Mt Field

This trip was memorable because it was the first time I had been out with the camera since catching COVID. I wont bore you with all that, but in short it absolutely smashed me and drained my life force. Im just extremely grateful that it wasn’t long COVID as I thought it may have been. For those suffering with that, I send you a heartfelt hug and all the positive vibes I can.

Anyhow, as you can imagine it was great to be out again, just so good emotionally. My headspace cleared up, emotions lifted and being up on that plain was the calmest I have felt in way too long. The effect of nature on ones self can be extreme, especially when you notice it happening. Big thanks to Ryan for asking me go, picking a darn sweet spot and helping motivate things. The luck of the Irish hey, sorry for losing your lens cap on our first trip. You should check out his pics, here:

I had a beautiful afternoon shooting flowers with the macro and the abundance of cushion plants and tarns on the wide angle. Sunset happened all too fast and I wasn’t in the best spot but managed to grab a couple of frames. Darkness came in quick and so did the fog, total pea soup white out. I spent a few hrs shooting in the dark, more like fumbling around trying to get my bloody tripod into place (man those things drive crazy at times). Then I popped my head up and realised I was a bit disorientated and lost. Gotta say it unnerved me for a few moments, no doubt about that. It’s amazing how quick you can loose your place in the dark mist of night. You pull your head up and everything looks the same but you can’t see your tent, is it this way, this way, maybe that way???.. Lucky for me I had map tracking on and the reflectors on tents light up nice with a high beam head torch, phiew. I thought it might be time to go to bed after that.

The next morning was EPIIIIIICCCC… totally my style of conditions, dark moody and misty af. To say I was pumped, grateful and excited is an understatement. All the cushion plants and tarns were a sweet tone of grey/green and surrounded in a thick blanket of fog, absolutely stunning Tasmanian conditions. After a couple of hr’s shooting and packing up camp we marched back down to the carpark and collected 5x more photographers for my Nikon School class on Tarn Shelf.

The day on the shelf was also amazing. Overcast skies meant no shadows, good dynamic range and the class was lucky to score a nice session with our cameras. It’s so pretty up there but IMHO it’s at its best overcast and misty. Seeing it like that is a whole other experience. Beautiful in summer but stunning in winter/spring. The class went really well and everyone had a good time. Some might have been a bit sore the next day, as was I, but the pics and experience was worth it. Thanks to all who came along.

I hope you enjoy the images, they are in order so you can experience the conditions of the day. I left a few similar compositions in because sometimes it’s good to compare things. I also notice how my composition improves a bit as time goes on. All images were shot on a Nikon Z7ii with either a 14-24mm 2.8 wide angle or a 105mm macro. The big and small combo I love to use in the wild.

So good to be back, big love and appreciation to my wife and family for looking after me. Onwards and upwards….