Itinerary

Nature is a fickle mistress, constantly changing her mood. Great photographers respond to these changing conditions in a fluid and open-minded way. For this reason, the itinerary outlined below is just a blue-print, a guide to provide structure for the journey and not a rigid timetable.

Not mentioned in the itinerary are the evening activities. These will depend on the desires and energy levels of the group and will include prepared presentations, critiques of the day’s shooting, casual Q&A around a campfire, or a couple of glasses of wine and tall tales of travel and photography.

Day 1, Sunday: We get right to it with a dawn shoot in Alice Springs! We meet in the centre of town at 5.45am and take the short drive to The Old Telegraph Station Historical Reserve. In the grounds is the beautiful waterhole that was mistakenly named Alice Springs from which the town eventually got its name. After a breakfast, we visit the award-winning Alice Springs Desert Park where we will learn about the geology, flora and fauna of this magnificent region. Bring plenty of memory cards, because there are amazing walk-through aviaries, varied habitats, a nocturnal house and a free-flight bird show which will all provide many opportunities for great shooting.

After lunch, we leave civilisation and head into the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges. The first scheduled stop is Ellery Creek Big Hole in West MacDonnell National Park where we can photograph the huge waterhole and wildflowers lining Ellery Creek. Some may even choose to have a swim!

In the late afternoon we will set up camp at Ormiston Gorge and then head out for an evening shoot.

Day 2, Monday: We will photograph the first rays of dawn striking the side of beautiful Mount Sonder. After breakfast we will explore Glen Helen Gorge where the world’s oldest river, the Finke, cuts its way through the rock. Participants will have the opportunity to take a chopper ride over the West MacDonnell Ranges, abstracting the landscape and providing a unique perspective on this geological marvel.

From here, we take a 20 minute drive to Redbank Gorge and take a short walk following the creek to where a narrow fissure allows the water to pass out through the mountains. We head back to Ormiston for lunch after which we will have a presentation about photographic techniques and accessories.

The evening shoot will take place along the Ormiston Creek.

Day 3, Tuesday: This morning we will explore the iconic Ormiston Gorge. We can photograph the stately gums along waterline, set against the red rock of the gorge wall.

After breakfast, we’ll have a morning presentation about professional photographic workflow using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. This astounding program allows for swift and powerful selection and processing of hundreds of images at a time.

We will pack up camp before lunch and then head down the famed Mereenie Loop towards Kings Canyon. Along the way, we’ll stop at Tyler’s Lookout and Tnorala, or Gosse Bluff, the spectacular impact site of a 500 metre-wide comet that crashed into the earth some 140 million years ago.

We will set up camp at Kings Canyon Resort and photograph along Kings Creek at the base of the canyon in the afternoon.

Day 4, Wednesday: An early start will take us to the base of the Kings Canyon walk. We’ll climb up through the domes of Kings Canyon to Carmichael’s Lookout where we’ll shoot the dawn. A light breakfast will be had upon the plateau to enable us to stay in this beautiful landscape while the light is low. A six-kilometre trail meanders through sandstone domes, through a gorgeous cycad grove, around the top of the dramatic canyon and back down to the carpark.

We will have lunch back at the resort before watching a presentation on composition and the art of photography. If any participant wishes to take a heli flight over Kings Canyon, this can be arranged during the afternoon.

Sunset will be spent photographing the canyon.

Day 5, Thursday: Dawn will be spent at Kings Canyon. After the morning shoot we return to Kings Canyon Resort for breakfast. We will then pack up camp and prepare to leave for Uluru. Along the way we will stop in at Kathleen Springs and the Mount Connor Lookout.

Once at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park we will have lunch and then visit the cultural centre before joining the traditional owners Kuniya Walk around Mutitjulu waterhole and its art sites. Here you will learn about Tjukurpa, or Aboriginal law as well as survival techniques in this arid environment.

One of the highlights of any trip to Uluru is enjoying wine and cheese while watching the colours change on the rock as the sun sets. A few fine photographs will also be made, of course.

Day 6, Friday: We will NOT be photographing Uluru from the sunrise viewing area. About 4000 other people will, though. In our experience, better views can be had from around the base of the rock on the eastern side; or if there is a spectacular dawn, photographing Uluru in silhouette makes for a more interesting image.

After breakfast we will learn about the geology, ecology, history and management of the park. After this finishes, we will continue the walk around the base of Uluru. It is hard to overstate the magnificence of the experience of the walk around this monolith. A well-earned lunch awaits us back at camp.

A little R&R, or possibly a visit to the gallery at Sails in the Desert Hotel and nearby souvenir shops will be enjoyed before we head out for an afternoon shoot at Uluru or Kata Tjuta, depending on the weather. A helicopter flight can also be arranged this afternoon if desired.

Day 7, Saturday: Sunrise will be from the Dune Viewing Area at Kata Tjuta. We will travel the short distance further to walk amongst the domes of Kata Tjuta.

On our return to Yulara we will pack up our camp for the final time. Anyone flying out from Yulara will be transferred to the airport. Participants who choose to stay on will be taken to their new accommodation, and there may be an opportunity for some to get a lift back to Alice Springs if necessary.