Swell Time Back At Bombo

With a rumoured swell of 4 metres at Bombo we headed off yet again. The rain had been falling continuously for the previous few days so we were also expecting lots of puddles which are great for shots. The swell wasn't disappointing but the quarry held so much water it was impossible to access sections of the location. The presence of a gusty wind also destroyed any chance of reflections.

Bombo presents a different face each time we visit depending on where we stand and the weather conditions.  We had been keen to capture water cascading down the backs of the rocky pillars but unfortunately the large waves were infrequent and we couldn't seem to anticipate well.

Just being there to witness the power of the ocean is always so humbling and rewarding, so the trip wasn't wasted by any means.

Super Swell

Large swells were forecast today so I was thrilled that I had the day off work. Unfortunately I have a lot to learn about interpreting weather reports. I know about tides, winds, swells, directions and all the lingo but for the life of me can't put them together in a meaningful way. I was thinking I should drive to Bombo, but made the decision to go to the Focus shoot at Maroubra pool having seen some pretty impressive images from there in the past. The waves were large and ferocious even at low tide but I've since discovered that the winds which developed were unfavourable and dwarfing what would have been truly gigantic waves. 

Waves are exhilarating to watch, and the bigger they are, the greater the degree of exhilaration. A pre requisite for my enjoyment is observing the action from a dry safe position. Waves are notoriously unpredictable and it is foolish indeed to tempt fate, particularly to turn your back on the ocean. Some of the Focus guys were standing a little too close for my comfort and paid the price of wet feet.

The rockpool was overflowing, and the waves were creating some amazing waterfalls cascading down the many rock formations. 

 I was amazed that so many of the locals who should be familiar with the unpredictable nature of water seemed to be quite happy to push the boundaries and stand far too close to the water's edge. Many rock fishermen are drowned at our beaches for being foolhardy enough to taunt Mother Nature with their perceived invincibility.  I was appalled to observe one dog owner calmly taking Smartphone pics whilst standing midst some cascading falls. Thankfully the dogs were not harmed.

One of my more 'weather literate' buddies was able to explain to me a change in wind direction was why I was disappointed with the wave show at Yena, which I also visited on my way home. It was still invigorating to be out there watching the surf.

Going Off At Potter Point

A big swell and high winds were predicted for today so Carolyn and I met up at Potter Point to see what we could capture. Although it was blowing a gale ( literally by wind definition) and we could hardly stand upright when close to the cliff's edge, we unearthed some interesting POVs to be followed up at a later date by walking towards Boat Harbour along the shoreline. A non anticipated wave washed over me as I struggled to experiment with some long exposures so I was forced to dry myself off with a salt soaked buffer.  It was exciting to see the height reached by the waves and we only wished the light had been better so we could capture some decent lighting on the cliff faces. A thickshake and burger at Silver Beach Post Office helped to ease the disappointment.

image: A fellow rock climber struggling to control his camera atop the cliff

High Tide At Yena

 

 image: our shadows reflected on the sandstone rocks just as the last of the light welcomed the new morning

Carolyn and I ventured down to Yena this morning in an endeavour to catch the elusive sunrise which always appears on work days but rarely during my holidays. It was another early start and I was prepared to be disappointed and wake to a cloudy sky, but the weather was perfect, just a touch of an Autumn breeze to disturb the still air. The waves were high and loud and from first light we were thrilled with the colour on the water and rocks. It is an arresting sight looking back towards the city of Sydney, the juxtaposition of Nature's water and craggy rocks against the Man's modern skyscrapers. There are many places to explore with a seemingly endless number of compositions possible. The natural colours are so spectacular that there is really no need to process the images other than a crop or resize.

image: the city can be seen above the breaking waves in the distance

 I'm no longer one for deep red sunrises, preferring the less saturated colour combinations. We spent more than two hours photographing the location as the light lasted for an extended period and bathed the rocks in the most beautiful golden light. It is my favourite time of the morning and there were so many interesting subjects and compositions: a tiny tug guiding in the large tanker;  seagulls cavorting in the rockpools filled to the brim with clean rainwater;  waterfalls cascading down the rockshelves in between waves;  golden light shining on the windows of the city skyscrapers giving it the appearance of a golden city; a spectacular cloudy sky and natural vegetation reflected in the clean and clear rockpools: fluffy white and pink clouds floating in a rich blue sky; the iridescent sheen created on the rocks by receding waves; and of course those magnificent rock formations with the morning light sculpting large stone faces on the hillsides.

Cronulla Swell

Ended up back at Cronulla today as a planned walk the day before to Boat Harbour had taken a sharp detour and been a waste of time photographically speaking. I'd walked for a kilometre or so before I realised I was headed away from the coast and into scrub where there was absolutely NOTHING of interest to photograph. I decided to try for a Cronulla sunrise this morning. At least there's water, and water never fails to deliver. Combined with a large swell the surfing is usually mesmerising to watch. Can't say it was spectacular as far as sunrises go, but being out in the fresh air in the still of the morning is food for the soul.

 Photography is a learning experience. Almost every time I go 'out and about' a perspective shift is generated. Reviewing my images from today I realise my landscape shots are generally cut in half. I need to make a conscious effort to decide whether I want the sky or the foreground to be dominant because I really don't think it works well according to a 50/50 ratio.

 Impressive waves generated by the large swell

 The extensive spray over Solander Point

The iridescent glow produced on the sand as the water flow receded

Surfs Up - In A Big Way !

During a stay with my cousin who lives down the South Coast we visited Huskisson Beach where the swell was enormous.

View South Coast Holiday in a larger map

Luckily the sun was behind clouds which reduced the glare of facing towards the light and we were able to find a great vantage point where we could position ourselves to the side of the surfers and obtain a better shot. Even so we were quite a distance away from the action and it was quite a challenge to maintain focus. The surfers were having a great deal of difficulty even getting into the water and I spent ages waiting for that moment to capture the moment. Luckily I was able to grab one shot just before we decided to leave in order to escape the escalating winds.