Workshop

LOCATION: Mt Borradaile – Nth West Arnhemland.
Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris is located on an exclusive lease of 700 square kilometres of pristine wilderness in north-west Arnhemland. A significant section of this property is a registered sacred site. Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris has permission from the traditional owners of the area to take guests through these sacred areas, a unique opportunity in Australia – www.arnhemland-safaris.com

DATES: 1st May to 4th May 2012 (Depart 5th May)

MINIMUM 8 PEOPLE

“Experience Mt Borradaile and Arnhem Land in all it’s splendor straight after the wet”
YOUR LEADER: Will Parker

Experienced & friendly local guides will take us into the heart of this Arnhemland wilderness providing us with many photographic delights.

MEETING POINT: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

GETTING THERE: Fly to Darwin (participants own expense), we offer a complimentary pick up service from airport or hotel accommodation, to your connecting transfer flight to the Mt Borradaile lodge.

TIMES: Flights to Mt Borradaile will depart Darwin at 7am arriving approximately 8.30am

(Please note the early start to this day, an overnight in Darwin might be needed, depending on schedules this also will be at guest’s own expense.)

The return transfer to Darwin at the end of the workshop will depart Mt Borradaile at 8.30am arriving approximately 10am.

TRANSPORT: Once on location at Mt Borradaile, all transportation is taken care of, experienced & friendly local guides will take us into the heart of this Arnhemland wilderness providing us with many photographic delights.

PREREQUISTE: Complete beginners to serious amateurs, a basic understanding of your camera and photography is useful, however not essential. And it is open to both film & digital photographers.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This Arnhemland Adventure at Mt Borradaile is a unique opportunity to visit and photograph one of Australia’s pristine wilderness locations. This landscape of rugged ranges fringed by idyllic billabongs, flood plains, paperbark swamps, monsoonal rainforests, creeks & waterfalls is an amazingly beautiful wilderness. Be captivated by the most stunning ancient rock paintings in rock art galleries all the while being constantly drawn to the wondrous array of wildlife. These are the photographic opportunities this workshop will present to you.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Visit rock shelters with stunning rock art that spans thousands of years that give you insights into the aboriginal way of life from this region.
• Walk through savannah woodland, observing the architects of the bush the termite mounds.
• Take a boat trip through the many water channels and the open floodplain to see some of the many bird species found in the region.
• Cruise up the pristine Cooper Creek, photographing a wonderful waterfall and gorge surrounds.
• Take a dip in the pristine natural swimming hole.
• Spend late afternoon on the billabong observing and photographing wildlife including the many crocodiles that inhabit the watercourses.
• Cruise the billabong to photograph the sun set over the floodplain and Mt Borradaile as it lights up with magnificent colours as the sun seeks the horizon.
• Walk up one of many escarpments to find spectacular rock formations.
• Explore the rainforest areas and discover a completely different ecosystem.
• Get back to nature, enjoying the wide open spaces and fresh air without any crowds, with a small group of like minded fellow travellers, taking photographs.

SUITABLE FOR: This is a landscape photography workshop, it is ideal for photographers wanting to spend the majority of the time in the field photographing this wonderful Arnhemland wilderness and all it has to offer. With many different ecosystems, wildlife opportunities and rock art shelters there is lots of material to keep us busy so we can expect to be out photographing all day. I will endeavour to conduct two critique sessions; this will be subject to time available.

WHAT TO EXPECT: A landscape photographers day always starts early for sunrise, to capture the gorgeous warm light, followed by breakfast back at the lodge, then a day packed full of different locations and photographic opportunities, some days will be extended days with a packed lunch others will be multiple short trips out from the lodge, it is very flexible and subject to change depending on conditions however there will always be plenty to take photographs of. Each day will end photographing the sunset, dinner follows at the lodge then critiques.

A BASIC ITINERARY:

DAY 1 – Arrive at the lodge at Mt Borradaile at approximately 8.30am, check in and with a bit of time to settle in meet as a group around 10am. Have a group meet and greet, check camera equipment, answer questions general discussion to get a feel for the group. 12 midday group lunch, following lunch we set of for our first photographic session at a rock art gallery (Rainbow Serpent Gallery), on the return walk photographing a pristine creek. On return to the lodge we will prepare for the sunset shoot, this will be followed by dinner at the lodge.

DAY 2 – An early start see’s us capturing the glorious early morning light on the escarpment, after breakfast at the lodge we will take a tour through the savannah woodland photographing a wonderful ecosystem of paperbarks and termite mounds. Returning to the lodge for lunch, after which we will take an afternoon boat cruise on the billabong and flood plain photographing an array of wildlife finishing the day with a sunset cruise of the floodplain and billabong photographing Mt Borradaile, then back to the lodge for a group dinner.

DAY 3 – An early start will see us cruise up the pristine Cooper Creek, capturing the glorious early morning light in the gorge and on the waterfall, returning to the lodge for breakfast., following will take a walk up one of the many escarpments photographing fascinating rock formations, after lunch will be another chance to view another stunning rock art gallery as we head into our sunset shoot, finishing with group dinner back at the lodge.

DAY 4 – An early start will see us capturing the glorious warm morning light over the floodplain & billabong, after breakfast we will take a boat trip through the many water channels of the floodplain photographing the vibrancy and life that makes up the waterway. Following we will take a look at the rainforest ecosystem and all it has to offer ending the day with a sunset shoot and group dinner at the lodge.

DAY 5 – 8.30am Departure for Darwin.
WHAT TO BRING:
Photography:

• Camera
• Tripod
• Cable Release
• Dry Sack for camera gear (You will be in boats & around water)
• Spare camera batteries
• Umbrella
• Storage Cards (make sure you have enough cards with you, especially if your shooting in RAW)
• Film
• Optional – laptop for backing up your images, as you’ll be taking heaps of photos
• Laptop power cable
• Don’t forget flash

Clothing & Other Stuff:

• Good waterproof jacket &pants (for possible rain a chance in April)
• Sturdy walking boots
• Insect repellent
• Hat
• Head Torch
• Sunscreen
• Toiletries
• Warm Jumper

FEE INCLUSIONS FOR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS:

• Four nights at the safari lodge at Mt Borradaile, nationally and internationally recognised for tourism excellence – www.arnhemland-safaris.com.
• All meals provided for the duration of the course.
• All permits to enter Arnhemland
• All tours
• Return Transfers to Darwin
• All trips to photographic locations.
• Expert photographic tuition.

FEE INCLUSIONS FOR NON-PARTICIPATING PARTNERS:

• Four nights at the safari lodge at Mt Borradaile, nationally and internationally recognised for tourism excellence.
• All meals provided for the duration of the course.
• All permits to enter Arnhemland
• All tours
• Return Transfers to Darwin