sand Dunes at Dark Point, Myall Lake National Park Images Gallery | Desert and Outback Images Gallery | Australia Landscape Stock Photography.

The Pinnacles is a favourite location in north Ben Boyd National Park. The Pinnacles is a formation which dates back some 65 million years when the soft white sand and its cap of red clay laid the foundations for the subsequent feature which now exists. Viewers can appreciate the beauty of the formation from the opposing cliff or walking right between the walls.

Made this panorama almost 1.5 years ago from 16 wide-angle images.

If you want to get there then go to the Sapphire Coast, NSW. The turn to the Pinnacles is about 10 minutes drive north from Eden. Follow road signs. The road is unsealed but quite well maintained. Park at the Pinnacles car park. Then you need to do a 30 mins easy grade walk. You’ve got two options:
1. Follow the path to the pinnacles and you will get to the lookout on the opposite cliff.
2. Follow the path to the beach, turn right, walk along the beach for about 200 meters and you will get to the down of the Pinnacles. However due to the recent information the beach access from the Pinnacles walk is now closed until further notice due to track maintenance.

The Pinnacles, Ben Boyd NP on Google Maps.

More images: Gallery of The Pinnacles, Ben Boyd National Park Stock Images – Landscape Stock Photography.

This image is kind of lucky one. My friends and I were in Dubbo in Western Plains Zoo a couple of years ago. And I was absolutely unlucky to make decent photos in Zoo. The last day was quite dull and rainy, we were driving back to Sydney and suddenly rain stopped and sun rays started struggling through the clouds. We were somewhere near Wellington and passing canola fields. We did a turn and… the view was absolutely spectacular! Two rainbows were shining on dark stormy sky above sunlit yellow canola field. It was absolutely impossible to not to shoot it. So I made a very nice panorama. A few minutes later we noticed a train approaching. A-ha! I can make a photo of the train and rainbow. It was a real surprise for us as the train was actually Australia’s best known and most widely travelled First 38th (3801) steam locomotive. Double luck!

Late the Double Rainbows photo was selected as a September image for 2009 Australian Weather Calendar, published by Bureau of Meteorology. And recently I was contacted by Channel 9, Adelaide regarding using this image in their weather reports. That’s how it will be looking:

PS. If you click on the top image you will see full panorama.

More about First 38th (3801) steam locomotive on Wikipedia.

More images: Gallery of Country and Rural Stock Images.

The most classical view of Perth downtown from Kings park. Cliché shot. But due to bad weather during my recent trip is was difficult to shot even a cliché. Ten images were made with cheap Nikkor 50/1.8D (still cannot believe that $150 lens produces absolutely superb images) and then stitched with Autopano Pro.

More images: Gallery of Perth, Western Australia Stock Images.

PS. I also would like to apologies for the delay with comments approval and answers. I had very limited access to the Internet during my trip to Perth. But all comments are approved and answered.

Craig’s Hut is located on Clear Hills near Mt.Stirling in the Alpine National Park in Victoria, and was built especially for the film “The Man from Snowy River in 1981. It was called Craig’s after the lead actor, Jim Craig (played by Tom Burlinson) and re-used in the sequel. On 11 December 2006 the Craig’s Hut was burnt down by wild fire. Hut has now been rebuilt by volunteers under the guidance of builder Craig Ogier. However Craig Ogier was criticized because the new hut was built with slightly different design from the original one.

GPS: 37.1086°S 146.5325°E

If you want to get there then have a look at this guide: Circuit Road – Mt.Stirling. This is probably the best driving guide on that region. Travel from Mansfield along the Mt.Buller Rd towards Mt.Buller. Turn left at the Stirling Rd which begins at the toll gate at Mirimbah. This leads to the Telephone Box Junction – entrance to the Circuit Road. The entrance to the Circuit Road via Stirling Rd is approximately 32 km from Mansfield. Drive along the Circuit Road for about 20 km and then turn right to the Clear Hills Track. The Circuit Road is suitable for 2WD cars but the Clear Hills Track is 4WD track. It’s only 1.2 km long so you can walk to the Craig’s Hut if you do not want to drive on Clear Hills Track. The Circuit Road is closed during snow season – first weekend of June till beginning of November.

And many thanks to Matt Lauder for letting everyone know that the hut was recently rebuilt. There is only one problem with that place – it’s really hard to find a new composition for shooting Craig’s Hut. I’ve found that this hut was already photographed from all best spots.

More images: Gallery of Alpine and Mountain Landscapes Stock Images – Landscape Stock Photography.

Probably the last photo from my recent trip to the Gold Coast.

Shot from Evandale park. But actually if you move to the left for a little bit (about 100 or 200 meters) there will be a much better photo spot. Unfortunately I discovered that only when it was too dark for shooting.

More images: Gold Coast Stock Images | Australia Stock Images.

One of the classical views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge. Wanted to make this shot for a long time but always had some other business or shot from other spots. Finally last Sunday I was able to do that. While I was shooting I was bitten by mosquitoes – my hands were itching for two days. The spot was selected by mosquitoes as “the place to stay” – they were swarming right at the best place for shooting.

More images: Sydney Stock Photography.

About 2.5 years ago I already shot of the Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park. But I was there in a dry season and the waterfall was quite weak. This time I came there in rainy weather. You can see the difference.

The Natural Bridge is a naturally formed rock arch over Cave Creek (the headwaters of the Nerang River). It was formed from a waterfall which undercut a cave beneath the waterfall and dug a pothole on top, until the two joined and the creek flowed through the cave, leaving an arch across the front.

To get to the Natural Bridge exit the Pacific Motorway at Nerang (exit 69) and follow the Nerang – Murwillumbah Road for 30km. Turn left into the park entrance. An alternative scenic route is 42km via the Springbrook plateau from Mudgeeraba. From the Pacific Motorway take exit 80 from the south or exit 79 from the north and follow the Gold Coast – Springbrook Road to the plateau then turn right onto Pine Creek Road. Follow Pine Creek Road to the end and then turn left onto the Nerang – Murwillumbah Road. Natural Bridge can also be reached from Murwillumbah by following the Numinbah Road for 36km. The scenic access roads are winding and should be travelled with care.
The waterfall is easily accessible – there is 1 km circuit with sealed walking track.

Springbrook National Park on Wikipedia
Springbrook National Park and Numinbah Forest Reserve

More images: Gallery of Forests, Rainforests and Waterfalls Stock Images – Landscape Stock Photography.

The magnificent Broken Hill Sculpture Park is one of the main tourist attractions and icons of the Australian outback. Twelve impressive stone sculptures are situated on a hill located in The Living Desert Reserve in about 10km north of Broken Hill. The sculptures were carved in 1993 by artists from around the world, under the direction of organiser and artist Lawrence Beck.

For vehicle access to the sculptures you need to obtain a key from the Visitor Information Centre (cnr Blende/Bromide St) prior to departure. $20 need to be deposited and a $10 entry fee applies per vehicle.

Sculptures on the photo (left to right):

• A Present for Fred Hollows in the Afterlife, Laurence Beck, Australia
• Horse, Jumber Jikiya, Georgia
• Angels of the Sun and Moon, Valerian Jikiya, Georgia
• Facing the Day and Night, Eduardo Nasta Luna from Mexico
• Bajo El Sol Jaguar (Under Jaguar Sun), Antonio Nava Tirado, Mexico
• Thomasina (Ibis), Thomas Munkanome, Bathurst Island

The best time for photographing sculptures is around sunset and sunrise. The sculptures are look fantastic at that time.

Broken Hill Visitor Centre
Broken Hill on Wikipedia
The Broken Hill Sculpture Symposium on Google Map

PS. This is not the last image from that session. I’ve got another one made in a few minutes after sunset. I will show it a little bit later.

More images: Gallery of Desert and Outback Landscapes Stock Images.