On The Beaton Track: January 2005
Travels and Treks
I continued shooting in the Albury and Canberra regions throughout the last months of 2004 and the results of this epic venture will be a new book coauthored with David Lindenmayer of the Australian National University to be published by CSIRO Publishing later this year. Springtime starts early in Australia – sometimes as early as midwinter when some birds start courting behaviour and certain plants are in full bloom. I was in the Gundagai region of New South Wales and, despite the Arctic cold winds blowing in from the south, eucalypts like Mugga Ironbark and Blakely’s Red Box were in flower. They are essential to certain honeyeaters and parrots which migrate through the region. I was still working with Mason Crane, an amazing ecologist who knows where to find any bird, anytime, anywhere – down to a specific bush at a specific hour on a specific day.
A short assignment took me to the Taronga Zoo, not to photograph the animals but a human. I was really lucky to meet Bradley Trevor Grieve, who has been a personal hero of mine. He is another Australian who broke into international acclaim, after writing the Blue Day Book.
Probably the biggest trek this year was the one where I moved from Brooklyn to Pearl Beach – just a hop across the Hawkesbury River but, if you don’t have a boat, a long way round by car. It’s a move that is more significant in mental attitude, for I can no longer label myself a resident of metropolitan Sydney. Pearl Beach is in the Central Coast region of New South Wales and is a very laid back community where Sydneysiders come to spend their holidays. I just hope I can draw my attention off the surrounding beaches and forests long enough to get some work done!
I did get into the holiday spirit in December when my sister and nephew came from California for a short visit. Like most North Americans, they experienced a culture shock to celebrate Christmas in summer wearing shorts and thongs, eating salads and ice cream and splashing in the warm Pacific waters. We camped at Port Stephens where we went sea kayaking with dolphins and dune trekking to discover the Lost City – still not famous despite being the real life locale where Mad Max was filmed.
Presentations & Workshops
I was back at the Australian Museum for the July school holidays, once more teaching Nature Photography to high schoolers. I was thrilled to have such a dedicated group and a couple of them even taught me a thing or two about digital cameras.
The following month I was on a judging panel for a photographic competition organised by Willoughby Council. This public service body gets my gong for being the most environmentally proactive council in the whole Sydney Metropolitan area. Residents pay an increased levy but the result is a shire that has some of the cleanest and greenest belts. On two consecutive Sundays, I also led some of the residents on bushwalks where I gave demonstrations and spouted nature photography tips to anyone who would listen.
Recent Publications
Several calendars published by David Messent and Artique Designs used my photos for their 2005 lineups. My special favourites, however, are the two I created myself: Healing Herbs and Animal Speak. These were taken on by the prolific publisher, Bartel Publications – a brave venture since I’m a raw beginner in the calendar field. I was pleased to hear that one customer actually called up to compliment them on the quality of the Healing Herbs calendar. So I guess I’ll be doing the 2006 series as well.
The current issue of Nature Australia (Summer 2004-2005) features the bushfire photography I carried out last January at Jervis Bay. Australian Geographic’s current issue 77 (Jan-Mar 2005) has two stories I shot: Web of Intrigue, about St Andrews Cross spiders, and White Pine Country, about the Pilliga, Australia’s largest remaining cypress woodland (see these stories in Features), as well as a cute little Mopsus jumping spider for the first Natural Exposure published in full page format.
Go on, get out there and buy them now! And some of the calendars might still be around too!
I wish you all a profitable, successful, fun-filled, interesting 2005. I know I’ve got lots on the agenda myself and I look forward to sharing it all with you in the next Beaton Track.
