I have been running this site since July 2018 and I have decide to move to a new site Jon Steinbeck Nature Photography. I will probably still keep this current site going but I will be less active here and photos will carry the logo of the new site. This current site was a great way for me to post some of my photographs and I was always thrilled when people took the time to leave me a positive comment. I am not ceasing wildlife photography, far from it, I am embracing it. I find myself in a position where I have ceased my previous long-term career and I am now following my passion for wildlife and nature photography. The new site will be a little different to this one, in that it will be a landing point for the professional career I want to have as a wildlife photographer but there will still be blog posts and images available. From February 2025 I will be studying photography at the Canberra Institute of Technology to obtain a formal qualification in photography and also to improve my photography skills. I am looking forward to this new phase in my life and I thank all those people out there who have read a post or enjoyed my photos. I hope that you also enjoy the new site.Thank you again and all the best.
The iconic seascape of Glasshouse Rocks at Narooma
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 106mm, f/20 and 1/160 SEC])
Rocks, waves and water - Beautiful Narooma Part 1, Summer 2022/23
Narooma is a town of about 3000 people on the southern coast of NSW. Its urban centre spans the truly crystal blue waters of the Wagonga Inlet. Travelling south by car from Canberra it is easy to find this summer holiday destination because the Princes Highway travels around a sharp right corner before crossing over the inlet. Narooma is a beautiful gem that has grown mainly along the southern side of the inlet and the Pacific Ocean on the sea side. No major rivers flow into the inlet, just a some creeks, making the water beautiful and clear. It is no exaggeration to say crystal blue, because that is what the water is. I have previously posted (here and here) about this wonderful seaside destination and we ended up spending a fair bit of our summer holiday in Narooma, being captivated by the beauty. It would be hard to select a single photo to represent the locale but Glasshouse Rocks, on the southern side of the town, is worthy of consideration for that role.
This is the first post in a series of five looking at different aspects of wildlife at Narooma. In this post I am covering the environment around Narooma. I took my camera with me on holiday because I knew Narooma was going to be beautiful and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreRainbow off Tuross Head against the storm clouds
(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])
Storm clouds off the coast - Tuross Head, NSW, August 2022
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.
Read MoreStorm wave refracting around South Head
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2500, 278mm, f/7.1 and 1/1000 SEC])
Storm waves at South Head - Sydney, NSW, July 2022
The big storm waves had already passed but I was in Sydney on the morning of 6 July so I wanted to see what shots I could take of interesting waves. While the sea was calming down I thought that there was still drama in the surging water that would make heading out in the rain worthwhile. Even from sheltered Camp Cove I could see that there was white-capped water everywhere in the outer parts of Sydney Harbour. Walking along the well maintained footpath, then descended a slippery muddy track, I found a place just inside the base of South Head below Hornby Lighthouse. The storm-tossed sea was a greyish-green with waves dashing ashore every few seconds. I was reluctant to walk further around the rock platform because the only possible route took me across an area that was occasionally inundated by rushing waves. Despite not being in the best spot for the compositions I was thrilled to be watching the harbour waters contorting with the waves running across them. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreBook Review - Coast: A history of the New South Wales Edge by Ian Hoskins
This book was a thoroughly enjoyable read about an interesting part of Australia which is normally not treated as a single entity, the entire length of the New South Wales coast. I would think that the challenge in writing a book like this is how to link the whole length of the coast, while also limiting the narrative from other parts of the state. Then, how to write a history of that geographic area such that it is interesting to read. On all accounts the author succeeds.
Read MoreA seed pod from a tree lying on the tiled ground
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1600, 100mm, f/9.0 and 1/125 SEC])
Photo challenge to find subjects in an urban car park - Civic, ACT, February 2022
This is a different kind of post and it is basically only pictures. One day in in February my wife asked me to drive her to a shop in Civic because she wanted to learn the way to get there. Once we arrived, she would do the shopping while I stayed in the car. Rather than just wait in the car I decided to take my camera to challenge myself to find some nature subjects in an urban car park. To equip myself properly, I took two lens, my Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM and Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM. I don’t think any of the shots that resulted are fantastic but it was a fun challenge, made even harder by the wet, overcast weather that robbed me of good lighting. I hope you like them.
Thanks for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the Australian Capital Territory has on offer. All the best until the next post.
Wild Australian Fur Seals having a disagreement on the breakwater at Narooma
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/400 SEC])
First time seeing wild Australian Fur Seals, and other coastal wildlife - Narooma, NSW, February 2022
I was a kid again, captivated and enthralled by wild creatures swimming and basking across the inlet entrance from where my son and I were. I looked to see if any of these beautiful Australian Fur Seals were on our side of the Narooma coast entrance but they were all across the water from us. My teenager son was likewise enraptured looking at these amazing marine mammals living their lives in front of us. We took a seat on the rocks to enjoy the show. We had already seen a lot in Narooma, remarking on the clear waters where so many fish thrived. I had wanted to come to the inlet entrance because I had read that seals were sometimes sighted there and I was hopeful that we may glimpse one but instead we saw a group of them. It was so wonderful to sit down on a rock, under beautiful weather, beside the sea and be engrossed in wild animals not bothered by out presence. We had a wonderful time and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreLittle Black Cormorant swimming in the Shoalhaven River looking for food
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Beautiful coastal wildlife under overcast skies - NSW South Coast, December 2021
Canberra is a lovely city but I also like the coast, especially the variety of wildlife there. So, with the easing of the COVID restrictions in New South Wales (NSW), like a lot of Canberrans, we wanted a break down the coast. The weather was not forecast to be the best, with the rain and clouds having blanketed the southeast corner of NSW for most of November, and no sign of beautiful weather on the horizon for early December. That meant we had to make do with the weather at hand. We had a very simple plan, to drive down for a lunch at Narooma. Then follow the Princes Highway north for dinner and accommodation at Mollymook before continuing the next day through to Jervis Bay and the Greenwell Point area. Even though this was more of a family getaway I still took my camera because I wanted the chance to photograph, even with a compalining family telling me to hurry up. I am glad that I did take my camera, even if I was only pairing it wth my trusty go to lens, the Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM. I also viewed only having one lens as a challenge to see what compositions I could achieve across the two days. Even with that self-imposed restriction I was thrilled to be able to capture some of the lovely wildlife that we saw, including a Little Black Cormorant on our second day that was looking for food in the Shoalhaven River. The two day trip was a great little rest and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreThe brightness of an Australian Pelican in the morning half-light is the perfect analogy for spring emerging from winter
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
A lake transforming in spring time with birds and people - Lake Burley Griffin, October 2021
Over the last few months I have posted a lot of photographs from Lake Burley Griffin because that body of water has been one of the few places where I could go during lockdown to see wildlife while exercising but also be assured of maintaining social distance. The COVID restrictions also meant that there were less rowers on the lake making the water quieter and easier to approach the birds that I saw. The cormorants, darters, pelicans were still on the lake, still living their lives while we, the people of Canberra, monitored the progress of the pandemic through the daily press conferences. I drew a great deal of solace on the lake, relaxing in the placidness and being captivated by the birds. I also experienced the seasonal relief as Canberra emerged from the cold, short days of winter to the longer, sunny days of spring with the assurance that summer was around the corner. Spring was always a good time in Canberra because the plants and animals returned with more verve ready to start new generations. The lake was also changing while the season moved from winter to spring. With the seasons transitioning winter seemed to struggle to maintain its grip, making for coolish mornings where a mist commonly rose from Lake Burley Griffin. That mist sometimes masked the finer details of birds but it also added plenty of atmosphere. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreTwo lethargic Tasmanian devils, not the most exciting picture but they are my favourite animal
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
Visiting the National Zoo and Aquarium - December 2020
Two dozing Tasmanian Devils was not the most exciting image to create interest in a post, I agree but they are probably my favourite animal and they were the one subject I really wanted to photograph when my son and I visited the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra during December 2020. Yes, 2020. If nothing else the current COVID lockdown in Canberra has allowed me to catch up on some of the backlogged images that I should have uploaded. I know that zoos can be controversial and that the image above could also be seen as a less than ideal daytime shelter for a primarily nocturnal animal, especially during a hot Canberra summer. However, zoos are also playing a role in conservation. At present a facial tumour disease is decimating the wild population of devils in Tasmania so zoos are important breeding centres to try to preserve this species while scientists work on a cure. Zoos are also places for people to go to have a safe encounter with wild animals. Sure, people can watch animals on TV but at a zoo they can see, hear, smell and even touch the animal with often not much between them. It can become more of an experience because more senses are brought into play during the encounter.
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Book Review - Toxic: The Rotting Underbelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry by Richard Flangan
Mass die-offs of captive salmon, slime-covered formerly pristine marine environments, feckless governments, and communities apparently powerless to stop greed trumping rationality. These were just some of the issues that Richard Flanagan raised in his book Toxic: The Rotting Undebelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry. Yes, this is the same Richard Flanagan who is more famous for his novels but this examination of the Tasmanian salmon industry comes from his heart with a full cohort of references to show it is more than an emotional tirade.
Read MoreSpotted Pardalote female in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Even when scouting locations there are still things to photograph - May 2021
I really did not have much of a plan that slightly foggy Sunday morning in May, even when I woke up, I was not sure where I was heading. However, the weather forecast was for a sunny morning so I had the inspiration to travel along Tidbinbilla Road from Point Hut Road to Tharwa. The reason for this idea was because that road joined the two routes that I would usually take to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve or Namadgi National Park, but I had never driven along that way. I was not sure what I would find but I thought that I would scout the area out. By looking on Google Maps I did have an idea about some of the drone shots I could take because of the interesting patterns made by streams in the area. I was not sure what animal life I would find and I did not do too well in that regards because most of the area was private property preventing me from getting far from the road. Despite that, I hope that you like the photographs below.
Read MoreEmerald Moth at night around Blue Waterholes
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/14 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
Natural beauty of the Long Plain, Kosciuszko National Park in March 2021
My good mate and fellow photographer BigFigTree said he wanted to try to get some atmospheric shots of the wild Brumbies on the Long Plain in Kosciuszko National Park, and that there was a spare seat in his car if I wanted it. I jumped at the chance so we decided to do the trip over the Saturday and Sunday of the Canberra Day Long Weekend. I am so glad that he invited me because it opened my eyes to a whole wilderness just on the outskirts of Canberra that is so beautiful. We had a great couple of days, stopping to take photos, camping beside the beautiful Blue Waterholes and just moving at a slower pace. Our Brumby photographs did not turn out well but we found so many other subjects. He is a great photographer and I would recommend checking out his Flickr feed, linked above. It really was a fun two days and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreHead shot of a Great Cormorant
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Photographing and paddling on Lake Burley Griffin over summer 2020-21
Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake located in the middle of Canberra city. For some people in the city it is an unofficial division between the north and south of the city. While the lake was part of the original design of Canberra financial decisions taken at the creation of Canberra meant that the lake was only completed about five decades after the rest of the city. However, now, it is an integral part of the urban life-style of so many Canberrans, whether they play on it, around it or just enjoy a passing glimpse as they commute near it. The lake is a place I enjoy greatly, whether I am in my kayak paddling on it or on my bike cycling around it. It is also a location that attracts a lot of wildlife, especially birds.
This post sort of fell together when I realised that I had a number of photographs related to the lake and the waterways connected to it. I therefore decided to do a large post to include all those photos together. The post is an eclectic mix but I hope that you like the photographs below.
Read MoreMight have been practicing with the drone but I always have time to photograph Yellow-rumped Thornbills
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
Practicing with the drone around the National Arboretum on Monday, 18 January 2021
I normally treat my DJI Mavic Air 2 as an addition to my photography, not the main means for me to capture my shots. Because of that, I find that I am probably not using it as much as I want to and consequently, I am not learning how to take photographs with it. With that realisation in mind I set off to the National Arboretum on Monday, 18 January 2021 with the idea to use my drone as the main means of photography. I still had a DSLR with me but I wanted to concentrate on using my drone so that I could try shots that I had not used before and also understand how to use the drone to capture compositions. Unfortunately, I arrived at the Arboretum later than I had hoped so I was facing harsher light than I would have preferred but I still wanted to practice. Consequently, this post is a little light on with birds and other wildlife shots but with that said I hope that you still enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreEastern Bearded Dragon that I almost ran over
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 160, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
Waterbirds, Lizards and Dragonflies - Cycling and Photographing the northern Centenary Trail on Friday, 15 January 2021
On Good Friday 2019 I went for a ride around the southern section of the Centenary Trail, taking my camera with me so that I could photograph interesting subjects that I found. Back then I the only lens that I had to use for such a trip was a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM that had been a kit lens with my first DSLR that I bought, about ten years earlier. I was using that lens because I wanted something would give me some range but I did not want to take my bulky Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM, mainly because I was worried about breaking it. Since that ride I had always intended to complete the Centenary Trail by riding the northern section and also take a camera along, however, now I would take a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM and a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM so that I was better prepared for what I may see.
Read MoreAustralasian Pipit with a juicy caterpillar
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
Australasian Pipits, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and interesting ruins - Photographing at the Glenburn Heritage Precinct on Sunday, 27 December 2020
I had been thinking about cycling and photographing at the Glenburn Heritage Precinct for a while without committing to the ride but then I decided to put the idea into practice after some friends were talking about a separate trip that they were planning. So on Sunday, 27 December 2020, I set off very early in the morning for the car trip to the start of the trail. The precinct is on the left-hand side of the Kings Highway just after the road crosses the Molonglo River on the east of Queanbeyan. The area consists of the ruins or remains of a rural community that tried to establish itself in the area in the 1800s. They did not succeed, eventually abandoning their former homesteads and other buildings. They tried hard to make the community thrive, even establishing a school for a period of time but it was not to be. This area has now been turned into a heritage precinct that consists of three trails. Because the ruins are situated in two clusters, the trails form an inverted triangle from the Kings Highway entrance. One trail takes visitors to the western ruins, while another trail heads to the eastern ruins and the remaining trail is a loop that covers both sets of ruins. The full loop is approximately 12 km that follows fire trails, grass tracks or occasionally disappears under overgrown vegetation. I took my mountain bike because I wanted to cover the distance at a reasonable pace but still be able to see things. The trail was not challenging although the Glen Burn Creek had some water in it, so my feet got a little wet crossing it but that was a nice way to cool them off. I thoroughly enjoyed my morning at the precinct, being a little upset when I realised that it was over. I liked seeing the early settler history of the area as well as the wildlife that I encountered along the way. I would go back because I am sure that I would see things that I missed. I hope that you enjoy the photos below.
Read MoreLittle Black Cormorant in the middle of the Clyde River
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Little Black Cormorant and a Dusky Woodswallow - Paddling and photographing on the Clyde River on Sunday, 15 November 2020
This post is also a bit different to my normal posts because there are not many bird or wildlife photos below, but not through a lack of trying. I had been thinking about going for a paddle on the Clyde River for a while but the opportunity never really came up until November. Then, when it did arise, it was almost a spur of the moment thing. As a family we had nothing to do one Sunday, when the weather was forecast to be fantastic and I realised I had a chance to let my family stay home while I undertook the trip. I did not really want to go on a Sunday because I knew that the river, as well as the roads, were likely to be busy. I was right. I had originally planned to paddle further up the river but I think there was a slight flow in the river and the number of powerboats on the river kept reminding me that I was not really far from the crowds. Do not get me wrong, the powerboat drivers were all considerate, giving me plenty of room and generally passed me at a reasonable speed but the noise and the resulting wake meant it was hard to focus on the nature. In the end I decided that I was not really getting the chance to see wildlife, possibly because there was too much activity on the river, so I might as well turn around. I am keen to try the river again, but not on a weekend and I may try to turn off the main channel to see what a smaller creek has to offer as far as wildlife photography opportunities. I hope you enjoy the somewhat limited pictures below.
Read MoreTwo Silver Gulls in the Molonglo River beneath Scrivener Dam
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
Water birds, overgrown paths and flowers - Commuting and photographing in Canberra in November 2020
Canberra is a very bike friendly city. I tend to commute on my mountain bike so that I can also ride some of the winding trails on my way to work because I find it is a great way to wake-up, clear my mind and be ready for the day ahead. My usual commute routes have changed character over the last month or so because of the heavy rains that have fallen on this recently very dry city. There is so much vibrant growth that some narrow trails are more traces of dirt through metre or higher thick vegetation. I thought that the overgrown paths may be interesting to photograph and I am not sure when the next La Nina event over Australia will be so now was a good time to photograph these totally transformed places. I normally leave home early enough so that I can have a fun ride and still get to work with plenty of time to spare. I was also fortunate because we had a work lunch one day that allowed me to leave early so I could take my time on the ride home. I really enjoyed combining photography and mountain biking, the synthesising of which gave me new appreciation for great routes I ride regularly because I was looking at them in a different way. This post is a little to my normal posts, a bit light-on in regards to animal life but I was able to photograph some water birds and I also have some macro shots from my house at the end. I hope that you like the photographs below.
Read MoreAustralasian Darter with some rubbish around its beak
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 2000, 200mm, f/6.3 and 1/200 SEC])
Silver Gulls and an Australasian Darter - Paddling and photographing on Lake Burley Griffin on Saturday, 24 October 2020
Canberra has been experiencing a lot of heavy rain and overcast days recently. This has turned Canberra greener than it has been for years but the conditions have not been conducive to taking photographs. Despite the weather I still like to go for a kayak because I dress for getting wet from spray so a bit of rain is no problem. Recently, I have really wanted to improve my confidence of taking a proper camera and lens with me in my kayak so I have a better chance of photographing the wildlife and other things I see when I am paddling. So on this Saturday I packed my Canon EOS 6D Mk II DSLR with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM lens that I placed carefully into a Sea to Summit deck bag on my kayak before I went for my usual paddle on Lake Burley Griffin. I am starting with a lighter camera and lens combination while I get used to using a decent camera from a kayak. I did take this DSLR with the Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM zoom lens when I paddled on the Shoalhaven River but I was not confident using that lens and camera combination from the kayak in the middle of the river so I would head to the shore where I could run the kayak aground while I took photographs, meaning I sometimes missed shots. I think I have the right technique now so after I am feeling more confident I will take my normal camera and lens combination with me. That said, even with the current set up I enjoyed taking shots and I was happy with the photos that I took of the Australasian Darter and the Silver Gulls. I hope that you like the photographs below.
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