The coast was beckoning so we headed down for a day trip and lunch at the quiet seaside locale of Tuross Head. The weather forecast was not the best, with a very high chance of heavy rain and a possible storm. Still, I was optimistic that the lighting conditions at out destination would allow for some photography. While I was unable to photograph much wildlife the storm-tinged sky that rolled in over the course of the day created a dramatic backdrop for some coastal shots. Because the dark clouds were coming up from the southeast, the sun in the clear, blue sky to west created a partial rainbow out to sea. Not the photography that I intended but I was happy nonetheless to be at the coast with a camera. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
The day had shifting clouds and I wasn’t really at Tuross Head for photography. To test my settings I took a picture of a marker buoy that indicated where the channel was to cross the bar into the Tuross River. Beyond dialling in my camera settings I liked the loneliness of the dark buoy against the blue water.
Warning buoy near the bar at the mouth of the Tuross River
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC])
In the Tuross River, also called Tuross Lake, a catamaran was resting at anchor the tide was up at this stage. Behind it, the clouds were starting to sweep in from the south. The sun was still lighting some clouds a fluffy, bight white, while other parts of the sky were starting to turn threatening grey with the thickening of the cloud layer above.
Catamaran anchored in Tuross Lake
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/13 and 1/400 SEC])
No matter where you are on the coast it is possible to find Silver Gulls. This one waited expectantly for patrons at the water-side Tuross Boatshed and Cafe to cast out some food. A number of other gulls were also hanging around expectedly for some morsel to be tossed their way.
Silver Gull on a pier
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 125, 135mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Arguably the most famous, and aptly named, tourist spot in Tuross Head was One Tree Point. Unfortunately the original tree was destroyed by vandals a few decades ago so this is a replacement Norfolk Pine. The lone tree looked across a disturbed sea where grey clouds were blocking out the blue of the sky. The clouds were occasionally clearing then forming again. With the sun still shining towards the west, its light caught some moisture out at sea creating a partial rainbow that appeared to hang un-anchored over the waves of the sea.
One Tree Point when I thought that the clouds may be clearing
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 100mm, f/11 and 1/320 SEC])
Partially formed rainbow out at sea
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 286mm, f/5.6 and 1/800 SEC])
The longer that we stayed into the afternoon the more the sky darkened in the south and the waves started to role in.
Waves starting to roll at South Tuross Beach
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 349mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
I am still endlessly fascinated by waves frozen in photographs, froth and bubbles stilled in mid-flight. Jagged Ines edge the smooth water of parts of the wave. The colour of the arching wave slightly different to the surrounding water because the crest forms a dynamic prism changing the light.
Dynamism of a wave
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 349mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
Looking up from the beauty of singe waves, the broader picture was one of gloom. The storm was moving up menacingly from a darkened south. Closer to us, the rolling white waves caused by the approaching grey storm still reflected the brightness of the sun, leading to pockets of bright white-caps against the dark background. I loved how the light played across the scene contrasting the bright and the dark.
Storm clouds approaching from the south while the sun still lights the closer waves
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC] two shot panorama)
It was a short visit to Tuross Head where I wanted to see what I could photograph. During the day the sky was filled with a foreboding atmosphere that opened on us when we drove away in the afternoon. However, the sun was still shining on parts of the head and its surrounding waters constantly, changing the light patterns in front of me. It was great to be at the coast taking everything in and trying to photograph the things I was feeing as much as seeing.
Thanks for reading this post and thanks also for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the south coast of New South Wales has on offer. All the best until the next post.