Welcome to the very first 5 Day Photo Challenge

I have decided to add some categories to my blog and I plan to do the 5-day photo challenge in many different places from here on out. I have lived in Alice Springs for just under 11 years and it is very dear to my heart, so I thought why not start here.

The aim is to just go out and see what I can capture and create in an area, town, or country over a 5 day period. After the 5 days, I will post a blog with my favorite image from each day, along with a gallery of other photographs I think deserve and inclusion.

I also intend to share what I learn along the way. This includes information about the places and moments that I capture, along with the knowledge I gain as a photographer.

I found it really hard to only add one photograph from each day, therefore I will add all of the images that deserve inclusion. Some days have a few, and others only one.

So let’s get started!

The Alice Springs 5 Day Photo Challenge

(Click Images To Enlarge)

Day #1

I headed out late in the afternoon, as the temperature was a little more forgiving and a thunderstorm was rolling in. I headed to the western side of Alice Springs and to my delight I not only got to capture an outback storm, I also found a little tiny bearded dragon trying to go unnoticed up a small tree.

Day #2

This was a tough day. I ventured down to the gorgeous Olive Pink Botanic Gardens in the heart of Alice Springs and boy was it H.O.T hot hot hot. I had plenty of water and was determined to get a tree photograph. I was very happy to snap this very twiggy, barely alive tree, as it just had a lot of character. To add a little more drama to the image I decided to split tone it. It didn’t really give off much of a vibe in colour.

I usually go there to photograph birds and is where I captured my Western Bowerbird. I was really lucky to spot a black-footed rock wallaby chilling out on a rock. Unfortunately, I was unable to capture a sharp image of the little guy, as he hopped off after my first snap. I thought I would add it here anyhow, as they are still cute…..even when a little fuzzy.

I had already visited Olive Pink Botanic Garden that morning for breakfast. To my delight, my friend and I were visited by a long-nosed water dragon and I got quite a few photographs.

Day #3

On day #3 I decided to head down to the Clay Pans, located in a south western part of Alice Springs called Ilparpa. It is a gorgeous area with large outback properties and is surrounded by gorgeous rocky outcops. I also found out that it is a popular place to take your pets out to frolic in the cooler hours of the day.

I was not having a lot of luck getting images I was happy with, until I was passing a couple of lovely people who had two very adorable dogs. Being a professional pet photographer, I could not help myself. The sun was setting and the lighting was gorgeous. A big thank you to Tara for letting me photograph they two little characters.

Day#4

I have to confess I was extremely sick on Day 4 and struggled to stand up let alone go on a photography adventure. I did man up though and dragged myself up Anzac Hill for one photograph, an image of the Anzac Memorial. The Memorial is there to honour the ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) servicemen that have, and are currently serving and defended our country.

Just before leaving I decided to snap a quick night photograph, I am a little mad at myself, as my aperture was to small. I had it set to f/22, and I should had it set around f/16 instead. Luck I live here and I can take the same image again.

Day #5

Day #5 was by far my most successful day, as I love photographing birds. I ventured out to the Alice Springs Desert Park and all I can say is WOW. I not only got to photograph many of the park’s beautiful birds, but I also got to photograph many of the wild birds hanging around the park. It was a little heartbreaking as I managed to take hundreds of bird images and I have had only a few hours to get them all loaded up and chosen. I would love to have added many of the other birds, but I had run out of time.

Animals Photographed

Splendid Fairywren (Wild)

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Park)

Brown Goshawk (Wild)

Western Bowerbird (Park)

Duck (Park)

Dingo (Park