Australia’s southerly island state, Tasmania
boasts breathtaking wilderness, a temperate climate and beautiful coastline,
making it an ideal destination for landscape photographers.
Tasmania,
Australia
Tasmania - Featured location
Rick in character with vast, rugged vistas
and untouched natural beauty, Tasmania is fantastic for landscape photography.
‘Tasmania boasts some spectacular
scenery and you’ll find that huge swathes of the island are unspoilt by human
activity.’
A side perhaps from the Tasmanian Devil
(or, more simply, ‘Taz’) from Looney Tunes, many people are completely
unfamiliar with Tasmania. Situated 150 miles or so from mainland Australia,
overseas visitors often neglect to include this island on their itinerary.
However, for many Australians it’s a hugely
popular destination and many people return time and time again. You’ll often
hear it referred to as the most beautiful of Australia’s six states and it
certainly has a lot on offer for visiting landscape and nature photographers.
Tasmania boasts spectacular scenery and you’ll find that huge swathes of the
island are unspoilt by human activity. In fact, the South West Wilderness is
largely impenetrable – at least by road.
There are a number of locations in Tasmania
that only the very experienced and well-prepared are advised to attempt
extensive exploration. Weather conditions can change suddenly and rapidly in
many parts of Australia and Tasmania is certainly no exception. When the rugged
geology and topography of Tasmania is factored in, it’s not hard to believe
that getting lost can be very dangerous indeed.
Even people with good local knowledge of
the landscape have run into trouble in Tasmania, so visitors should definitely
avoid straying too far away from familiar, easily accessible areas. Tasmania is
also home to some potentially troublesome wildlife, including many species of
the Australian bull ant that have the potential to cause anaphylactic shock.
Thankfully, the beauty and pace of life in
Tasmania far exceeds any of its hazards and a visit is very highly recommended.
The state’s capital city, Hobart, is quieter than many UK towns and has plenty
of good places to eat and stay. Due in part to its previous life as a notorious
penal colony, Tasmania (known as Van Diemen’s Land until the mid-19th century)
also has a tangible sense of history that is sometimes lacking in other parts
of Australia. For example, in the south-eastern corner of the island, the
convict settlement of Port Arthur is a fascinating location that can also lend
itself to some very atmospheric and haunting images.
‘The Australian autumn and spring are
the best times to photograph Tasmania as the light tends to be softer.’
The Australian autumn and spring are the
best times of year to photograph Tasmania as the light tends to be softer, and
of course the sunrise and sunset times are more reasonable, The sunlight during
the summer months in Australia can be very harsh and the longer days make dawn
and dusk photography rather more demanding. Capturing Tasmania in winter is
perfectly possible but remember that, contrary to popular belief, Australia
does experience cold, wet weather during winter and this is especially true in
Tasmania due to its southerly location.
With the nature of the environment and the
changeability of the weather in mind, it’s very important that you pack and
prepare accordingly. Much like the UK, there can be some very cold days during
the summer months and it’s easy to get caught out if you take the conditions
for granted. Plenty of layers that you can take on and off, plus some
waterproof clothing is highly advisable. In addition to is coastal scenery,
Tasmania has some lovely waterfalls so if you want to capture some of these,
the chances are that you’ll get wet feet sooner or later. Spare socks and good
quality walking boots or even waders are a very good idea.
There’s a lot of open, sweeping scenery so
a wide-angle lens is essential. As the light during the middle of the day is
often very bright and glary, you’ll find yourself taking the majority of your
landscape photographs towards the beginning and end of the day. Shooting in
this low light makes a tripod another vital piece of kit. A good, strong bag
that is durable, weatherproof and easy to carry around is important as you’ll
generally want to pack your equipment away safely while walking and exploring
the, often challenging, terrain. It’s good to be able to concentrate on your
footing without having to worry about protecting your camera at the same time.
Tasmanians are a very friendly populations
and are well aware of the beauty of their home. The locals are happy to help
and advise visitors, drawing your attention to places of interest and things to
be aware of. There is also plenty of tourist information available in both
Hobart and Launceston (the state’s second-biggest city). Guided tours of many
of Tasmania’s most scenic regions are also available, which are well worth
making enquiries about, especially those that are specifically aimed at
photographers.
