I am back from the 3-week long trip to the Red Centre and the hard drive is half-full of images (can't wait to start working on them). This moonlit image is from a truly magical place called Glen Helen in the West MacDonnell Ranges, near Alice Springs.
The Finke River is one of the oldest rivers in the World and parts of it existed 300-400 million years ago. The red colour in the rock came out quite strong under the moonlight.
Great shot. You're making me want to go back, it's been too long. Perhaps when I take LSL . Last time I was there it was the days of emulsion film and such shots weren't being taken (well not commonly). I'll have to give it a try if I ever get back there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alexch
Hi All,
I am back from the 3-week long trip to the Red Centre and the hard drive is half-full of images (can't wait to start working on them). This moonlit image is from a truly magical place called Glen Helen in the West MacDonnell Ranges, near Alice Springs.
The Finke River is one of the oldest rivers in the World and parts of it existed 300-400 million years ago. The red colour in the rock came out quite strong under the moonlight.
Cheers,
Alex
Yes, it's amazing to think that the river is older than the MacDonnell Ranges but the evidence is clear. The Finke, Todd and a few others were meandering across a flat plain when the ranges began to rise under them. The rate of rise was slow enough that the rivers were able to cut through the ranges before they were diverted by them. (If the rate of uplift was greater than the rate of cutting the rivers would have been diverted, just as the Murray was.) These are termed antecedent streams. There are also some smaller subsequent streams which feed the rivers and these have their course constrained by the ridges of the ranges. So now we have rivers meandering through the ranges and cutting through them to form the spectacular gorges which hold life-giving water that sustained the Aboriginal people and now attract tourists that sustain Alice Springs.
Nice processing and natural looking Alex. I wonder though if the composition could have placed the rock formation either to the far right or far left. Do you think that would have been better overall? I tend to prefer that myself. Or perhaps the Milkway over to the left more and perhaps cradling rock. Still a nice shot. I do like the way the 14-24 can give that nice rendering in moon light with the colours of the rock and green without any colour fringing.
Nice Image Alex.
Walked the Larapinta trail two years ago and stayed the last night at Glen Helen Resort.
I loved the country, and the walks,would love to do it again
Cheers
Thanks for the kind comments, everyone! It was our first trip up to the centre and I am sure I'll be back there soon with a proper 4WD instead of a campervan.
Nice processing and natural looking Alex. I wonder though if the composition could have placed the rock formation either to the far right or far left. Do you think that would have been better overall? I tend to prefer that myself. Or perhaps the Milkway over to the left more and perhaps cradling rock. Still a nice shot. I do like the way the 14-24 can give that nice rendering in moon light with the colours of the rock and green without any colour fringing.
Thanks Paul. I think composition is a very subjective thing and at the scene I felt it was appropriate to have it this way - Giant Emu hiding behind a big rock and ghost gums on the left. Besides, there was a very limited scope to move because of the river and vegetation.
. Last time I was there it was the days of emulsion film and such shots weren't being taken (well not commonly). I'll have to give it a try if I ever get back there. 
