Lillies, Little Towns and Landslides

Guest blog by Anita Bromley

I would like to think that I’ve seen enough of the world and Australia for that matter to not be surprised about what I’d see heading ‘out west’ with Danielle for the weekend. And no, I haven’t been surprised. A better word would be ‘reassured’. Reassured about this wonderful country we live in, the wonderful people that inhabit it and the wonderful adventures you can have just a few hours from home.

Danielle and I headed off from Brisbane yesterday and our first official ‘let’s take some photos’ stop was at Miles, half way into our day. I have both heard about and seen images of a rare water Lilly now extinct in its natural habitat. After Danielle last headed out this way I was mighty impressed on hearing how Therese braved the creek to get up close to the Lillies. My stance was “I’ll leave the wading up to chest height in unknown waters to Therese thanks Danielle…..I’ll grab my zoom lens!”

Now extinct in the wild, these rare water lillies thrive in
Chinaman's Lagoon on the outskirts of Miles.
Image by Anita Bromley

After snapping off a few shots we continued up to Injune were we were thankful to be invited to stay with good friends of Danielle’s - Puddy & Daggy – on their station. With a day’s worth of travel behind us we arrived just before sunset. Being my first road trip with Danielle I was eager to capture the amazing sunsets I’ve seen from out west, however the clouds had gathered thickly and our sunset shooting was off the agenda for the night. What to do? Settle in and enjoy the hospitality of some amazing people.

Our accommodation for the night is affectionately called The Hilton by many who have stayed there and I have to admit I had a better night’s sleep than I’ve had at many ‘real’ Hiltons, so I think we need to upgrade the nickname! For those that loved Augustine’s frog image last week, there are many, many green frogs up this way also. As an avid frog lover myself, this was one part of the trip I had renewed interest in after seeing that cute image on the blog last week. And hey, what’s a country experience if not having a green frog under your toilet seat :)

The 'Hilton' taken by Anita on an iPhone4

Following the above mentioned good night’ sleep we were roused from our slumber by Daggy, calling out to us from the back deck. Big rain was on the way and we had better get going before the dirt road out got too slippery and we were stuck there for the day (or month). Given the amount of red wine that was in stock Danielle and I exchanged a knowing look. We both agreed getting stuck on this amazing this property with such hospitable hosts would not be such a terrible thing…. However there were places we needed to go and so up we jumped, quickly grabbing our gear and hopped in the Bluedog truck.

Not two minutes later we were sliding and slipping down the road. The best description of the ‘greasy’ road was just that ‘greasy’. Danielle had the steering wheel working overtime until we literally slid sideways into one section of the road. After a few minutes of trying to get out of our little predicament we agreed that we were stuck. What to do next? Well as Danielle headed back up the hill to find mobile coverage to call for help I did what all avid photographers do, grabbed the camera! Thankfully just a few minutes later a knight in a shining ute, also skidding down the hill towards us, hooked us onto a tow chain and pulled us to safety. Thank you Sir Hugh!

Bogged we were! Image by Anita Bromley

Danielle then reassured me that adventure is always on the agenda on a rural trip. So we headed back off on the sturdy non slippery bitumen road for Rolleston – our destination for the weekend. But alas, what good adventure movie have you watched lately that simply ends after the first dramatic scene? Just 20 minutes out of Injune the trusty Bluedog truck lost gear….argh, what’s going on now? We were forced to pull up in the middle of the road and push the car to a safe area off to the side while a helpful passerby stopped for assistance (they breed them well up here). Thankfully the fix was quick and we ventured the remaining distance incident free.

Now for those that don’t know my history with Bluedog, a quick recap on my experiences – whilst in Vanuatu an earthquake occurred and we received a Tsunami warning and needed to head for the hills to safety, ANOTHER Tsunami warning was received the morning we were due to depart on the Stradbroke Island Tour last year and now heavy rain on the Rolleston remote trip……I’m thinking my career with Bluedog is on shaky grounds due to a weird connection I have with bad weather…..surely I don’t have that much power with Mother Nature, do I? I think we’ll just have to wait and see how the weekend pans out. Wish me luck!

Photography Style - Is it Important?

By Danielle Lancaster
While looking through some images yesterday, I was reminded of one thing I preach.

‘Each time you pick up the camera, work on your style.’

The topic, ‘having your style’ has been niggling at photographers since the first capture. Why is it so important? Do so many aim to be a Master of the Lens? And if so, what does this mean?

Being a master, I believe, is having an eye for light and composition and an element of Lady Luck on your side. It comes firstly from patience.

Each time I pick up my camera I aim to gain at least one image for a folio and hence this image catching my eye yesterday. It fits perfectly into my framing folio.

Folios can be comprehensive. A couple of mine are: frames; portraits, wildlife, textures.....the list goes on and yes you would expect that after 20+ years in the industry. However, each time I pick up my camera, no matter for fun or work, I aim to push myself to add at least one image to a folio. Then I have succeeded in pushing myself another step. Do you?

Image (C) Danielle Lancaster 2010
Injune, Queensland, Australia

Bluedog Photography Heads to Injune and Carnarvon Gorge - Day 5 - 7

Better late than never and we are still before 12 midnight:

We returned to ‘Cobbadah’ homestead last night after two days in Carnarvon Gorge and of course ‘out of contact’. Before we left for our trip to Carnarvon the Bluedog truck had to go through a wash down to rid it of any Parthenium – a weed of national significance that has invaded much of the country side here. Unfortunately it looks a lot like Baby Breath and therefore often picked by tourists and easily transported to other regions.

Then a quick stop at Injune to stock up on necessitates such as chocolate, picnic bars, yes a little fruit and easy snacks to carry for our hikes we then headed further north into the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt.

Our first stop on the way was to a site on the Dawson River where Aboriginals sat hundreds of years ago sharpening their axes and spears. Imprinted in the rocks alongside the river the ancient grooves were readily recognisable.

We obviously forgot to tell Jake the bit about the ancient part as he was very excited to look at buying his Dad an axe from the ‘axe factory’ and after a 15 minute walk into the site and his comment, ‘so will they be open now?’, we realised we maybe could have explained this better.

We also explored a ‘possumer’s’ cave used during the depression when local men would hunt possums for their skins. These caves built within the sandstone under hangs were used to dry skins by using cyanide when the season was officially closed. Protected by the elements of weather the man made caves looked like they had been built yesterday.

Onto Carnarvon we went with Jake all the time learning more and more Australian history and eagerly listening to Puddy who had joined us telling many stories of life on the land. We were also joined by Darren Mansfield who had done the photography workshop and just returned from Cambodia doing volunteer work.

Over the next two days we explored Carnavon Gorge and all its wonders: the Moss Garden, the amphitheatre, saw ancient palms, giant King Ferns, numerous birds, whip tail wallabies, a very fat green tree snake and Darren was disappointed to find the walk to Aljon Falls, one of his favourite child hood Carnarvon haunts, near Wards Canyon now closed.

It was almost sunset when we emerged from the gorge yesterday afternoon and the air was already taking on the coolness of early autumn. The drive back to the property took us almost two hours of dodging roos, missing cattle by a hair and whisker and more eager chatter amongst us all.

We bid Puddy and Daggy farewell this morning and headed into Roma to the fat cattle sale as my travelling companions had never been to a cattle sale before. Therese went hunting for hectares in earnest and I for candid character portraits. Once again cameras were clicking away by all of us.

As we head home today we are reminiscing on our trip: the highlights outweigh the negatives – actually there are no negatives. Therese has taken the wheel so I can finish our blog and is steering the Bluedog truck on a course due east.

I have trialled a new tripod – the first day cursing and swearing at it and nearly throwing it into the next paddock until I realised what it could do. The first on the market designed by a women and I’m keen to put it through more paces. We tested 2 Lowpro bags – one may yet stay in the kit.

Jake has had a steep learning curve in rural life and Australian history. He now knows what a Birdsville is, that Bourke and Wills have done more than make swags, and there is life beyond the Sunshine Coast hinterland. He has taken the sledging on board and given plenty himself. And while we do give him heaps he is an enthusiastic student and I am proud of my choice in he and Augustine – they will indeed make a formidable team.

We must thank the people of Injune – your fabulous hospitality will see us return to your wonderful country town and thanks to everyone that has followed our blog. Next week another trip is planned to.......

Roma Sale Yard Character Portrait
By Danielle Lancaster

The Amphitheatre
By Danielle Lancaster

We bid farewell to ‘Cobbadah’
Photo by Puddy Chandler 

A micro section of the Moss Gardens.

Photo by Danielle Lancaster

And how did this get in?
On the track through Carnarvon with Darren Mansfield in background.
Photo by Jake Campbell

Bluedog Photography Heads to Injune and Carnarvon Gorge - Day 3

Day 3 started for us at the end of Day 2 as we saw midnight come and go sitting under the stars on a nearby hill - yes we could hear the dingoes. The shooting star count was won by Therese who also discovered a new essential to take on any star trail shoot you do. As you may already know a bottle of fine red is a fundamental; we'll now add to that a requirment to wear red clothing - the stains from Therese spilling more than what went in her mouth are a testament to this.

Jake learnt photographers do long hours and the teen who needs so much sleep has now done a day with less than four hours sleep. It has been worth it as Jake nailed his first star trail and he keeps telling us, ‘it’s totally sick’. He’s on a steep learning curve: he now knows what the Southern Cross looks like, how to wash dishes (we hope his Mum is proud), how to resize images for the blog, and that cattle here are bred for meat not milk.

The countryside around Injune is the prettiest I have ever seen it. The rolling hills carpeted in an endless green of waving long grasses that reach upwards and nearly hide the cattle growing fat in their rich pastures. A heavy band of cloud hid Mount Hutton when we awoke this morning threatening more rain may be on the way. In fact, as we headed out of Injune a few rain drops splattered across the windscreen.

One of our main subjects today for photography was road kill and we can now add a Wedge Tail Eagle and Dingo to our list of road kill images and a wedgy feather now adorns the vent inside the Bluedog Discovery.

A highlight today for Therese was checking out the local ‘talent’ at the Injune Hotel. She found two hopefuls (see below!) but I took the opportunity to decline any offers.

We are now settled back at the homestead With Daggy and Puddy now back from their sojourn to Brisbane and yes we have a wine in our hands and are ready for another adventure tomorrow.

Therese chatting up the talent at the Injune Hotel.
'On the Tune'.
Photo by Jake Campbell.

Jake taking the oppurtunity to get a photo of
a sleeping birdie.

Photo by Danielle Lancaster.

Doggie having a nanna nap - we have to stop Jake writing captions.
Photo by Jake Campbell.

Jakes first star trail.

Photo by Jake Campbell.

Bluedog Photography Heads to Injune and Carnarvon Gorge - Day 2

I’ve just come in and 8 working dogs have been let off for a run, fed and either tied up or are back in their cages. The moon, a mere crescent, hangs low in the sky and from a nearby hill we can hear the dingoes howling.
All part and parcel of our caretaking on the property we are staying on west of Injune.

Coming back to Injune has meant catching up with friends and making new acquaintances at a Bluedog Beginner Workshop today. Any workshop at Injune is always accompanied by a great selection of home-baked goodies - these ladies know how to cook and keep our tummies full - many thanks!

Lunch seems to be a pub tradition and we headed for the Injune Hotel where Kay and Jodie looked after us all. This historic pub always has ringers, farmers and locals around ready for a friendly chat and to spin a yarn.

The workshop was challenging - no two cameras were the same. However that did not allow anyone the chance not to participate with the sparklers, as always being a huge hit - even for Therese.

For the first time during an Injune workshop we had an outing to the newly opened Henrick’s Park. The sandstone sculptures carved by locals mimic that of the surrounding Central Queensland Sandstone Belt including Carnarvon Gorge. This has to be a tourism feather in Injune’s growing crown. If you pass this way don’t miss stopping and having a look.

So what other highlights have we had today? For Jake as usual it is the food - he continually grazes and I am threatening to place him on a strict diet and exercise routine on our return. We restrained him from his pledge this morning of ‘going mental in the Spar’ (the local food store).

Therese and Jake continue their teenage bantering - a compliment for Therese who seems to relish in coming back with something quirkier then Jake each time. It’s a healthy competition I see gaining more momentum till our last leg of this journey.

The biggest highlight would have to be the wildlife. Huge wedge tailed eagles, roos and wallabies (we narrowly missed one this morning travelling into town) a bustard at the front gate and many more birds.

And tonight more wildlife awaits as we head to a nearby hill where we can hear the dingoes howling for a series of night photography shots. Of course us ‘big girls’ have a bottle of red ready to sample as it is a fundamental equipment requirement for any night shoot and yes Jake has a bag of food packed.

All photos by Therese Lillis

Danielle doing what she does best.
(shes not telling a joke)

Photo by Therese Lillis

And they tell us they are working!

Hanging with the locals.

Relaxing after a hard day at the homestead.

Bluedog Photography Heads to Injune and Carnarvon Gorge - Day 1

Our first day on the road has been a big one! We left the mountain with the Bluedog truck not quiet packed to capacity a little before 5.30am. This was an hour after we had scheduled, and for that we can thank Miss Augustine and maybe a bottle or two of fine red while packing last night - am still wondering what clothes I may have packed.

The run down the highway was uneventful except for Therese and I rating the tradies on their way to work - she’s a tough one on that! Then it was up the range to Toowoomba and beyond onto the long open roads and westward bound into the wide open spaces.

It’s been a day of new discoveries and new photography adventures for my travelling companions. Jake and Therese ventured into the water Steve Parish style photographing a water lily now extinct in its natural habitat at Chinaman’s Lagoon in Miles.

“This was sick. I would never have done this if Danielle had not ‘pushed’ me to do it. If I went there I would normally put my big lens on and just shoot from the bank and by going in I could try different angles and get a better shot,” said Jake.

Jake saw his first eagle in the wild, we photographed grass trees on a sandy remote track north of Roma, spotted camels and no doubt Therese and I have educated our junior travelling companion in many topics of interest outside of photography.

We are now settled on a 30,000 acre property north west of Injune at the foot of the magnificent Central Queensland Sandstone Belt. Our abode for the night is the “Tin Hilton’ (the shearer’s quarters) Mt Moffett looms high behind us, the dingoes are howling and the stars are twinkling so we are set for some star trails later tonight. Check you all tomorrow!

Please note: all images are being shot in RAW and jpeg but we are not editing on the road so only unedited jpegs are being loaded.

Jake  goes "Steve Parish' style to capture a rare water lily.

Therese does not hesitate and hits the cool water to photograph the rare lilies.
(If Therese had not done this we may have had to push Jake!)

The Bluedog vehicle along the Graften Terrace Track north of Roma in Queensland.