Finally, on the way...

After checking photographic gear, getting camping gear ready, and packed everything into the vehicle, it’s time to get away from Hobart and make the four hour drive north to Devonport to board the car ferry “Spirit of Tasmania”. The next port of call (I hope) is Melbourne City. I then drive west for a further 10 hours to Adelaide where I plan to spend the night before continuing the journey north to the Flinders Ranges.

I can’t say anything eventful happened during the trip to Devonport other than becoming frustrated at trying to learn how to operate my i-pod to play some music. It soon became apparent that driving a vehicle at 75 MPH (120 KPH) whilst fooling with dials and switches was not exactly the most sensible thing to do.

The ferry trip was quite smooth compared to several crossings I have done in the past. Usually Bass Straight is very lumpy with 30-40 foot waves (10-12 meters). I was lucky on this trip as the crossing was smooth. I opted for a cabin so that I can turn off the lights and sleep. I used to grab one of the airline seats and try to sleep sitting up , however, attempting to sleep with 100 other people sitting up like a statues in a small room is not conducive to a good night’s sleep - especially when there is a long drive the following day.

Preparing for Next Trip - Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies

I should be staying at home base post processing images from my recent America trip. But, with the few public holidays available at Easter, I've decided to do a quick field trip to South Australia.

Although this trip is substantially shorter than most of my trips (10 days thereabouts) it should be long enough to capture what I want. I intend to beeline from Hobart (via the vehcle ferry from Devonport, Tasmania) to Melbourne, Adelaide, and then onto the Flinders Ranges. The distance one way is approximately 2200 KM (one way). I know of three locations in the ranges (off the beaten track and only accessible with a four wheel drive vehicle) that provide the opportunity to photograph the rare and endangered Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus).

These wallabies are relatively small in statue and are probably one of the most beautifully marked wallabies within Australia. Photographing them well, in their natural habitat, is challenging. The "yellow foots" spend most of the day high on the cliffs seeking shelter within small caves and overhangs, and only venture down to lower terrain in the very late afternoon to spend the evening grazing on grasses along banks of streams, etc. In the early morning they begin their climb once again to the dizzy heights of the rocky escarpment.

Therefore, shooting is usually in very low light, in the we hours of the morning, or very early evening. Add to this the extremely dusty (and often windy conditions) in the desert and you have a situation not exactly conducive to acquiring good photographs.

It' unfortunate that my shooting partner couldn't make this trip, due to being involved in another shoot. Therefore, I will be alone and bush camping from my four wheel drive vehicle.

In addition to shooting at the three locations I know of, I will also be reconnoitering a few other locations in the area seeking areas to shoot on my next visit to the ranges. Other animals I expect I may encounter are emus, euros, kangaroos, lizards, and of course the usual selection of Australian endemic parrots.

I hope to keep this up to date on the trip via satellite internet - we'll see.

Back in Australia - Planning for the Next Venture

Well the seven week USA trip is over. I have 420 GIG of RAW files to sort, delete, keyword, and hopefully process a few for publication. It seems that as I ponder the images and think of some of the sites I have seen, I only start to think of the next trip around the corner, then the next after that, and so forth - it never seems to end!

The problem is that I end up with copious volumes of RAW files that never see the light of day as I'm busy shooting the next trip. Any unemployed darkroom assistant's out there want a job!

I feel a little discombobulated as this the first time I have returned from a trip without another already in the pipe! My normal "modus operandi" is to always have two trips organized at any one time, so when I return the next is around the corner so to speak. I feel that if I don't get something nailed to the floor very soon, with airfares booked and paid, I will miss out.

If some of you are curious as to what I do when I'm back in Hobart, well apart from trying to do my day job (which seems to get more part-time by the month), I post process, keyword and market my images, and do day trips within the state capturing further images of nature and wildlife.

Well back to that calendar and schedule. "I can hear the wolves calling my name"

Thank You

Wildlife photography by its nature is a relatively lonely pursuit for the majority of the time. Wildlife and crowds usually don't mix, unless you are photographing city pigeons and sparrows.

Despite this, the logistical support required to photograph animals in their natural environment can be very in-depth and require the knowledge and expertise of many individuals. Not to mention any extended stay in an overseas country usually requires help from another at some stage or another.

Many people helped me on this trip and I wish to thank them.

So was the trip worthwhile and would I repeat the trip?? Definitely.

America has absolutely stunning landscapes, many cute rural towns, exceptional wildlife, and many interesting and unique people from differing cultures. It seems that every time I visit this country, I want to return and spend longer than the previous visit......

So what's next? There's quite a bit in the pipeline - Another trip to Canada to photograph spirit bears and a trip to the arctic to photograph polar bears for a start. The prime time to photograph the Falklands is approaching quickly and if I'm to visit this area some planning will be needed.

Check out the website - www.AnaspidesPhotography.net

San Francisco and Australia

Arriving late into San Francisco after midnight, left little time to complete anything worthwhile in the city before my flight back to Australia the following evening. The morning was spent sorting, cleaning and packing, which left the late afternoon to briefly explore one of the local parks and take in the sunset.

As it is every time I travel, the amount of equipment needed for photography far exceeds baggage allowances. This trip was “heavier” than usual due to the nature of the trip (NANPA conference, local shooting in SF, desert shooting and shooting in a very cold climates) resulting in the need for a variety of equipment and clothing to be brought from Australia. I was very surprised when Qantas staff at KSFO motioned me through without a second look at the number of bags I had (2 large checked bags, 1 checked pelican 1510), and a think tank international roll on, hand-carry bag, and photo backpack as carry on!!

I guess I was lucky - as usually I'm "stung" with hefty fees for excess baggage!