I somehow missed this when it came out, but glad I got caught up! Great adventure! The forest there looks so lush. The black and white photos are striking and I’m now considering making more of my own. Thanks!
No problems Erik - I am always behind on my reading on SubStack. Thank you, it was a great trip. I am doing more BNW although on this occasion I knew they would be BNW at the time - the light was bright but basically monochromatic anyway.
Erik, on my Sony's mode dial I have Manual and 3 custom buttons. I set Manual to black and white (the BW creative mode with 1 stop more contrast, the custom buttons are my standard colour modes) - this allows me to view the world as black and white, which really brings the tonal composition to the fore. I let the colours do whatever - I can process a colour image as they are captured in the RAW file.
Great images! Curious if you've ever seen these rainforests in the snow, if snow does ever reach these elevations at all. (Strzelecki Peak on Flinders Island, with some rainforest patches just below, does get snow occasionally - I missed that, but there were still blocks of ice trapped between the leaf bases of some tree ferns.)
Thanks Darren. I have (see an earlier post called Snowtime), although I have never seen a rainforest with a really good coverage of snow. The tree cover and, I suspect, the shelter from the steep valley sides have always made it a bit patchy - which makes for difficult photography. However, I know a couple of spots at pretty high elevation - now I just need to wait for a big southerly cold system!
One of my college profs said he was in a NZ tree fern forest during a snow storm - makes for a neat mental image at least! (And maybe a bit more likely at that latitude.)
Beautiful shots and it sounds like a tough hike in a beautiful spot. Love the water shots, and your black & white images are gorgeous. Nothing like a hike in the woods, or amongst nature with your camera.
Great story James, and I really like your honest approach to writing about photography! I take my camera everywhere but sometimes just don't manage to make an image that I'm happy with.
Much appreciated Trevor. One of the best skills I have developed over the years is that I almost always come away with something. Perhaps its about learning to adapt to what is in front of you? And if I don't, at least I've learnt something.
Great post, James! I enjoyed reading your account of a challenging trek through the forest and then stating that you were “having the best time”! I’ve had similar experiences where I may have started a journey with the goal of bringing back beautiful images, but that goal became secondary to my joy of simply being in a beautiful landscape. That being said, I loved your color water images, and the first B&W photo is wonderful.
I knew it was the Yarra Valley or Ranges at first view. Nice work.
Thanks Alan - you are spot on. I spend a lot of time in Victoria's Central Highlands - it's a pretty special part of the world.
Magical!
I somehow missed this when it came out, but glad I got caught up! Great adventure! The forest there looks so lush. The black and white photos are striking and I’m now considering making more of my own. Thanks!
No problems Erik - I am always behind on my reading on SubStack. Thank you, it was a great trip. I am doing more BNW although on this occasion I knew they would be BNW at the time - the light was bright but basically monochromatic anyway.
I’ve made some monochrome photos, but it has always been an afterthought during processing. I think the best ones have that in mind from the start.
Erik, on my Sony's mode dial I have Manual and 3 custom buttons. I set Manual to black and white (the BW creative mode with 1 stop more contrast, the custom buttons are my standard colour modes) - this allows me to view the world as black and white, which really brings the tonal composition to the fore. I let the colours do whatever - I can process a colour image as they are captured in the RAW file.
Woah! My camera has a black and white mode and programmable settings, too. That’s something I’ve never explored before!!
Your black and white images are stunning, James!
High praise indeed, given the quality of your BNW images Susanne. Thank you.
I enjoyed following your journey, James. Some lovely images too.
Thank you Susan.
Great images! Curious if you've ever seen these rainforests in the snow, if snow does ever reach these elevations at all. (Strzelecki Peak on Flinders Island, with some rainforest patches just below, does get snow occasionally - I missed that, but there were still blocks of ice trapped between the leaf bases of some tree ferns.)
Thanks Darren. I have (see an earlier post called Snowtime), although I have never seen a rainforest with a really good coverage of snow. The tree cover and, I suspect, the shelter from the steep valley sides have always made it a bit patchy - which makes for difficult photography. However, I know a couple of spots at pretty high elevation - now I just need to wait for a big southerly cold system!
One of my college profs said he was in a NZ tree fern forest during a snow storm - makes for a neat mental image at least! (And maybe a bit more likely at that latitude.)
The black and white photographs are great James.
Thank you Shital. At the time, I knew they would be black and white.
Beautiful shots and it sounds like a tough hike in a beautiful spot. Love the water shots, and your black & white images are gorgeous. Nothing like a hike in the woods, or amongst nature with your camera.
Absolutely Bob. I am very fortunate to be able to get out there as often as I do. Thank you.
Great story James, and I really like your honest approach to writing about photography! I take my camera everywhere but sometimes just don't manage to make an image that I'm happy with.
Much appreciated Trevor. One of the best skills I have developed over the years is that I almost always come away with something. Perhaps its about learning to adapt to what is in front of you? And if I don't, at least I've learnt something.
Great post, James! I enjoyed reading your account of a challenging trek through the forest and then stating that you were “having the best time”! I’ve had similar experiences where I may have started a journey with the goal of bringing back beautiful images, but that goal became secondary to my joy of simply being in a beautiful landscape. That being said, I loved your color water images, and the first B&W photo is wonderful.
Thanks Todd. So true - sometimes, in my drive for images, I need to remind myself that it is the being there that is most important.