The setting sun at Tenby Point beach, Western Port Bay.
On this occasion the tide was so high that the water’s edge was all the way up to the vegetation line so there wasn’t much opportunity to explore the beach. We could only walk a few short metres to the left of the access stairs and no further.
Fortunately though it was still possible to catch a glimpse of the setting sun from this position.
There are two public walking tracks into Bushrangers Bay that are about the same length. One track starts north-east of the bay at Boneo Road and the other track begins at the Cape Schanck lighthouse carpark, west of the bay.
We chose to walk the track from the Cape Schanck lighthouse carpark because it’s arguably more scenic and there’s a lot more carpark spaces available.
Along the sandy track there’s a couple of opportunities to look back along the coastline towards Pulpit Rock.
Further along the track the native trees enclose the path and form a welcoming tunnel.
After a bit of walking the bush track crosses the Burrabong Creek via a small wooden footbridge. Eventually the bush track opens onto the sandy beach of Bushrangers Bay. Here you’ll encounter Main Creek which cuts through the sandy beach and enters the ocean.
You need to cross the creek. You might get wet feet here depending on how much water is flowing in the creek at the time, and how far you can jump. 🙂
In the photo below, Main Creek cuts through the sandy beach on it’s way to the ocean.
After crossing the creek it’s a short walk to the beautiful rock formations and platforms where at low tide there are lots of small crystal clear rock pools exposed.
At the water’s edge the rock platforms rumble as waves slam into the steep rocky walls.
Looking back from the arch towards Bushrangers Bay, lots of people exploring the platforms and rockpools.
It was a public holiday and very busy.
When we arrived at the arch we found that much of it was in the shade with very bright background elements.
This is problematic from a photography perspective, but anyway you work with what you’re given. 🙂
Photo below – Using a nice wide lens, some ND filtering, and blending 3 exposures I ended up with a keeper that I like.
This image is available to purchase as a print here.
Following are a couple of long exposure images from Montforts Beach taken at first light on a cloudy grey dawn. You can access Montforts Beach by parking at the Spray Point Road carpark and following the sandy walking track south. Montforts Beach is signposted along the track. It’s also well worthwhile visiting Spray Point while you’re here.
Tech stuff for the image below- 5 sec, f/11, ISO50.
Technical stuff for the image below – 2.5 secs, f/18, ISO50.
A long exposure image of Sierra Nevada Rock, Portsea.  The rock formation is on Portsea back beach, just a short walk north-west of the London Bridge rock formation. IMPORTANT – It’s only accessible at low tide.
Tech stuff -15 sec, f/14, ISO 100, using an ND400 filter.
A long exposure image of surf crashing onto the rocks at Cowrie beach on Phillip Island. Cowrie beach is located a short distance north-east of the Nobbies tourist centre.
Tech stuff – 25 sec, f/8, ISO100 using a 10 stop solid filter and a 4 stop soft grad filter.
During a recent trip to Gippsland I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and experience an awesome sunset on the shoreline at Metung.
It was one of those rare occasions where the colour seemed to stay in the sky for ages.  It was truly a magical evening.  🙂
Pictured below, one of the iconic tree remnants on the Metung shoreline, side lit by the setting sun.
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Pictured below, …Metung’s equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster, …..or perhaps it’s simply a tree remnant?  🙂
Pictured below, a “behind the scenes shot” caught with my phone camera as the sky lit up.
Pictured below, a “behind the scenes shot” taken as the sky started to fill with colour. Photo courtesy of Mustang Sally.
A long exposure sunrise image from Sullivan Bay, Sorrento, on the Mornington Peninsula. Â The iconic jetty has recently started to fall to bits. Â I suspect she wont be around much longer. Â
Last weekend we had our ND group excursion for beginners.  It was a great turnout with lots of enthusiastic people attending.  We started shooting at Bridgewater Bay in Sorrento in very difficult conditions with the wind blowing a continuous mist of fine rain onto our lenses.  I was both surprised and delighted that so many people stayed and had the patience to put up with these conditions, …..such a dedicated bunch.  🙂  Many thanks to Jason Cincotta and Michael Stringer for assisting with so many ND newcomers.
Later we moved onto the front beaches at Point King, Sorrento, followed by Shelley beach, Portsea , both providing us with much more friendly shooting conditions.
Pictured below – Point King jetty. Â Tech stuff – 132 secs f/18.
Pictured below – Shelley beach, Portsea. Â Tech stuff – 60 secs f/18.
Pictured below – Shelley beach, Portsea. Â Tech stuff – 136 sec f/18. 10 stop ND + 4 stop soft grad.
Pictured below – Most of the crew from the group excursion, Bridgewater Bay.
For those unfamiliar with groynes, a groyne is a low wall or timber barrier built out into the sea from a beach to prevent erosion.
On a previous visit to photograph this groyne the tide was unexpectedly low and yielded images that weren’t quite what we were looking for. Â This time I made sure to arrive at peak high tide and waited for the tide to recede and reveal just enough of the groyne to catch these images.
A local resident told me that the zig-zagging planks aren’t always visible and that they’re sometimes completely covered by sand with only the posts exposed.
For those who might be interested in photographing the groyne, Â it’s easily accessible. Park at the end of Seawind Rd, Balnarring Beach. Â It’s a short walk down to the beach then turn right.
Tech stuff – 25 secs @ f/9 using a 10 stop solid + 4 stop soft ND grad + polarizer.
Tech stuff for the image below –Â 13 secs f/9, NiSi 10 stop solid + 4 stop soft grad + polarizer.
Photography by Jim Worrall 