Rodney Campbell's Blog

In the morning it was time to leave Albert Tognolini Lookout and head to one of the most epic photographic locations for landscape photographers

For this trip I had again requested a number of days staying in Karijini National Park (and it’s amazing gorges)

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 70 mm, 1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 64

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

We’d be staying two nights at Dales Campground (at the eastern end of the park), followed by three nights at the Karijini Eco Retreat (at the western end)

At the Dales end we have Dales Gorge, which includes the gorge itself, Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool and at the other end of the gorge Circular Pool

Near the Eco Retreat lies a number of gorges including Joffre Gorge (at the retreat itself), Knox gorge and Weano recreation area with Weano and Hancock gorges

I’d previously visited all the above gorges on a previous trip but this time I also had my drone and I had a few ideas for some images I’d like to take

Inbetween these two locations was an additional gorge I’d never visited before (Kalamina gorge)

Heading to Karijini

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 61 mm, 1/100 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Night time arrives at Albert Tognolini rest area so it’s back out for a quick milky way session next to the vans

This first looks down into the valley below our vans with the vertical panorama of the whole milky way above it

Solitary

NIKON Z 7 + 14.0 mm f/2.4 @ 14 mm, 15 sec at f/2.4, ISO 6400 x 5 Frames

and this along the dirt path towards our vans

Beneath the Way

NIKON Z 7 + 14.0 mm f/2.4 @ 14 mm, 15 sec at f/2.4, ISO 6400 x 5 Frames

The sun having set it was now time for a quick flight with the drone during twilight

I’ve found facing away from the setting or set sun gives fantastic results with the drone. Beautiful pastel skies, a dark blue earth shadow on the horizon and a lovely glow of soft light across the land

Even (and perhaps especially) the 180˚ panoramas taken with the drone (if I don’t use a polariser) turn out really well

Valleys

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/30 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100 x 21 Frames

So this is the view from the west looking east back towards the rest area where we’re staying (on the right side) and the valley below us

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

The View

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/30 sec at f/2.8, ISO 320

Twilight Tognolini

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/30 sec at f/2.8, ISO 200 x 21 Frames

We were heading into one of my favourite photographic locations – Karijini National Park

On the way however this was another of my requested locations that we stay the night – Albert Tognolini Lookout/Rest Area

On our last trip through here we stopped here briefly for morning tea, but I thought the location deserved further merit

This time we’d stay the night giving me ample opportunity to photograph it from land and sky

Albert Tognolini Rise

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/500 sec at f/4, ISO 100

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

The Rest Area is dedicated to the memory of Albert Tognolini, former Commissioner of Main Roads who early in his career was responsible for major improvements of sections of the Great Northern Highway, Victoria Highway and Duncan Road

Albert Tognolini Lookout

DJI Mavic 2 Pro L1D-20c + 28.0 mm f/2.8 @ 10.26 mm, 1/1000 sec at f/4, ISO 100 x 21 Frames

After leaving Broome we headed south toward Port Hedland and then inland from there

With so much mining activity around here, we were now firmly ensconced in road train territory

98 Degrees

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 50 mm, 1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 64

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

These road trains are really massive, it’s hard to picture just how large and long they are

Ninety Eight (98) rolling tires on one 60m long behemoth! Insane. Imagine the cost to replace all your worn tires

When they overtake you it’s an impressive, if slightly scary sight. It’s good practice to indicate to them (by flashing your headlights) to tell the driver when the last of their carriages have made it past you so they can safely move back into your lane

Road Train

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 70 mm, 1/100 sec at f/8, ISO 64

Desert Pea

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 70 mm, 1/400 sec at f/4, ISO 64

Stuart

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 70 mm, 1/80 sec at f/5.6, ISO 280