August 21, 2023

Nathan White

Travel

Exploring the Colours of Purnululu National Park

August 21, 2023

Nathan White

Travel

Purnululu National Park is a World Heritage Listed park located in the North West Kimberley Region of Western Australia. The park is accessible only during the dry season from April to November. This is also dependent on the weather and road conditions as there are numerous creek crossings to navigate while driving into the park and they can become flooded quite quickly with enough rain.

The drive to the Purnululu Visitor Centre is approximately 50km from the highway, however travel time can range from 2 to 2.5 hours as the road can be very corrugated and rough. A 4x4 or high clearance vehicle is definitely required.

The park is famous for its beehive shaped sandstone domes which make up the Bungle Bungle Ranges. What you may not realise though is that these domes only make up one area of Purnululu. There are actually numerous other areas and gorges to explore. Needless to say, you will need to spend a few days here to fully experience all that the park has to offer.

Whilst the overall unique landscape of the park is incredible to witness, what really stood out to me more so than anything else was the incredible colours. Pair that with some bright, contrasty light and you have a recipe for some really compelling photographs.

Keep scrolling to view some favourite images of mine from my time exploring Purnululu National Park.

Walking in to the Cathedral Gorge is breathtaking and it will definitely leave you feeling quite small in comparison to its towering cliffs and opera level acoustics.

When visiting Echidna Chasm in Purnululu National Park, aim to be there between approximately 11am and 1pm. During that time the walls of the gorge become ablaze with golden light as the sun shines directly down into the narrow, shaded chasm.

Without the midday sun, these incredible layers of colour and contrast would not be visible.

The reflected light bouncing around the gorge walls gave off this beautiful warm glow.

For more information on Purnululu National Park, check out https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/purnululu-national-park or you can download the Visitor Guide.

December 14, 2021

Nathan White

Travel, Commercial

Welcome to Injune - Outback Queensland

December 14, 2021

Nathan White

Travel, Commercial

I recently spent a week in Injune working on a photography project with the fantastic team at Visit Injune.

I had the pleasure of capturing imagery of the destination, local tourism businesses and the amazing locals that make up this welcoming community.

Injune serves as the southern gateway to Carnarvon National Park, Expedition National Park and Nuga Nuga National Park. It is definitely worth a visit if you are travelling along the Carnarvon Highway in Outback Queensland. Drop in to the visitor information centre for a warm welcome and all the latest info/updates on the surrounding national parks, attractions, accomodation, dining and events. With the options available, you could easily fill up a week.

Below are some of the images I captured.

May 1, 2020

Nathan White

Photography, Travel

Queensland National Parks Image Collection

May 1, 2020

Nathan White

Photography, Travel

With my next series I thought I'd focus on some of my favourite Queensland National Parks. We have some stunning natural beauty here in the sunshine state and I know I'll be definitely getting back out there amongst it as soon as we are given the 'all clear'!

Lamington National Park

This image was captured in Lamington National Park back in 2015 whilst on a road trip with my good friend Jeremy Rasnic. I actually have this particular shot hanging in my home printed on a massive 60x40" canvas.

Nikon D800 | ISO 100 | f/14 | 14mm | 4 sec

Minerva Hills National Park

Minerva Hills National Park is the next location in this new series. I shot this back in 2016 during a 6 month caravanning trip. I feel that the park is a little underrated, as it is certainly not as well known as some of the other National Parks in Queensland's Central Highlands. It boasts spectacular views of the surrounding area and provides some great locations for photography.

It is also home to the famous Virgin Rock. On one section of Mount Zamia, there is a naturally formed likeness to the Virgin Mary and Child however in recent years the image is harder to see.

Olympus E-M5 Mark II | ISO 200 | f/3.5 | 62mm | 1/640th sec

Blackdown Tableland National Park

Blackdown Tableland is an iconic national park situated off the Capricorn Highway just a few hours west of Rockhampton. It's one of my favourite locations to shoot with it being so close to home. It is a massive sandstone plateau that rises abruptly out of the flat plains surrounding it. In amongst it’s rugged cliffs you will find deep gorges and plunging waterfalls with pristine swimming holes to cool off in like the one in this image.

Sony A7rII | ISO 200 | f/4 | 70mm | 1/1250th sec

Springbrook National Park

This shot was captured along the hike to Twin Falls in Springbrook National Park. This area of the Gold Coast hinterland boasts some of Queensland's best rainforest walks with a number of photo-worthy waterfalls.

The hike itself is relatively short (4kms), however it can take longer than expected as you will find yourself constantly stopping to admire the beautiful surroundings.

Sony A7rII | ISO 100 | f/11 | 16mm | 20 seconds

Carnarvon Gorge National Park

The final national park in this series is an old favourite that I have been saving until last. I have visited Carnarvon Gorge National Park more than any other and it still sits at the top of my list for shooting locations in Queensland.

The hikes here are so rewarding. Everywhere you go there is something to photograph or native animals to study as they go about their business.

At Carnarvon Gorge you can easily forget about the outside world. This outback oasis allows you to disconnect from life's distractions and bask in the sweet serenity of its towering sandstone cliffs.

Nikon D800 | ISO 100 | f/11 | 20mm | 2.5 seconds

March 16, 2020

Nathan White

Travel

Need a Little Social Distancing....I know just the place

March 16, 2020

Nathan White

Travel

With all the talk about self-isolation and social distancing, I thought I might put together a few creative options for Central QLD locals that we can all keep in mind for when this drama is over.

Carnarvon Gorge

The closest petrol station is over an hour away and mobile coverage is pretty much non-existent. For some, it may as well be the end of the earth. Fortunately, that is the whole idea. If you’re feeling energetic, you have over 27 kilometres of graded tracks and side gorges to explore. If you like to relax, you can sit back in the shade of your camp to admire the view and observe an abundant variety of wildlife such as possums, platypus, kangaroos, echidnas & over 173 species of birds as they go about their everyday business.

The tranquil oasis that is Ward’s Canyon

Pumpkin Island

If an oasis in the outback is not your kind of isolation, why not try a small tropical island that you can have all to yourself? Pumpkin Island, located approximately 14kms off the Capricorn Coast is one such place. You can book out the entire island, choose one of their 5 beautiful cabins or perhaps a secluded beach bungalow is more your style. Either way, on Pumpkin Island it is extremely easy to keep to yourself for a truly private and relaxing getaway on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

I think I could handle being this isolated :)

Blackdown Tableland National Park

A massive sandstone plateau that rises abruptly out of the flat plains surrounding it….sounds like the ideal location to setup a fortress of solitude! Blackdown Tableland boasts rugged cliffs, deep gorges and plunging waterfalls complete with pristine swimming holes at the base of the falls. The National Park has a multitude of hiking trails and 4WD tracks to keep you busy and a central campground to head back to at the end of an adventure filled day. Camping fees apply so be sure to book your site with Queensland Parks and Wildlife before heading out there.

Lara Wetlands

Lara Wetlands is 28kms south of Barcaldine just off the Landsborough Highway. It is a fantastic location to relax where you can fill up your days with kayaking, bird watching, long naps and taking a dip in the thermal controlled artesian mineral hot pool. The wetlands are home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife, so a long lens for photography is a must. There are camping sites for rigs of all sizes with toilets and hot showers available. There is also access to drinkable artesian water, however the camp sites do not have power. Bring your caravan/camper/motorhome with a good book and I guarantee the outside world will become a distant memory.

Plenty of sites around the lagoon to choose from

Don’t forget your binoculars or a long camera lens

January 22, 2020

Nathan White

Travel, Photography

Jaw Dropping Locations in New Zealand

January 22, 2020

Nathan White

Travel, Photography

New Zealand is one of those places where there are so many amazing locations to see, that it can be a nightmare trying to fit it all into one holiday. I’ve just come back from a 3 week stay on the north and south islands of NZ and all I can say is WOW!

So much beauty and so little time.…

Below I have included some shots from the most jaw dropping locations that I visited.

Lake Pukaki

In bright sunlight, the colour of this lake is a very unique shade of blue which is caused by finely ground rock particles washed down from the glaciers. Lake Pukaki is one of three lakes in the area that are running in a north/south direction. The other two are Lake Tekapo and Lake Ohau. At the northern end of the lake is the iconic Mount Cook.

Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand (3,724m) and it's rugged slopes helped Sir Edmund Hillary to develop his climbing skills in preparation for the conquest of Everest. The mountain is known as Ao-raki to the Maori, which means 'cloud piercer.

Sony A7rII + Sony 100-400mm G Master lens

Nugget Point

An iconic location for photographers… and its not hard to see why. This panoramic vista is located on the lower east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The lighthouse at the end of the point is one of the country’s oldest and just below it you will find a colony of fur seals! Sunrise is the perfect time to photograph this dramatic location, so be sure to book an overnighter in Kaka Point as it is the closest town in the area (about 15 min drive).

Castle Hill

The sunrise I shot at Castle Hill was brief, but intense!

Castle Hill is located just off the main highway running through Arthur’s Pass on New Zealand’s South Island, approximately 100kms from Christchurch.

Castle Hill is aptly named for its magnificent limestone boulders scattered throughout the area which are reminiscent of an old, run-down stone castle.

Cave Stream Scenic Reserve

This place is named for its 594m long underground cave system. Unfortunately I lacked the proper footwear and lighting to traverse the cave safely so I had to be content photographing the non-subterranean landscape outside. Fortunately the outside was pretty dramatic as well ;)

Redwood Forest, Rotorua

This 6ha Californian Redwood forest is located in Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island. The spectacular trees here are approximately 118 years old and attract more than 600,000 visitors per year.

My time here was spent slowly walking through the trees, soaking in the atmosphere and looking for little pockets of light streaming through the canopy. Whilst it can be quite dark in amongst these massive sentinels, its these small lit up areas that can really add some dramatic colour and contrast to your images.

Tongariro National Park

Tawhai Falls (pictured below) is located in the UNESCO Dual World Heritage Tongariro National Park and is also a filming location from Lord of the Rings. Fans of the trilogy will know this place as 'Gollum's Pool'. The water here is so clean and clear. Tongariro was established in 1887 and was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world.

The third image here was captured at the entrance to the Whakapapa Nature Walk in the national park.

Lake Tekapo

Home of the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd with the snow capped Southern Alps as the backdrop. Lake Tekapo is located approximately 3 hours south-west of Christchurch and is part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve. In short, it’s a pretty darn good spot for astrophotography….that is, when it’s not raining. I had only scheduled one night in Tekapo and it rained the whole time :(

The only reprieve was on the morning that I was to leave. Despite all that, the lake is beautiful no matter what the weather brings and I managed to grab this quick shot on the way out of town. Tekapo has this cool footbridge that takes you from the town centre across to the Church of the Good Shepherd. In this case, I thought the compression effect of capturing tourists on the bridge with my 400mm lens against the mountain backdrop would make for a cool image.

Waikato River, Taupo

I didn’t really do any shooting while in Taupo as I was there for Christmas, but I did capture this one image while out on a drive. The natural colour of the Waikato River is stunning to begin with, but then add in the reflections from this old tree and you’ve got a beautiful, intimate scene that I just had to capture!

Devil’s Punchbowl Falls, Arthur’s Pass

There is truly something special about photographing waterfalls. One of my favourite parts is the anticipation that builds during the hike. Especially when it’s a location that you haven’t shot before, it’s recently rained, everything smells fresh and all the trees are glistening. Then in the distance you hear the roar of the water that gets louder with every step.

Devil’s Punchbowl Falls was that place for me in New Zealand.

The falls can be found at the end of a 2km return hike, situated in Arthur's Pass Village. The walk through the lush beech forest is enchanting and the falls themselves are approximately 130 metres high. I experienced some rain and strong blow back from the falls while shooting here but the view is definitely worth it.