Where in the world...?
There are a multitude of places in the world worthy of spending the time to explore and photograph and, naturally, I would like to be able to get to them all. Hmmm, perhaps given enough time..., although I am reminded of a story involving Shakespeare and a whole lot of monkeys!
So, in the absence of infinite time and resources, I have narrowed my target locations to those you see below. In making my selections I have used beauty, ruggedness, environment, history and spirituality to inform my decisions.
Antarctica
The wild and inaccessible nature of Antarctica is, of course, an instant attraction for me with my love for all things far away and difficult to reach!
I am particularly keen to capture such a pristine region brimming with rugged fractals and wonderful contrasts between rock and snow.
I'm also looking forward to working out how best to get there, what itinerary might produce the best images and what I need to survive in such a harsh environment.
British Columbia, Canada
I very much enjoyed my time in New Zealand when I was there a few years ago and British Columbia looks like it presents similarly young and energetic terrain. Certainly in NZ the mountains seemed to rise up out of the ground "with a purpose"!
My parents have traveled through BC by train and were inspired by what they saw. I may use that mode of transport myself to reach a launching point but I would hope to get out among the mountains by foot.
My enthusiasm for this region of the world was further inspired by some of the imagery from the Squamish in the Netflix series "Altered Carbon".
Truly beautiful.
British Columbia, Canada
I very much enjoyed my time in New Zealand when I was there a few years ago and British Columbia looks like it presents similarly young and energetic terrain. Certainly in NZ the mountains seemed to rise up out of the ground "with a purpose"!
My parents have traveled through BC by train and were inspired by what they saw. I may use that mode of transport myself to reach a launching point but I would hope to get out among the mountains by foot.
My enthusiasm for this region of the world was further inspired by some of the imagery from the Squamish in the Netflix series "Altered Carbon".
Truly beautiful.
Donegal, Ireland
Of course Donegal is mother's milk to someone who has spent as much time as I have ranging all over that county.
Despite my deep familiarity (or perhaps because of it!) I will never tire of traveling over the hills, around the lakes and even through the bogs of this wonderful terrain.
Just looking at this image brings back so many wonderful memories and spurs me to make many more.
Faroe Islands
Situated way out in the northern Atlantic half way between Scotland and Iceland these islands recently became more than a geographic curiosity remembered from my school days when I came across some great work by Mads Peter Iversen.
He has captured some superb images of the islands and I am inspired to try and emulate his work when my photographic journey takes me to this wonderful location.
Hawaii, USA
Volcanoes in general and Hawaii in particular are a fascination to me (and somewhat of a recurring theme in this list as it happens!).
Many years ago when I came to realize that the Hawaiian Islands are the tops of gigantic volcanic mountains towering more than 30,000 feet above the seafloor I have always wanted to travel to them to experience their rugged vulcanism.
It's a compelling landscape style which seems to straddle the regular and the fractal to great visual effect and I believe it will be a wonderful photographic subject - I can't wait.
Iceland
Once again I find myself inexorably drawn to terrain recently shaped by the forces which constantly mold our planet.
Iceland is so new and so far North that it retains a primordial quality which I find really appealing. It's a landscape unencumbered by much in the way of trees or other large vegetation and displays its beauty with rocks, ice, water and grasses.
I'm certain it will be a wonderful subject to explore.
Iceland
Once again I find myself inexorably drawn to terrain recently shaped by the forces which constantly mold our planet.
Iceland is so new and so far North that it retains a primordial quality which I find really appealing. It's a landscape unencumbered by much in the way of trees or other large vegetation and displays its beauty with rocks, ice, water and grasses.
I'm certain it will be a wonderful subject to explore.
Isle of Skye, Scotland
My brother spent 6 months camping on Skye while he carried out a geological survey and up until a few years ago that was really my only exposure to the island. Then I saw a YouTube video explaining luminosity masking using the Old Man of Storr as subject matter (seen here) .
I was instantly drawn to this amazing structure and it has been on my mental bucket list from that moment. Since then I have done quite a bit of research on photography on the island and it is clearly a target-rich environment.
The YouTube channel Photography Online has an excellent Isle of Skye - Top 10 Views which is well worth a watch.
Now a planned visit to Ireland in 2024 has opened up the opportunity to travel to Skye as part of that trip and explore those top 10 views for myself.
Now a planned visit to Ireland in 2024 has opened up the opportunity to travel to Skye as part of that trip and explore those top 10 views for myself.
Kerry, Ireland
Although I have spent quite a bit of time traveling and exploring in the West of Ireland I feel like I haven't given Kerry and the Southwest the attention it deserves.
I do recall a driving trip around the Ring of Kerry many years ago and I know from trip that the Dingle Peninsula and the Killarney Lakes should present some great photographic opportunities so I'm really looking forward to taking my camera out into the mountains there.
I would also like to get the chance to travel to Skellig Island (seen opposite) recently brought back into the spotlight in Star Wars as Obi Wan Kenobe's reclusive home.
Kerry, Ireland
Although I have spent quite a bit of time traveling and exploring in the West of Ireland I feel like I haven't given Kerry and the Southwest the attention it deserves.
I do recall a driving trip around the Ring of Kerry many years ago and I know from trip that the Dingle Peninsula and the Killarney Lakes should present some great photographic opportunities so I'm really looking forward to taking my camera out into the mountains there.
I would also like to get the chance to travel to Skellig Island (seen opposite) recently brought back into the spotlight in Star Wars as Obi Wan Kenobe's reclusive home.
I do recall a driving trip around the Ring of Kerry many years ago and I know from trip that the Dingle Peninsula and the Killarney Lakes should present some great photographic opportunities so I'm really looking forward to taking my camera out into the mountains there.
I would also like to get the chance to travel to Skellig Island (seen opposite) recently brought back into the spotlight in Star Wars as Obi Wan Kenobe's reclusive home.
Lavender fields, France
The amazing colors and the inherent graphical nature of the lavender fields seem to have always maintained a hold on my imagination.
I caught glimpses of them way back when I was 14 on a trip to the South of France and over the intervening years I have seen a number of fantastic images from the region (the one opposite by John Ioannidis is a great example).
I suspect the whole region bears exploring and the location is potentially a stepping stone into the Alps and the Dolomites as well.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Not unsurprisingly the landscape photographer is drawn to areas where tectonic forces have molded and warped the substance of the world.
And so, the majestic Andes in South America raises its metaphorical hand and beckons me to travel and explore.
Machu Pichu is but one example along the amazing backbone of the continent and I hope I will get the chance to explore them all one day.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Not unsurprisingly the landscape photographer is drawn to areas where tectonic forces have molded and warped the substance of the world.
And so, the majestic Andes in South America raises its metaphorical hand and beckons me to travel and explore.
Machu Pichu is but one example along the amazing backbone of the continent and I hope I will get the chance to explore them all one day.
And so, the majestic Andes in South America raises its metaphorical hand and beckons me to travel and explore.
Machu Pichu is but one example along the amazing backbone of the continent and I hope I will get the chance to explore them all one day.
Wollumbin, Australia
For nearly 8 years now I have had an image in my head of a shot of Wollumbin taken from the South at the top of the caldera wall at Mount Jerusalem National Park.
The shot is taken with the rising sun as it floods the undulating floor of the caldera with light and shadow and the use of a long lens fore-shortens the image bringing together "The Doughboy" in the foreground and the mountain in the background.
8 years and 3 separate attempts later and I am still trying to bring this shot to fruition - a saga which is laid out in the blog.
This trip is now well into the execution phase although currently thwarted by flood damage.
This trip is now well into the execution phase although currently thwarted by flood damage.
Padar Island, Indonesia
If I recall correctly I first saw this island as a wallpaper image on someone's computer. I was really taken by the inverted coastlines as they reminded me of the Julia Set fractal and so, of course, the island immediately made my photographic bucket list.
The region makes for a great tropical holiday and is a relatively short trip for us in Australia. Perhaps a holiday/photo trip is in the offing.
Padar Island, Indonesia
If I recall correctly I first saw this island as a wallpaper image on someone's computer. I was really taken by the inverted coastlines as they reminded me of the Julia Set fractal and so, of course, the island immediately made my photographic bucket list.
The region makes for a great tropical holiday and is a relatively short trip for us in Australia. Perhaps a holiday/photo trip is in the offing.
Patagonia, Chile/Argentina
Another region of the world which has held my attention for many years and for many different reasons.
The remoteness, the rugged terrain, the relatively youthful peaks and the extensive vulcanism present the photographer with a vast array of opportunities.
As I sit and write it seems like a South American expedition along the Andes may be the best way to capture all of these favourite spots.
Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites, in general, and Tre Cime di Laveredo, in particular, have me wanting to travel to Northern Italy to photograph this wonderful terrain.
One of my favourite landscape photographers, Erin Babnik, has taken some amazing images in this region of Italy.
I have listened to Erin's advice on combining light, atmosphere and terrain and try to incorporate the concept into my own images.
One of Erin's most striking images, Gold Rush, always comes to mind and it was there in the background as I set up to take my own shot, Vayu (Air).
Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites, in general, and Tre Cime di Laveredo, in particular, have me wanting to travel to Northern Italy to photograph this wonderful terrain.
One of my favourite landscape photographers, Erin Babnik, has taken some amazing images in this region of Italy.
I have listened to Erin's advice on combining light, atmosphere and terrain and try to incorporate the concept into my own images.
One of Erin's most striking images, Gold Rush, always comes to mind and it was there in the background as I set up to take my own shot, Vayu (Air).
Northern and Western Argentina
These regions of Argentina first caught my attention as I helped Mia to complete a school project entitled "A Trip around the World".
We had decided to pick out, and then "travel" to some of the major volcanoes across the globe. It was during the researching of that project that I came across images of the amazing terrain wrought by these Holocene and Miocene eruptions.
The ranges are formed from the merging of lava fields, volcanic complexes and strato and shield volcanoes and the resultant landscape forms are quite spectacular.
I imagine that a photographic expedition through the region would yield some amazing imagery.
Western Arthurs Range, Tasmania
When I started developing Out Under The Sky the Western Arthurs were still just a concept for me. I had seen pictures and read John Chapman's excellent hiking guide, Southwest Tasmania, but I had yet to experience the traverse for myself.
18 months on and I have returned from my first attempt at crossing this wonderful but difficult terrain. Achieving images like Out Under The Sky and Neptune's Sisters have spurred me to return to the traverse in 2025 when I hope to push on past Lake Cygnus and get as far as Square Lake and Lake Oberon where, I believe, there will be some excellent opportunities in the early mornings and at sunset.
The 2023 expedition produced some great images but 2 of my targets were inaccessible so 2025 will afford me a second chance to capture them.
Western Arthurs Range, Tasmania
When I started developing Out Under The Sky the Western Arthurs were still just a concept for me. I had seen pictures and read John Chapman's excellent hiking guide, Southwest Tasmania, but I had yet to experience the traverse for myself.
18 months on and I have returned from my first attempt at crossing this wonderful but difficult terrain. Achieving images like Out Under The Sky and Neptune's Sisters have spurred me to return to the traverse in 2025 when I hope to push on past Lake Cygnus and get as far as Square Lake and Lake Oberon where, I believe, there will be some excellent opportunities in the early mornings and at sunset.
The 2023 expedition produced some great images but 2 of my targets were inaccessible so 2025 will afford me a second chance to capture them.