A day on the beach

Words and Images by Danielle Lancaster

I awoke yesterday to grey skies and rain gently falling on the roof. Thankfully this did not spell doom and gloom for our day on the beach as by the time we manoeuvred the 4WD down (after a short stop in the Scribbly Gum forest) onto the beach clear skies were there to greet us.

Fraser Island’s Seventy File Beach has become a major drawcard for anglers, campers and four wheel drivers. Being a Sunday there were plenty of people throwing in lines, families relaxing along the pristine Eli Creek and plenty of four wheel drivers weaving their way back and forwards.

The beach itself is a designated road, as are all the tracks on Fraser so normal road rules apply. The only difference to this section of beach is you share the ‘road’ with planes which have right away.

The Pinnacles are most probably the best examples of coloured sands on the island. For those keen shutter bugs morning is the best time to visit while the sun still shines on their multi-coloured layers.

Our stop at the Maheno was perfectly timed. A landmark of the beach, its rusting hull seems to have everyone pulling out cameras. Thankfully we timed our stop so we had the old ship to ourselves. Due to its state getting in close is warned against though one can still capture fabulous images of its textures from the recommended 3m distance simply by zooming in. 

 

The rusting hull of the Maheno on Fraser Island 

The day was topped off by a dingo sighting and a top tick on most lists to see while visiting the island. The dog happily trotted around are vehicle and others, sniffing at tyres and bull bars and when satisfied there was nothing there for him, continued his jaunt down the beach. 

A lone Dingo dog trots along the beach.

With sand in our toes, a touch of red in our cheeks we headed back for ‘home’ (currently Kingfisher Bay Resort) and toasted the Gods of Fraser for our great day out on the beach.

 Bolts and coloured rust of the Maheno gives fabulous textures

Happy Birthday Kingfisher Bay Resort: 20 years!

We are back on Fraser Island! One of my favourite places on Earth and to Kingfisher Bay Resort, this year celebrating 20 years on the heritage-listed island.

This world recognised eco-island resort, designed by Queensland architects, constructed from local materials and built by local builders and artisans, was first conceived at a time when ecotourism wasn't even a word.

Kingfisher Bay Resort's main pool designed to mimic Lake McKenzie
Image courtesy Kingfisher Bay Resort.

The first part constructed was the jetty, still a favourite location of ours for photographing sunset. At 250 metres long it is built from mixed eucalypt piles, mainly spotted gum, with satinay planks and beams.

Kingfisher Bay Resort's jetty stretches 250metres into the channel.
Image courtesy Danielle Lancaster

During construction of the resort two tropical cyclones hit in 1991 causing major water damage, however they rallied on. More than 600 workers were employed on the site at the peak of construction which was completed on time with the resort welcoming its first guests on the 16th July 1992.

Much research went into the design of the resort, and the dedication shows. All buildings are below the tree line and hidden in the natural bush land. You don’t even see the resort until you actually arrive at the front door. Even the curving tin roofs of the buildings mimic the rolling sand dunes of the island.

So to celebrate they have been busy upgrading. One innovative item we are keen to try out is the new trendy menu by Chef Kenneth Clapham and his team in the kitchen. Tonight for us it’s the seafood buffet!

For us, as photographers,  one of the biggest assets of the resort is its affiliation with nature. Almost around every corner is a wonderful glimpse into the natural environment of Fraser Island: the largest sand island on the planet Earth. Birds are abundant, frogs croak filling the night air, wildflowers bloom alongside tall eucalypt trees and dragon flies busily buzz over the lagoons. Yes, we do love Fraser and Kingfisher Bay Resort. Well done and happy birthday to all those that have made this available for all of us to enjoy.

Check out the birthday specials on offer:

* Available from 23/07/2012 to 31/10/2012. Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

HOTEL STAY

Stay in the Awinya and Boomanjin hotel wings, bordering natural bushland and mirror lakes on

stunning Fraser, for just $200 per person (twin share).

Inclusions:

• 2 nights' hotel accommodation (with complimentary upgrade)

• passenger ferry transfers

• daily buffet breakfast

• spa room upgrade

• bottle of wine.

Plus a $20 room credit (per room, per night) to spend on food and beverage, touring or pop towards

a treatment at our natural therapies salon during your stay. It's their present to you!

VILLA STAY

Relax in self contained villas set in natural bushland with all the creature comforts of home as well

as being close enough to all of the resort's amenities. The perfect retreat for family and friends plus

prices are cut for the birthday celebrations to just $200 per person (quad share) in a two - bedroom

Villa.

Inclusions:

• 2 nights' villa accommodation

• walk-on ferry transfers

• daily breakfast

• bottle of wine

• spa room upgrade and

• $20 villa credit (per villa, per night) to spend on food and beverage, touring or at the

Kingfisher Natural Therapies salon during your stay.

Enjoy Fraser and Kingfisher Bay Resort!

Checking out the wild life around the resort during a night walk.
Image courtesy Danielle Lancaster

Shipwrecks, Sand Blows, Scribbles and Scenic Lookouts

Yes I am running a day behind with our Fraser blogs so you’ll all have to wait til tomorrow to hear about our adventures with the humpbacks.

Yesterday, our day exploring the Eastern Beach was a huge day and another that turned out perfect with the weather. Amazing clouds graced the sky; we were treated to a magnificent sunset and had a little birthday party for one of our crew.

After a stop in the Scribbly Gum Forest and another tutorial we headed onto 75 Mile Beach with perfect timing with the outgoing tide making our journey along this designated road an easy drive down to the Pinnacles and its coloured sands. We stopped to capture paper dasies and play games with reflections and at Indian Head where we hiked to the top we were rewarded with sightings of whales, turtles and colourful finches and wrens – the last two had our keen birdo photographers eagerly snapping. 

 Judith, Leah and Caitlyn photographing the Paper Dasies

Image by Danielle Lancaster

Pretty Paper Dasies

Image by Danielle Lancaster

By now the sky was really looking like it may do some ‘trippy’ things for the arvo so we headed back to the Maheno as now the light would be better to capture her sitting silently on the beach.

Did you know that between 1856 and 1935 there have been 23 recorded shipwrecks in Fraser Island waters? Even the island is named after shipwreck victim Eliza Fraser. And we all love a good shipwreck story don’t we?

 The S.S. Maheno

Image by Danielle Lancaster

The S.S. Maheno, which is undoubtedly the most famous and has become a landmark on the island came to grief beaching near The Pinnacles in 1935. Her story is not an overly glamorous one. Built in 1905, it was one of the first turbine-driven steamers. She plied a regular route between Sydney and Auckland until she was commissioned as a hospital ship in Europe during World War One.

In 1935, she and her sister ship the Oonah were sold to Japan for scrap. The rudders of the boats were removed and they were being towed to Japan. When they reached Queensland Waters, a cyclonic storm snapped the tow chain and the Maheno drifted helplessly onto Fraser Island's ocean beach.

During World War Two the wreck was used for air force target practice and the Z Force Special Unit used her to practice with limpet mines prior to the raid on Singapore Harbour. Surprisingly enough she still stands her rusting hull now signposted a no go zone. She does look terrific though when the waves come crashing through and while overcast skies deter many this can present wonderful photographic opportunities. Low tide can offer tremendous reflections especially if the sky turns on a show.

However, I was a little saddened to see some idiot had thought it a must to acknowledge their presence at the site by applying purple paint to her rusting hull. Why oh why is this so?

 

Why is there a need to do this?

Image by Danielle Lancaster

With the clouds now starting to roll and fluff we went to one of our favourite sand blows on the island. This desolate landscape came alive and soon we were all down low capturing isolated dwarfed trees hanging on by bare roots systems, weathered stumps and sand ripples in what many would consider an almost uninhabitable environment.

Leah and Danielle get down low.

Image by Pete

Time for sunset and Pete and I choose one of our preferred Pandanus Palms that sits on a razor like edge of sand. Thank you once again to the Gods of Fraser as the sky now turned pinks, purples and mauves. To finish off the day’s shooting, well we could not resist and did a little steel wool burning on the beach which soon had the fisherman joining us and relishing the free show. Even a dingo came to see what all the fuss was about.

 

Sunset on Fraser

Image by Danielle Lancaster

With darkness now around us it was time to head home. We skirted the incoming waves and guided the vehicles along the soft sand of the upper shore line and off the beach once again through Frasers Forest. But the cameras were not away long as we soon came across Echidnas out for their night stroll which afforded us another great opportunity to fine tune some flash photography.

Yes we were tired when we finally arrived at dinner but excited too for it had been a really great day and topped off with a double chocolate Forest cake for our birthday girl. I am sure we all slept very soundly after our adventurous fun-filled day.  

Did you know:

The 158-ton schooner named the Seabelle was one of the first ships to be recorded as lost off Fraser Island after leaving Rockhampton on 7^th March 1857.

Rumours abounded about survivors of the Seabelle. A white woman and two white girls were reported to be living with Fraser Island aboriginals. New South Wales authorities commissioned the captain of the Coquett to investigate and he bought to Sydney two young girls who were albino. They were never returned to their parents as he had promised and they died in an institution in Sydney at an early age.

Footnote: I am still on the road so all images straight out of camera.

We are back on Fraser Island!

I get to travel a lot, however Fraser still ranks in my top 10 places on Earth to visit. There is just an exceptional ‘thing’ here and to me it is so special to accompany people to the island to discover some of our secret photography haunts.

Fraser Island stretches over 123 along the southern coast of Queensland, and is the largest sand island in the world. The whole island was inscribed on the World Heritage List: “in recognition of its natural values as an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological

processes and as an example of superlative natural phenomena”. It is indeed a extraordinary place formed from the shifting of sands over the last 700,000 years.

While on tour we stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort. Why did we pick this resort for our abode? Well as some of you may know we here at Bluedog are trying very hard to be green, clean and eco-friendly. Kingfisher Bay Resort is a leading example of eco-tourism. Their dedication to environmental tourism has been recognised by receiving 32 Australian and international awards for development, architecture, and environmental tourism since opening their doors in 1992.

All the resort buildings are deliberately set below the tree line – you can’t even see them from the jetty when you arrive. They are leaders in energy efficiency: the building’s design, use of low energy bulbs and room key shut-off systems is estimated to save 855,000 kW hours of electricity per year!

Add to that all paper, glass, aluminium, tin and plastics are recycled. There’s an on-site worm farm turning sewage sludge, waste paper and kitchen preparation scraps into compost for the herb garden plus other waste minimisation, green purchasing and green product programs complete their environmental program. Not bad for a resort that welcomes thousands per year.

Anyway back to the tour. After arriving on the ferry we all checked in and headed for lunch at the Sand Bar. Your packs were handed out, the fun daily ‘challenges’ revealed, questions answered and already we are all sharing jokes and laughing a lot. Something tells me this is going to be a great group to tour with.

During lunch we talked about a few of Pete and my tips for their next few days including looking after our gear – sand can be disastrous to our gear, salt water worse but with a little care and attention we can make sure our gear is in top shape when we return . Tomorrow we head in land exploring the forests and lakes with sunset at the old McKenzie jetty.

One of our tips here to the group was to take the time to look for the finer details in the forest, textures and patterns and the way the light is falling through the foliage. This tiny fungi below was smaller than my pinky finger hidden by the base of a tree along Wanggoolba Creek. Many would have missed it.

Taken on Nikon D3 with a 105mm macro lens
Image by Danielle Lancaster

After lunch while the others got to have a little relax time to explore the resort, Pete and I went and completed all our paper work for the vehicles and permits to transport our crew around the island over the next two days.

So it’s almost time for me to head on down and meet them all now to photograph sunset across the Sandy Strait and enjoy our complimentary welcome drinks at the jetty hut before our dinner and presentation by Pete and myself later tonight.

The clouds are looking like it’s going to be a good one. The wind is down and the sand is warm. It’s so good to be back on Fraser!

Tales of Whales and Photography

The annual migration of the giants of the deep has started and here along Queensland’s Coast we are afforded some of the best viewing of these amazing mammals. As many of you already know one of our favourite places to view and photograph these animals is in the calm waters of Hervey Bay.

Now while you won’t see Melville’s legendary Moby Dick, you may see Nala, Roxanne, Cupid, Caesar, Merlin, Phantom, Venus and Raoul, just a few of the humpbacks that call in for a spell on their way to and from the deep cold waters of Antarctica. And then there’s Migaloo, the White Whale’, who has already been spotted off Fraser Island in June.

Humpback whales are naturally curious about objects in their environment and many are easily identifiable as individuals because of the markings on their fins and bodies. And this is where photographers can play a huge part. According to the Oceania Institute, humpback whales often show their tails before diving under the water and each has markings that make it unique. By taking photographs researchers can monitor the movements of individuals. More than 1000 whales have been identified this way.

The lifecycle of the southern humpback whale brings them into the Fraser Coast, which has helped the region become Australia’s top whale watching destination. Each May humpbacks leave the rich feeding grounds of Antarctica and make the annual 6000 kilometre journey to the breeding grounds in the warm waters of the Whitsundays, north of Fraser Island. Some of the females will give birth, while the others will mate.

A Humpback plays in the warm waters off Fraser Island.
Image by Danielle Lancaster

After spending a short period of time in the Whitsunday area, the whales start the long journey south, many of them coming into Platypus Bay for as long as five days, some staying for only a day.

It is believed that the shallow calm waters provide shelter giving the whales the opportunity to socialise and to give the new-born calves a chance to grow stronger before they continue south.

A huge tip when photographing whales is to use a polariser filter. It reduces the reflections from the water on their bodies and the surrounding ocean.

Each year Bluedog Photography runs photography tours to Fraser Island and as another approaches we are excited about going back and capturing the humpbacks.

During this tour Peter Meyer, resident photographer, Danielle Lancaster and Cathy Finch will show some of their favourite places on the island for photography. The tour has been especially designed so you don’t have to drive or own a 4WD – all vehicles will be supplied with many added inclusions including your transfers to the island, accommodation at the acclaimed eco resort, Kingfisher Bay Resort, and of course the whale watching tour!

Kingfisher Bay Resort is the gateway to the World Heritage wilderness of Fraser Island. This Australian icon is famous for its ancient rainforests, spectacular fresh-water lakes, remarkable wildlife and famous 75-Mile Beach with streams spilling into the ocean, mighty sand blows, coloured sand and even a shipwreck.

Limited numbers ensure you gain a personal yet rewarding experience on one of our favourite places on Earth! Places are limited to two 4WD vehicles only with our own drivers. Participants will get the chance to join both drivers.

As with all the Bluedog tours: this is a photography tour designed for photographers by photographers! And with the first tour for 2010 all booked out another tour date has been announced for October - there are still 3 places left!

For more information on the Bluedog-Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island Photography Tour visit www.blue-dog.com.au/Fraser-Island-photography.htm or
email info@blue-dog.com.au

For more information on Kingfisher Bay Resort visit http://www.kingfisherbay.com/

Big news for Kingfisher Bay Resort is that they have again teamed with the pioneers of whale watching in Hervey Bay – Brian and Jill Perry and their Quick Cat II vessel to run whale watching excursions direct from Fraser Island to Platypus Bay in search of Roxanne, Migaloo, Raoul and other new faces

Did you know?
There were around 10,000 Humpback Whales off eastern Australia in 1952. In 1962, after 10 years of commercial whaling, that number had been reduced to a critically low 100 individuals. Generally humpback whales are off the Queensland coast between late Autumn and late Spring. They turn south in July and August with about a quarter of the population entering Hervey Bay.

Almost on cue another lunges out of the sea to cheers from the passengers
and to many clicks of cameras.

Image by Danielle Lancaster

Pandanus, People and Photography

By Augustine Mathews

Have you noticed that cork-screw palms are the latest and greatest thing in modern garden design? On our recent trip to Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island we found out that love for these wondrous plants is not a modern thing.

Ranger Jermaine, our very knowledgeable guide on the K’gari walk at Kingfisher Bay told us of the marvels that the pandanus plant “Pandanus tectorius”. For the Butchulla people who are the traditional Aboriginal people of the Fraser Coast region, the pandanus was both a blessing and a curse.

The ripe pods of the pandanus can provide a delicious treat for those that know how to get at it. Unfortunately this is one of those times where moderation is the key and Jermaine tells an amusing story of his Uncle eating too much and ending up trapped on the toilet for lengthy periods. Thankfully, as he explained, the blessing part then comes into play.

This marvellous palm provides its own cure. When eaten, the base of the pandanus leaf has a stomach calmative that can relieve the effects of over-indulgence in the fruit, a fact his Uncle fortunately knew of. What a lucky fellow and what a clever plant.

Not only is this a fantastic palm to grace the most modern of homes it is also an important plant in the indigenous culture of Fraser Island. Love them or hate them, cork screw pines are an ancient reminder of how all things old are new again.

22 year old Ranger Jermaine is a direct descendant of the Butchulla people. He’s an energetic and dedicated young man and his knowledge of bush tucker and medicine has been passed down through the generations. He now glows at the opportunity to be sharing this with others on his beloved island.

So what has this got to do with photography? Well some of you may have heard my line, ‘I don’t do people.’

And yes that has been a fact, but since commencing work with Bluedog I don’t often get a choice. From my first assignment when Danielle would not tell me what we were doing till she had me in the car and we were driving, ‘you have to do 12 individual portraits for a website’ (yes it was a trap and I fell right into it) I have learnt a great deal.

Working with people is not easy. They talk, move, fidget, itch and scratch. Since then I have been on more assignments with Danielle where we have had to meet people and within half an hour take a character portrait – this I can say is not easy but a task I have readily taken on. It’s a whole new ball game when there is a commissioning magazine or a corporate client at the end of the line, each use to Danielle’s high quality capture.

I watch her engage the person, befriend them and be truly interested in what they are doing. She has usually done her research and knows something about them though on this trip to Fraser with Danielle I saw her meet and photograph people she had never heard of and still manage a terrific image. That is a knack, a true talent and one I intend to perfect very quickly.

The experience of working with Danielle on jobs such as these has made me a better photographer on all levels. Being thrust the camera and being told you are doing this image is daunting. Not only is the lighting and the pressure of getting that shot a challenge, the biggest player on my nerves has been Danielle by my side. However she encourages me, pushes me (sometimes physically – that is to get in closer and ‘cut the crap’) to do better and I can now see that in my people images. So do I still do people? That depends. I have to honest here Danielle and to the rest of the Bluedog team if it means travel count me in!

All plant material in the National Park is protected, so look but do not pick. Always be careful sampling bush tucker as many plants contain harmful toxins. If any doubt about a plant do not eat it.

The Bluedog-Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island Photography Tours are a wonderful way to meet the rangers, hear stories and capture images of this internationally recognised environment – the world’s largest sand island. The tour showcases the best that Fraser Island and Kingfisher Bay Resort while concentrating on the photographic skills that go along with such a great adventure. Details of this tour can be found on the Bluedog Photography website under the tours section. http://www.blue-dog.com.au/Fraser-Island-photography.htm

Capturing the true personality of a person, their characteristics, and their qualities after a short meeting is not easy.
Here what I wanted to capture was Jermaine’s cheeky smile,
his love of the island and his heritage.

Image by Augustine Mathews

I am really interested- thanks Danielle.
Not sure why the whole image is not loading but after 3 attempts I am giving up :)
 Image by Danielle Lancaster

Without a doubt the most famous and photographed Pandanus
on Fraser Island.

Image by Danielle Lancaster

Nicky gets in close on the amazing Pandanus root system during a
Bluedog-Kingfisher Bay Photography Tour.

Image by Danielle Lancaster

Bluedog spots a Mistletoe Bird at Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island

This morning I finally photographed a male Mistletoe bird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum. Now while not uncommon in certain areas, such as within the grounds of Fraser Island’s Kingfisher Bay Resort, what makes them a difficult subject is that they are so busy.

These tiny birds, only 10-11cm, have a brilliant scarlet throat and under-tail that catches not only the sun but also the eye of any avid bird watcher. Well, the boys do. Mistletoe birds are known to show marked “sexual dimorphism”. What this means is that the males get to be flamboyant in their colourings while the females are far less glam.

Early morning insects have them snapping their beaks as they dart swallow like in flight, fluttering and calling to their mates in the bush surrounding the resort. They have sharp little voices but a choice of calls including a high double note and a warble.

We had joined Ivor Davies, Group General Manager of King Fisher Bay Resort for a bit of bird spotting. Ivor is a keen twitcher and knows his bird ‘stuff’. Indeed, he’s just returned from a trip to the Red Centre where he added a further 10 birds to his personal ‘spotters’ list.

He not only tells, but also acts out the performance of the Mistletoe bird, a canopy bird, passing the digested mistletoe and how it ever so gently wipes itself along the branch three times, only three, bobbing between each wipe. It’s a rather elegant performance for the six foot three man. The wealth of information on birds acquired not only on Fraser Island but across the world over the years flows eagerly.

It’s a top spot for those who would like to try their hand or those that are already accomplished in bird photography with the abundance and variety of birds around the resort.

With canopy birds another challenge photographing them, aside from their quick movement, can be blow outs of highlights particularly in the areas containing leaves, clouds, and sky.

Exposure is critical as is accurate focus (continuous focus here will only frustrate you). I also find a polariser a great advantage.

I only had a few regrets: that I didn’t have longer day, an extra day or had discovered it sooner, and I wished I’d stopped and put on my x2 converter.

Bird Week, now in its ninth year kicks off on the 8th May till the 15th. Birdos from around the world meet at King Fisher Bay Resort and try to spot and record some of the 354 species found across the world’s largest sand island. A highlight of the week is tours of one of the RAMSAR listed wetlands and various presentations.

Also of interest to many will be the Bluedog-Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island Photography Tours. An ever popular tour where we showcase the best that Fraser Island and Kingfisher Bay Resort has to offer while concentrating on the photographic skills that go along with such a great adventure. Details of this tour can be found on the Bluedog Photography website under the tours section. http://www.blue-dog.com.au/Fraser-Island-photography.htm

More:
King Fisher Bay Resort
Tel: 07 4120 3333
Tollfree: 1800 072 555
http://www.kingfisherbay.com/

Male Mistletoe Bird, Fraser Island

Image by Danielle Lancaster