The works and cranial excretions of one Australian photographer

Posts tagged “mornington peninsula

Dawn at Pulpit Rock – Cape Schanck

A couple of images from a dawn shoot at Pulpit Rock, Cape Schanck. Yes, I know, it’s not like me to be up before the birds. I don’t know what got into me. The images were taken during a welcome break between showers.
Pulpit rock Cape Schanck Jim Worrall

Pulpit Rock Cape Schanck  Jim Worrall


Seaford pier – Up before the dawn

Images from a pre-dawn trip to Seaford pier with friends from the ND400 Long Exposure group on Facebook. We arrived in the pitch black of early morning, ….a VERY unusual time for me, ….and waited for the sun to rise.
seaford pier Jim Worrall

As the sun slowly rose behind us pastel colours appeared in the sky.
This image is available as a high quality print at Redbubble and Zazzle.
seaford pier Jim Worrall

A long exposure image from under Seaford pier.
seaford pier Jim Worrall
The morning was finished nicely with a civilized hot breakfast at the pier cafe. :)


Playing with fire – Experiments with burning steel wool

Playing with fire, steel wool

This collection of images were captured during a couple of night time excursions by members of my ND400 Long Exposure group on Facebook. The patterns are created by igniting steel wool packed inside a metal kitchen whisk and then swinging the whisk in various ways to create the desired effects.
I recommend that if your interested in giving this a try you should wear protective clothing to prevent igniting your hair or clothes. Also stay away from areas of dry grass or bushes. A beach is a good place for trying this kind of photography. Have fun!!

Playing with fire, steel wool

Playing with fire, steel wool

Experiments with burning steel wool

Burning steel wool

Flaming steel wool - Jim Worrall

IMG_4381_900

IMG_4386_900


Fire in the Night – Mentone Groyne

A long exposure image taken at Mentone beach just after sunset.

Mentone- Port Phillip Bay - sunset - Jim Worrall

Available as a high quality print at my Redbubble and Zazzle websites.


Koonya beach – Blairgowrie

The beautiful Koonya beach at Blairgowrie. A favorite spot of mine to sit and watch nature at it’s best.

Koonya beach - Blairgowrie - Jim Worrall

The image is available as a print at my Redbubble and Zazzle websites.


Days of Azure

An image from Sorrento back beach, near the Sphinx rock formation.

Days of Azure - Sorrento beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Available as a print at Zazzle or Redbubble.


Return to Mentone Groyne

A couple of long exposure images from the groyne on the beach at Mentone near the pub.

Mentone Groyne - Jim Worrall - Port Phillip Bay - Australia

Mentone Groyne - Jim Worrall - Port Phillip Bay - beach - Australia


At the Edge of the Ocean

November is a great time of year on the Mornington Peninsula back beaches. The warming water signals an explosion of bright green seaweed on the rocky plateaus all along the coast.

Turbulence - Sorrento beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Ebb - Sorrento beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Pool - Sorrento beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Plateaus at Sorrento - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia


Rock pools at the back beach – Sorrento

Following are a couple of shots of the beautiful rock pools available to explore at Sorrento back beach during low tide. In these images I’ve used an ND400 filter to smooth the background waves and a polarizing filter to remove the sky’s reflection from the surface of the pools.

Sorrento rock pools - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Sorrento rock pools - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia


A Morning at Sorrento back beach

Firstly just a quick note to let you know that I’ve updated the blog to give it a whole new look and most importantly it will now allow me to display larger images on the page. Screen sizes and resolutions have changed dramatically since I first started the blog several years ago. I’m sure you’ll agree that larger images is a step in the right direction.

The following images are from a morning trip down to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula.

Sorrento back beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia - long exposure

Sorrento back beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia - long exposure

Now for some fun shots. The two images below were taken by my friend Stephen Pretty from Perfection Photography. He managed to catch a couple of golden moments in time where the waves got the better of me.

Jim Worrall hit by wave - photographer - Stephen Pretty

Jim Worrall hit by wave - photographer - Stephen Pretty


Balnarring Beach Groynes

The groynes at Balnarring Beach serve to reduce erosion at the water’s edge. Most of the groynes are simply a line of posts connected together by planks creating a straight sea wall.
I was struggling to find something interesting on the beach then stumbled across this baby zig-zagging out into the bay.

Below – Zig Zag.
Balnarring Beach - Jim Worrall - Western Port Bay - Australia - long exposure - ND400

Below – The usual straight groyne.
Balnarring Beach - Jim Worrall - Groyne - Western Port Bay - Australia

Below – The making of Zig Zag.
Using ND400 to simplify an image - Jim Worrall


Rye back beach – The Dragon’s Head and the Pod

A few images of the rock formations at the Number Sixteen beach at Rye.

Pictured below – The Dragon’s Head rock, initially named by a local with a fertile imagination.
Dragons head rock - Jim Worrall - Rye back beach - Australia - Mornington Peninsula

Below – The Pod, ….well I had to call it something since all of the good names like Dragon’s Head had already been snapped up.
The Pod - Jim Worrall - Rye beach - Sixteen - 16 - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Below – Water flows off the rocky plateaus returning to the ocean.
Click to enlarge.
Rye - Number Sixteen beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Below – A couple of images of my friend lining up his gear for the money shots.
Rye - Number Sixteen beach - 16 - Jim Worrall - Stephen Pretty - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

Rye - Number Sixteen beach - 16 - Jim Worrall - Stephen Pretty - Mornington Peninsula - Australia


Sorrento – A Mornington Peninsula Jewel

Some afternoon long exposure images from Sorrento back beach on the Mornington Peninsula, Australia. The foreground rocks are submerged at high tide and are gradually revealed as the tide goes out. A long exposure time is used to smooth out the ocean waves into a mist.
Sorrento beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia - ND400 - long exposure

Sorrento beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia - long exposure - ND400

Sorrento beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia - long exposure - ND400

Prints of these images are available at my Zazzle and Redbubble websites.


Catching the Instagram Train

The photography community seems to be polarized over the use of phone cameras and associated filter programs such as Instagram.
I must admit to being slow to travel down the “phone and filter” path and have only recently decided to give it a go to see what all the noise is about.

Since giving it a trial run I must admit that the use of Instagram and other similar programs has reintroduced a fresh and fun aspect to my photography.

Pictured below – Rye Pier.
Rye Pier - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Instagram

I find it refreshingly simple to just pull out my phone, click, process and even publish the image so quickly.
I also enjoy being forced to rethink my compositions into a square format after being conditioned by years of using a 3×2 SLR format.

Pictured below – A foggy morning at Tooradin foreshore.
Foggy Morning at Tooradin - Jim Worrall - Instagram

Admittedly I’ve had to resist the urge to “pixel peep” at the noise and visual anomalies created by some of the clunky filters.
This will never replace my SLR photography but I reckon it will complement it nicely. Phone photography has definitely introduced a fresh fun aspect to my photo life.

Pictured below – Mt Martha beach.
Mt Martha beach - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Instagram


The View from Bushrangers Bay

The splendid view from Bushrangers Bay looking west just a few minutes before a drenching downpour.
Cape Schanck’s Pulpit Rock is on the horizon near the center of the image.

Bushrangers Bay - Mornington Peninsula - Cape Schanck - Jim Worrall
Click on the image to enlarge.

A high resolution print of this image is available for purchase at my Redbubble site.


Cape Schanck – Splendour in the Surf

A long exposure image of the surf pounding away at Pulpit Rock, Cape Schanck, Mornington Peninsula.
This place is always a wonderful reminder to me of the power of the ocean. Visiting the rock shelves here is truly exhilarating.

Pulpit Rock, Cape Schanck.
Pulpit Rock - Cape Schanck - Mornington Peninsula - Jim Worrall - Australia - ND400
The image is available to buy as a print at my Zazzle or Redbubble websites.


Tea Tree Creek – Death of the 40D

It was one of those days that I’ll remember for a long time.
Whilst shooting on a rocky plateau at Tea Tree Creek beach at Flinders I carelessly let my guard down.
An unusually high rogue wave struck the face of the plateau and poured down upon me.

Death of the 40D - Flinders - Tea Tree Creek - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula

My workhorse camera, the Canon 40D, had experienced some salt water splash in the past but nothing like this.
Today was the day he ingested way too much salt water. He coughed and spluttered, ….and died.
Luckily my wide angle lens seems to have survived the ordeal with only some minor salt water spots inside the focal range window. The glass inside seems to be clear,…PHEW!

Flinders - Tea Tree Creek beach - Mornington Peninsula - Jim Worrall - Australia - seascape

These images were thankfully retrieved from the camera’s memory card despite it’s convulsions.

Tea Tree Creek beach - Flinders - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Australia

For those who might be interested I’ve purchased a 60D as a replacement camera.


A Stroll on Shelley beach – Portsea

A couple of images from a recent stroll on Shelley beach, Porstsea, Victoria.
It was one of those great days for photography. The clouds were very heavy causing a nice subdued light.
The threat of impending rain also meant I had the beach to myself, ……nice. :-)

Safe Harbour – Shelley beach, Portsea
Safe Harbour - Shelley beach - Portsea - Jim Worrall - Australia - seascape - long exposure

Boat on Shelley Beach, Portsea
Boat on Shelley Beach - Portsea - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula - Port Phillip Bay


Down the Tea Tree Creek Track – Flinders

The entrance to the track begins where Tea Tree Creek meets the Boneo Road.
The mowed walking path follows a gentle slope downhill alongside the creek gully and down towards the beach.
Upon arrival at the beach, visitors are welcomed by the presence of a rusty metal wheel nestled amongst the undergrowth.

Tea Tree Creek - Flinders - Jim Worrall - Mornington Peninsula

East from here, the beach invites exploration for those willing to navigate across the black weather-worn rocks covering much of the beach.
The area also offers an impressive selection of rocky plateaus which are sometimes exposed and sometimes dramatically washed by the relentless surf.

Tea Tree Creek - Flinders - beach - Jim Worrall - misty

When exploring along this stretch of beach it’s a good idea to avoid an embarrassing or even life threatening situation by knowing what the tide is doing. Keep an eye out for the occasional rogue wave determined to sweep you off the rocks.

Tea Tree Creek - Flinders - Jim Worrall - beach - seascape

There’s an amazing amount to see, explore, experience and photograph here.
I’ll definitely be returning soon. ;-)

Tea Tree Creek - Flinders - Jim Worrall - beach - misty


Playing in the Wind – Flinders, the Blowhole Track

A selection of images from the beach at the end of the Blowhole Track at Flinders on the lovely Mornington Peninsula.
On the day I was there the wind was so horrendously strong I had to push down hard on the tripod to stop it from vibrating and blurring all of the long exposure shots.

Pictured below – Flinders Beach, the Blowhole Track.

Flinders beach - Blowhole Track - Jim Worrall - long exposure - ND400

A very picturesque coastline battered by the relentless surf.

Flinders beach - Blowhole Track - Jim Worrall - long exposure - ND400

Flinders beach - Blowhole Track - Mornington Peninsula - Jim Worrall - long exposure


Sorrento to Queenscliff

The day started out well with brunch in Sorrento at the Buckley’s Chance restaurant with friends Christine and Caroline.
After being suitably fueled by brunch we strolled to the other end of town and boarded the Sorrento-Queenscliff Ferry for the short trip across the mouth of Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliff.
On arrival we departed the ferry to see what photographic treasures we could find along the beach.

Pictured below – Queenscliff Pier, shot in the early afternoon using an ND400 filter to extend the exposure time and soften the waves.
Queenscliff Pier - Jim Worrall - Australia - ND400 - long exposure

Pictured below – Evidence of Dredge, a pipeline from the offshore dredger snakes it way past heavy posts buried in the sand at the shoreline. The waves softened to a mist by the use of long exposure time.
Evidence of Dredge - Queenscliff - Jim Worrall - ND400 - long exposure

Pictured below, an unusual long exposure action shot of the ferry departing the Queenscliff beach on one of it’s many return journeys to Sorrento.
Queenscliff-Sorrento Ferry - long exposure - Jim Worrall - ND400

Pictured below – Caroline and Chris explore the beach with a ship load of onlookers viewing from the top deck of the ferry.
Ferry Queenscliff - Jim Worrall


Sorrento Back Beach

Shortly before xmas I took the opportunity to snap some images just before the summer “silly season” struck Sorrento.
I’m certain that one day the Sorrento/Portsea area of the Mornington Peninsula will become so heavy with tourists that it’ll snap off and fall into the sea.
Until that day I’ll continue to enjoy it as much as I can.

Pictured below – A couple of long exposure images from south-east of the main beach.

Sorrento Back Beach - Jim Worrall - Australia - long exposure - ND400

Sorrento Beach - Jim Worrall - Australia - long exposure - ND400

Pictured below – Bay of Islands – Sorrento
Located a short walk from the car park at the end of Diamond Bay Road.

Bay of Islands - Sorrento - Jim Worrall - Australia - long exposure - ND400


The Dragon’s Head at Number Sixteen

The Dragon’s Head rock at the Number Sixteen beach, Rye, has been a photographic target that I’ve been looking forward to shooting for quite some time. The last time I visited here I’d arrived a bit too late in the tidal cycle to safely explore the rocky plateau that surrounds the Dragon’s Head.

Today’s visit was executed with military precision. I arrived on the beach precisely at low tide, waded out to the Dragon’s Head through ankle deep water and excitedly set up my tripod. The ocean waves were crashing and rolling across the rocky plateau then cascading beautifully over the edge very close to the Dragon’s Head.

Being a big fan of long exposure images you can imagine my disappointment as I fumbled around in my camera bag trying to find my ND filters to fit the wide angle lens. They were no where to be found. I had left the filters behind at home, … they were attached to another lens. It was one of those forehead slapping moments.

The Dragon at Sixteen - Jim Worrall - Australia - travel - dragons head

In the absence of any suitably sized ND filters I decided to make the unique shape of the rock fill the frame in the image above rather than featuring the flow of water.

The next image below was taken from quite a distance back from the Dragon’s head using a 70-200mm lens. Fortunately I had a suitably sized ND filter for this particular lens so it was possible to soften the look of the flowing water. Unfortunately using the long lens meant that I wasn’t able to get the composition that I was looking for.

Lesson learned – double check the gear before leaving home, never assume!

Dragon's Head rock - Jim Worrall - Number Sixteen beach - Rye - Australia - travel


Intervals of Time – book release.

18 months after releasing my first book I’m pleased to announce that I’ve finally finished my second book and published it through Blurb.

Intervals of Time – front cover.
Intervals of Time - Jim Worrall - ND400 - long exposure - black and white - seascape - book

The 40 page collection explores Australian land and seascapes using long exposure photographic techniques to capture textures and patterns hidden in fluid motion.
The book is printed on Blurb’s premium lustre finish paper.

Intervals of Time – rear cover.
Intervals of Time - Jim Worrall - ND400 - seascape - long exposure - black and white - Australia

If you’d like to thumb through the book with a virtual preview of all it’s pages go here.


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