This weekend we swagged out at Wilson’s Prom with three other great photographers anticipating a weekend photography adventure.
We started off hunting critters down near the old Yanakie airstrip. We came across a couple of 100lbs, 6-foot tall overpowered chickens doing their thing and keeping a wary eye on us at the same time. You don’t realise how big and powerful Emus are until you are too close to get away if one decided to pound your face in the dirt with its massive clod hopping feet.
Also hanging out in the tall grass were a chilled group of Grey Kangaroos. They were enjoying the very short bit of sunshine we would have on this day.
Inside a boggy gloomy area we ran across this very old, and I’m sure wise, Swamp Wallaby. I kept thinking I have seen this critter before and as we were departing his territory I’m sure I heard him whisper ‘May the Force be with you”.
We went from critter hunting to the Big Drift. I reckon the big drift is aptly named cause it’s exposed head on to howlng winds straight from Antarctica that pushes enough sand around to fill the Grand Canyon, no lie! The winds were certainly roaring and we battled hurricane-force winds to get our shots of this neverending sand vista. I even pulled out the ND filters and tried a little long exposure photography however me and the tripod had trouble staying upright. We left the Big Drift with an appreciation of the sheer power of Mother Nature and nice sandblasted facials. I’m sure we all looked younger that evening.
We retired to our cosy, some would say coffin-like, swags and spent the night drifting in and out of sleep as rain gently drizzled across the top of the swag only inches from my head. We woke before daybreak and set up to capture the sunrise over the Prom. We were delighted with the exact opposite conditions of the previous night - nice, calm and warm. Our early morning rise paid off as we witnessed a gorgeous sunrise.
After breakfast, we adventured down to the walkway through luscious forest to Whiskey Bay. Although we did not find any whiskey in Whiskey bay, we found heaps of Blue Bottles. We got up close and personal shooting macros of these tiny stinging creatures. We had a great morning exploring the Bay with our cameras. However, I’m sure I found the remnants of a Zombie Australasian Ganet in the sand.
On the hike out of Whiskey Bay we passed a Red Bellied Black snake sunning on a rock. The snake was kind enough to remain still while we all took turns getting a few macro shots but we quickly decided that it was best to leave the snake to sunbake and get out of there without the need of antivenom.
All in all it was a great weekend - no one got lost, injured, eaten or maimed and we all came away with new friendships and stunning photos.
