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iceman
05-10-2012, 06:37 AM
Echidna Chasm is a narrow gorge at the Northern end of the Bungle Bungles, formed by millions of years of water rushing along and through a joint in the sandstone and conglomerate rocks, eroding away enough rock to form the chasm.

In the narrow parts of the Gorge, it’s very dark and difficult to photograph due to the huge dynamic range, but during the middle of the day when the Sun comes overhead, sunlight streams down the walls of the chasm, causing them to glow a beautiful orange colour.

The gorge is only 1-2 metres wide in some points, but has walls up to 200m high. The only way to try and show the scale of the chasm is to include people in the shot!

- Large 1 (http://www.mikesalway.com.au/download/313)

The trail into the chasm starts out quite wide, but narrows the further in you go. Eventually you meet a solid wall of rock and can go no further

- Large 2 (http://www.mikesalway.com.au/download/314)

#3 is a self-portrait taken in the narrow parts of the chasm. It’s a 2.5s exposure @ 17mm, f/7.1, ISO640 – which shows how dark it was in there.

- Large 3 (http://www.mikesalway.com.au/download/310)

Echidna Chasm is also home to many thriving Livistona Palms, protected from the harsh hot summer by the steep walls of the gorge.

- Large 4 (http://www.mikesalway.com.au/download/312)

#4 is a 3-shot panorama with the 17-40mm lens @ 17mm, ISO640, f/7.1, 1/1000s exposure.

- Blog (http://www.mikesalway.com.au/2012/10/05/into-echidna-chasm/)

Because there's so much fine detail in the rocks and palms, the shots don't compress well so the attached files are quite small in size to get them under 200kb. Be sure to view the large versions above.

Thanks for looking.

SkyViking
05-10-2012, 07:23 AM
That looks like an amazing place, some beautiful shots there Mike. I like the self portrait one, it really shows the scale.

Ric
05-10-2012, 10:42 AM
What a fantastic place Mike

Thanks for sharing.

Those rock walls look like a geologist's dream.

Larryp
05-10-2012, 12:14 PM
What a surreal place!-and beautifully photographed, Mike

gary
06-10-2012, 12:12 AM
It's a great place, isn't it?

Lovely shots and great to see you captured some Livistona as well. :thumbsup:

iceman
08-10-2012, 06:37 AM
Thanks guys, quite a unique place that's for sure.
One of the rare places you actually need to photograph in the middle of the day when the Sun is almost overhead ;)

Deeno
08-10-2012, 07:09 AM
Amazing shots!

Must see it for myself one day....

EagleEyes
08-10-2012, 09:46 AM
What an amazing place. Beautiful pics!

venus
11-10-2012, 07:59 PM
beautiful images...

gregbradley
12-10-2012, 12:38 PM
Great shots Mike. That pano is amazingly sharp. What a great lens/camera combo. Nicely done.

Such a unique place.

Greg.

iceman
12-10-2012, 12:56 PM
Thanks again.

You're right Greg - definitely a great combo. The only thing missing from my lens kit is really:
- Fast Portrait lens (50-85mm, f2.8 or so)
- Long lens (300mm+).

One day!

gregbradley
12-10-2012, 11:31 PM
105mm or 85mm is a good portrait.
I use 50mm F1.8 and 85mm F1.8 on my Nikon and these are relatively affordable and fabulous performance lenses.

You can get a classic Nikon 105mm F2.8 or F2.5 lens which is considered one of the best portrait lenses of all time for $200 and a Nikon to Canon adapter for under $20 on ebay. You do manual focus but portraits aren't usually moving around so thats no problem.

In fact some of these older Nikon AIS and AFD lenses are incredible value for the performance. Apart from no AF some of the better ones would be up there with L lenses for 1/6th the price. 28mm F2.8 AIS Nikon has a great reputation for example and goes for around $350 on ebay 2nd hand.


Greg.

bloodhound31
26-10-2012, 08:50 PM
Image #1 = Stunning.

iceman
26-10-2012, 08:51 PM
Thanks Bazza!