The 12 Apostles would have to be one of the most photographed natural wonders in Australia. They are right up there with the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru. Over 2 million visitors a year, not bad for a country that only has 24 million people living in it. When you are there you will find loads of tourist buses arriving from Melbourne filled with overseas visitors who want to see the wonders of the Great Ocean Road and this spot is the main draw card.
The biggest problem for photographers is how do you get an image that over 2 million a year are also getting. Trying to make your own stand out is very hard.
I’ve tried doing other things to images when I have gone at other times and haven’t really thought I did them justice. This time I decided, since we got there early and not many people were around, that I would try doing a long exposure. The conditions were right for it, overcast sky, and the few people there meant there wouldn’t be too much shaking on the platforms.
Then, the sun came out. Usually I get annoyed with that, but I think it really worked in my favour this time. I knew when I saw the image on the computer that I would want to do something else to it and opened it up in Photoshop. I often find landscapes, or seascapes, so hard to work on, how can I do what I would normally do to images from the city on them. I decided to forget that, and just play around. I did many of the usual processes and in the end, I think I got to a point where I thought I had managed to do something different. I hope so anyway.
This is my final image after the processing. I like how it looks almost like night now. It really is an amazing landscape there, I look at this image and feel like I was there all on my own.
Wonderful picture! We visited the 12 Apostles (and we climbed Uluru) when we were living in Australia (circa 1997), but I wasn’t much of a photographer just yet, so I certainly didn’t capture anything worth sharing. I understand your struggle when it comes to crowds, though. For that, I love early morning!
Thank you Brianna. I haven’t been to Uluru, hoping to one day soon. I get the not much into photography, we spent 7 months in Denmark when my daughter was a baby and so regret not taking any really good photos. It is so disappointing. Yes, early mornings are the best.
Uluru is absolutely spectacular! I’m SOO glad we had the opportunity to climb it while we were able, but I hope to have another chance at some decent photography – again, before my camera days >_<
I have heard that, I must see it one day. People still climb it now, even though they get asked not to. I hope you get to see it again Brianna, I hope we both do.
I shared this photo on my blog. Of course I gave you credit.
I clicked on your link and there doesn’t seem to be anything there.
You’ve been successful. It stands out from the crowd. Stunning.
I happy to hear you say that, thank you.
You’re most welcome.
😀
Beautiful image. The long exposure creates a dreamlike atmosphere.
I think I love long exposures, thank you Laura.
Beautiful. The image really draws you in, looks nothing like images I’ve seen before of this same spot. Very well done.
I like reading this Lilka, thank you so much.
Love your take on it.
That’s great Sherry, thank you.
Of all of nature’s wonders I have seen, the 12 Apostles is still one of my favourites. Thanks for sharing this image. It’s a great one.
That’s wonderful to hear. I like them too, thank you.
We visited Melbourne in September 2015, including a tour of 12 (or 8) apostles. I wrote a short poem to celebrate or cerebrate the occasion. If you are interested, you are welcome to read it in my blog:
http://www.wonkywizard.wordpress.com
I love your pictures.
they are spectacular aren’t they? Thank you.
Well, done Leanne. I seen other images of this place and you have shown a different take on it. I like the somber mood very much.
Thank you so much Robin, I’m happy to hear you say that.
I like your interpretation Leanne. It is as if the ocean and stacks are spotlighted in the middle of the night.
Yes, that is exactly the look I was going for Chris, glad you could see that. Thank you.