TOPAustralia: The Great Ocean Road

The Twelve Apostles -

On The Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia 


In This Issue

So, after a short respite from newsletters and articles, we are back!  Many miles, many destinations and thousands of images later, we are ready to share the world of nature, travel and photography again.  We've missed the rapport and look forward to a lot of fun. 
Here's what what we've got in this month's newsletter:  [Click to access]

  • Frequent Flyer Credit Cards. Airline cards, reward cards and bonus mile deals can earn you free flights, hotel rooms or cash refunds.  Find ways to help maximize your credit card benefits. 
  • Free Yourself from Foreign Fees. And finally, exchange fees on foreign country transactions can be a nuisance and can cost you a pretty penny.  Pick up some pointers to minimize or even terminate those fees.

 And, totally unrelated to travel or photography, do you like to barbecue? It's a whole different art form from photography. If you enjoy smoking meats or barbecuing check out my BBQ website. Great ribs, delicious recipes, a variety of sauces and rubs, and good fun!  Merlin's Magic BBQ

 

Enjoy!

Cliff and Doris Kolber

kolberphotography.com 

 

 

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GreatOceanRoad The Great Ocean Road

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Australia is an amazing country and continent. It's the same size as the United States yet has only 22 million people, with over half living around the Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas. It has some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery in the world with its desolate outback, iconic red deserts, huge canyons, rugged coastlines and the crown jewel, the Great Barrier Reef.

 

Shipwreck Coast from the air -

Loch Ard Gorge in the center 

Shipwreck Coast 

Part of this astounding scenery is along the "The Great Ocean Road" located in Victoria just south of Melbourne.  The Southern Ocean crashes ferociously against the shore and has sculpted rock cliffs and sandstone formations over millions of years. This area contains some of the most famous natural landmarks in the world and is an unending cornucopia of landscapes and photography. The region is also affectionately called the "Shipwreck Coast" because of the number of ships that met their demise over the last 200 years in the ferocious seas and devastating rocks offshore.

  

Town of Port Campbell

The Great Ocean Road can be driven in one day, but you really need to give it at least two, preferably three, days to fully explore the region. The two lane highway traverses the region and hugs the coast for its entire length, 150 miles, between Torquay on the east and Warrnambool to the west. The towns of Apollo Bay, Lorne and Port Campbell are in the middle with a great variety of hotels, inns, restaurants and retail stores. We've visited the Great Ocean Road twice and on each occasion spent three days exploring the region, which is barely enough to visit and explore the highlights.  

 

Split Rock Lighthouse at Airey's Inlet

on the Great Ocean Road

Forces of Nature  

The most famous landmarks along the Shipwreck Coast are in Port Campbell National Park and include the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, the Arch and the Grotto. Two gorgeous lighthouses, Split Rock and Cape Otway, were built along the coast to protect ships from those great formations. 

 

The forces of nature have been quite evident on these landmarks. In just the past few decades three major incidents have changed the landscape forever: 

London Bridge

 

1.  London Bridge used to be a land bridge protruding about a quarter mile into the ocean with two huge arches making it appear like the famous bridge. On one summer afternoon in July, 1990 the largest of the arches collapsed, leaving an island offshore with no bridge. Two people were at the far end of the newly formed island and had to be rescued by helicopter.  [The story goes that they were married, but not to each other, and apparently not happy about the worldwide publicity they received that day.] 

 

2.  The most famous landmark on the Great Ocean Road, The Twelve Apostles, is an amazing site along the coast.  The formations were aptly numbered "twelve" when there was a series of twelve sea stacks running parallel to the shore. But erosion and forces of nature have collapsed five of the stacks, with three of them disappearing just over the past few decades. There are now seven remaining. [Are they now "The Seven Apostles"?] 

 

3.  Loch Ard Gorge is a diverse collection of eroded cliffs, arches and pillars along the shore.  Its centerpiece was the "Island Archway" a huge arch in the middle of the gorge. 

Loch Ard Gorge in 2010 -

a year after the arch collapsed  

In June, 2009 the arch collapsed, leaving two monolithic pillars where the majestic arch once stood. You can see the difference in the accompanying photographs shot in 2002 and again in 2010, less than a year after the collapse.

 

The Bird's Eye View

You need to make time for a helicopter ride over the Shipwreck Coast. It is only fifteen minutes long but a definite "don't miss" event.  It's an incredible and amazing way to see the famous landmarks and rugged shore from a bird's eye view.

Loch Arch Gorge in 2002 -

Arch is in the middle

The heliport is next to the Twelve Apostles visitor center and advance

reservations are highly recommended since tour groups also book in advance. The view from the air is jaw-dropping with miles of rugged shoreline, cliffs and ferocious seas stretching out in front of you.

 

 

The Great Ocean Road is an incredible experience. If you get the opportunity to visit you will be astounded by the region and come home with a portfolio of amazing images.

  
London Bridge from air
Shipwreck Coast and Great Ocean Road

from helicopter.  London Bridge is at bottom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PhotographyPhotography along the Great Ocean Road 
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In my Photo Bag 

On our most recent visit I carried my Nikon D300 and three Nikon zoom lenses: 12-24mm, 18-200mm and 80-400mm, along with the travel tripod. Since the D300 has a 1.5x crop factor, these lenses covered the equivalent of 18mm-600mm at 35mm which was


Rainforest in Otway Natl Park

quite sufficient. You'll use all the lenses you've got on the wide variety of subjects from landscapes to macros, flowers, birds and wildlife. And if you're familiar with HDR or have panoramic software you can produce even more amazing images along the Great Ocean Road.  

 

What is the Subject?

To capture the essence of any scene constantly ask yourself, "what is the subject?" and think about what specifically attracted you to that scene. Start off by shooting the wide landscape.When you're done with the wide shots, narrow your field of focus and your viewfinder on what originally caught your attention. You'll find that you can capture the essence of a huge scene just as realistically, and with more emotion, by photographing a smaller portion of that expansive view.

 

Travel Tripod

It is important to use a tripod along the Great Ocean Road. There are sturdy, compact tripods that are perfect for travel. Gitzo makes some that weigh under three pounds and fold to 20". By adding a quality lightweight ballhead you have a setup that will keep your equipment solid in the constant breezes and will travel with you easily.  

The shore along Shipwreck Coast

 

I carry a Gitzo 1155T tripod (2 lbs) topped off with a Really Right Stuff BH-40 ballhead (1 lb). This is solid enough for zoom lenses up to 400mm f/5.6. The tripod supports over ten pounds of gear securely, fits into my carry-on luggage and passes through TSA security with no problem. As long as a tripod collapses to fit in a carry-on bag it will pass through TSA.  With good tripod techniques you don't need to lose any images to blur. The only issue is price - these tripods and ballheads are not cheap, but well worth the investment.    

 

Twelve Apostles at sunset 

 

 With strong winds along the Great Ocean Road you'll be glad you brought a tripod. A sudden gust can send your unattended equipment to the ground in a flash. Unfortunately I know from personal experience.

 

AY Caramba!

I had set up my tripod on a cliff overlooking the Twelve Apostles when I turned around to get something out of my photo bag. A gust swooped in and blew the tripod over before I could reach around to grab it. I could only watch in horror as my tripod and camera, seemingly in slow-motion, headed for the ground. I grabbed the tripod as the camera hit the ground but it was too late. The lens hit first and cracked, but luckily the camera body was not damaged.   It was not a good feeling. Fortunately I had two more lenses for the rest of the trip but it was a hard lesson -- and a good reminder to never leave a tripod unattended, especially in a breeze.

 

Shooting from a Helicopter

Photography from a helicopter adds a dimension to your portfolio that is not appreciated until you've done it. When shooting from a helicopter, stay relaxed, breathe easy, remain aware of your camera settings and most importantly, calmly keep shooting. It is easy to become excited about the view and forget camera basics.

 

12 Apostles from air
Shipwreck Coast from a helicopter -

"Twelve Apostles" are on the extreme right 

Don't let that happen. Choose your lens before boarding and use just that one. Bring only your camera and lens. Leave the bag and other gear in the car.  With only 15 minutes of flight time you want to maximize your shooting time. The landscape moves quickly and you do not get a second chance for a shot. And, stay aware of the horizon and keep it level in the viewfinder.   

 

I use the 18-200mm zoom lens when shooting from helicopters because of its wide range of focal lengths and because it is an IS (Image Stabilized) lens. I also use a higher ISO(400 to 800) to help reduce camera shake.

"The Arch" from the air. These waters have witnessed many shipwrecks in the past 200 years  

If the helicopter window is closed hold the camera against the pane and use your hand to minimize vibrations. In any event always cradle the camera securely in one hand while gently pressing the shutter with the other. Review your settings and metering before entering the helicopter. You want to spend minimal time fidgeting with settings and metering in the helicopter when you could be shooting.

 

Have a great time and enjoy the scenery! 

 

 

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CreditCardsFrequent Flyer Credit Cards  

Do you own a credit card that earns airline miles or hotel points? If not, it might be time to consider one.  And even if you do own one, keep reading, we've got some useful information here.  

 

First, keep in mind that these cards make most sense if you do not rollover the monthly balance; otherwise the interest charge more than eats up the benefits.  So the best deal is if you pay off the credit card balance on this card in full and on time each month.  There is also a fee usually charged, around $60-$80 a year for the credit card. 

 

Mileage or reward credit cards (sometimes called "affinity" credit cards) can make a lot of sense and you can accumulate thousands of miles for free flights and hotel stays.  If you do consider applying for one, be sure to visit flyertalk.com (click to access).  This website is a great resource to find bonus deals on your new or existing card. This is not small potatoes. You can earn up to 50k - 100k miles just for applying for a mileage credit card and using it the first few months.  

 

There are other types of reward cards, such as cash-back cards that have become popular.  You'll have to compare the different cards and rewards to determine which is best for you.  

 

Other great online resources (click to access) are:   

 

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CurrencyFeesFree Yourself from Foreign Fees  

 If you've traveled to foreign countries you are probably aware of "exchange" or "transaction" fees charged for credit card purchases, currency exchange and ATM withdrawals.  Fees of up to 3% or more are deducted at the point of exchange or charged at the end of the month on your credit card statement. You should check with your card company or bank to verify the amount being charged on foreign transactions and withdrawals.   

 

Some credit cards though, have recently stopped charging foreign transaction fees on purchases which can be a substantial savings. A bonus is that these are sometimes affinity cards that accumulate miles or points. A great example is the Chase Bank British Airways VISA credit card. It charges no foreign transaction fees on purchases and accumulates airline miles. The miles can be used not only on BA but any "One World" airline including American, LAN, Qantas, Iberia and others. On top of all that the card usually offers bonus miles for applying.  Capital One and certain Citibank cards also do not charge foreign transaction fees, but their annual fees can be substantial. 

 

Before traveling outside your home country check with your bank to verify if it charges fees on ATM withdrawals in foreign countries. If no fees are charged then ATM withdrawals are an economical way to acquire local currency.  But you need to be vigilant and careful to use a bank ATM machine and not a "Currency Exchange" machine which usually charges a hefty transaction fee built into the exchange rate.  

 

Good luck, and happy travels!

 

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Cliff and Doris backyardThanks for visiting.  Feel free to contact us with comments or questions. And as always,be sure to explore the outdoors and enjoy our natural lands. Leave everything as it was when you arrived and it will be a rewarding experience for everyone in the future.

Cliff and Doris Kolber 

www.kolberphotography.com