Excitement was high when some of the Focus group arrived at Bombo Quarry. We were expecting an EPIC shoot with some steel wool spinning courtesy of Mark Silva our lightpainting guru, followed by a magnificent sunrise. The swell was a predicted 4.8 metres, double the usual height, and high tide was due an hour after sunrise. We arrived at 4 a.m after an alarm rise at approx 2.30 as the trip down South from Sydney takes about 1 hour and 15 mins. Due to a cyclone up North the wind factor was almost gale strength and blew us up the path towards the quarry. No sooner had we reached our destination than the first drop of rain descended and it was all downhill weatherwise from then on. Mark packed his whisk away as spinning sparks would be a surefire disaster. Each of us scuttled off to a different vantage point to try and capture at least one shot of some great wave action. It drizzled and blew for the next 3 hours. Mike Hobbert, one of our buddies, had ventured just around the other side of the cliffs to Cathedral Rocks for an alternative perspective. He experienced worse conditions than we did and was pretty much car bound for the entire session. Nevertheless, he still managed to grab a great shot.
image: A shot taken by me of one of the rocks in the Cathedral set a few months back
It was so windy I dismissed all notions of finding my way to the best vantage point behind a natural rock barrier. My usual path was inaccessible, blocked by thorn bushes, and the alternative route over large sharp rocks was not an option as the wind wrought havoc with any attempts at balancing. David, Brendan, Jeff and Mark made their way to the barrier but were soon climbing around like mountain goats on the rockface. That wasn't to last long before they decided it was safer to be behind the barricade. I stayed playing in a relatively safe spot while I waited for that elusive sun or at least one large wave to make all the effort worthwhile.
My first image is pretty lacklustre as far as images go but I was determined to capture something different this time around. I needed to get down low to avoid the wind so my I've attempted to apply some effects to create some eerie images which are so suited to Bombo. In the pre dawn light there was no contrast in the sky and the basalt walls were dark sentries bordering the quarry, the only light source supplied by my headlight.
Using a similar composition, the mood generated by the rocks is dependent on the processing selected.
Visions of breakfast called us towards Kiama as most of us were drenched by this time and regretfully made our way back to the carpark. There was a short break in the sky and we were rewarded with a double rainbow and the lush green hills of Kiama Downs. Such a contrast to the dark deliciously foreboding aura evident in the quarry. The evidence of a few lingering raindrops on the lens can be seen near the stone wall.
Many people would deem this a failed shoot because there was no steel wool spinning, the sun never really rose, there was minimal opportunity for long exposures given the strength of the wind, and the intermittent rain made lens cleaning a real chore. However, we unanimously agreed, we had an unforgettable time as witnesses to the power of Mother Nature and that we were energised rather than demoralised by our Bombo experience. Plans are afoot.
No comments:
Post a Comment