Cape Woolamai | VIC | Australia

Sunset at The Pinnacles in Cape Woolamai, Victoria, is a magical time. I love this place! I feel like I have completely escaped the modern world and have transported to some sort of pre-historic place millions of years in the past. It helped that I was the only person here at the time (which from a safety perspective is not great). A part of me wanted to pack the camera away, sit on a rock with a drink in hand, and just watch the sun set over the horizon, with the fresh sea breeze against my face.

This shoot really convinced me to throw down money for the Sony 14mm f/1.8GM (smiley face). The Samyang 14mm lens has been great - especially for how little I paid for it - but will now go off to a new home.

Tags:   16:10 2048 Australia Gav Owen Pinnacles Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Sony A7RIII Victoria cloudy dynamic flow foam glow golden golden hour iconic lichen ocean rocks saltwater seascape sunset sunstar warm waves Cape Woolamai geo:lon=145.34311944 exif:lens=---- exif:make=sony exif:model=ilce-7rm3 geo:country=australia camera:make=sony geo:location=pinnacles exif:iso_speed=200 geo:city=cape woolamai geo:lat=-38.55933889 geo:state=victoria camera:model=ilce-7rm3

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McLean Falls | Otago | New Zealand

At the entrance to McLean Falls in New Zealand stands a small and unobtrusive donation box, so that people can contribute to the falls' upkeep. My spirits were high and my mood generous - contributing as I did close to ten New Zealand dollars in loose change. That's more than my usual contribution, but I was flying out the next day and didn't want to take the coin with me, so I emptied into the box most of what I had. "That'll keep the karma Gods happy!" I thought as I bounded along the path.

I proceeded to photograph another location further downstream before getting to this location. The path is behind this scene and a fair way up vertically. I took some shots just off the path before making my way down to here. I lazily decided against putting my camera and tripod away but instead just pushed the tripod legs together and then used it like a walking stick - after all I was only going to travel a few meters...

As soon as I got to the edge where I was contemplating stepping down, something frightening happened - both feet slid out from under me and suddenly I was airborne! As I flew 10 feet in the air down to the solid rock below with several grand's worth of camera gear clamped to the top of the tripod in my left hand, all manner of terror raced through my mind - thoughts of smashed cameras, broken legs, twisted knees, flight cancellations and hospital visits all came at once.

In what seemed like a very long time I hit the ground feet first, but on the wet mossy ground my feet slid out yet again and my butt cheeks absorbed most of the impact. My tripod lurched forward and I pulled back hard to keep it away from the water and rocks, and I also leaned back to stop myself joining the stream for an impromptu swim as I slid forward towards it.

When all motion had ceased my camera was just inches above the water and one foot was in the stream. I immediately checked my surrounds and I was relieved that no one saw the spectacle! I then proceeded to check myself - knees? fine. coccyx? fine. spine? seems OK. miraculously I felt 100%! It was only my hands that were shaking like a leaf from the massive adrenaline shot to my system.

I then decided to do what I came to do and that is to take pictures. Within minutes of my fall I set this shot up at the exact spot where my butt ended up, and it's ended up being my favourite shot of these falls.

The moral of this story?:- When you see those donation boxes then always toss some coin in, as the Karma Gods are watching!

Tags:   2048 3:2 Explore Explored Gav Owen New Zealand Sony A7RII Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS cotton candy water creek flow green inland karma landscape long exposure lush moss mossy nature outdoor polarizer relaxing river rock serene serenity single shot slippery stream tripod water watercourse waterfall Chaslands Otago geo:country=new zealand exif:aperture=ƒ / 11 camera:make=sony geo:city=chaslands exif:make=sony exif:lens=fe 16-35mm f4 za oss geo:lon=169.352575 exif:focal_length=16 mm geo:location=mclean falls geo:state=otago geo:lat=-46.5693361 camera:model=ilce-7rm2 exif:iso_speed=100 exif:model=ilce-7rm2

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Lake Matheson | Canterbury | New Zealand

My buddy and I checked out of the lovely Te Waonui Forest Retreat in Franz Josef earlier this morning and made our way down past Fox. A work colleague had previously told me about this lake that has views of the mountains, and so I suggested we make a stop.

When we got to the carpark I was surprised at how big it was, and that there were toilets and even a cafe and gift shop. The walk in was a few kms as well. We almost didn't bother as we had a fair drive down through the Haast Pass that day with quite a few waterfalls and pools to visit on the way.

We started the walk and I could see the mountains were reasonably clear. I could also see some cloud banks rolling in and so I decided to start running. I got to the photo location and everything was clouded over, but with a bit of patience the clouds opened up enough for me to see Mt Tasman, with Mt Cook still being obscured on the right hand side. Mere minutes after taking this shot, everything was clouded over and the lake became choppy from the wind, but I was glad I was able to capture this little moment of serenity.

Tags:   2048 3:2 Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Explore Explored Gav Owen Metabones adapter New Zealand Sony A7RII South Island alpine blue cloud duck ducks green lake landscape morning morning light mountain outdoor reflection reflections relaxing serene sky snow travel water zen Fox Glacier West Coast geo:lat=-43.438386111112 exif:focal_length=50 mm camera:make=sony exif:make=sony geo:country=new zealand geo:location=lake matheson walkway geo:state=west coast geo:city=fox glacier exif:aperture=ƒ / 10 exif:lens=24-70mm f2.8 g ssm ii exif:iso_speed=100 camera:model=ilce-7rm2 geo:lon=169.964 exif:model=ilce-7rm2

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South West National Park | TAS | Australia

Somewhere deep in South West National Park, Tasmania, I witnessed a special sunrise. If a pterodactyl had flown by that morning, it wouldn't have seemed out of place.

Tags:   16:10 2048 Canon TS-E17mm f/4L Gav Owen Gondwana Sony A7R Tasmania cloud cushion plant grass green hiking hill landscape mountain nature orange outdoor outdoors plant purple remote scorparia serene sky sunrise wild wilderness South West National Park Australia exif:aperture=ƒ / 11 camera:make=sony geo:location=mount anne exif:make=sony geo:country=australia geo:state=tasmania geo:lon=146.42434167 exif:focal_length=17 mm geo:lat=-42.94342167 exif:model=ilce-7r camera:model=ilce-7r exif:lens=17mm f4 geo:city=south west national park exif:iso_speed=100

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Western Arthur Range, South West National Park | TAS | Australia

A panorama stitch and b+w conversion of the mountains above Lake Oberon, in the Western Arthurs, Tasmania Australia.

Tags:   2048 3.5:1 3xp Arthur Ranges Aussie Australia Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Explore Explored Gav Owen Lake Oberon Mount Pegasus National Park Sony A7R South West National Park Summer Tasmania Western Arthurs black+white blackandwhite calm glacial granite haze hazy hiking humps landscape monochrome morning morning light mountains outdoor pano panorama remote rocky wild wilderness exif:aperture=ƒ / 11 camera:make=sony geo:country=australia exif:make=sony geo:lon=146.26837137 exif:focal_length=70 mm geo:state=tasmania exif:lens=24-70mm f2.8 oss geo:city=south west national park exif:model=ilce-7r camera:model=ilce-7r geo:location=western arthurs exif:iso_speed=100 geo:lat=-43.14192796

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