Tasmania and photography go together just like ' peas and carrots ' as Forrest Gump would say. The Island is a precious gift of incredible beauty and patiently awaits to be captured by eager photographers.
Having moved to the apple Isle only 2 years ago I have plenty of places to discover and this week will explore local places around Launceston.
I am standing in gorgeous lavender fields that stretch for about 200 kilometres with over 650,000 plants growing. The smell is so fresh and calming and I just cannot inhale enough of it. It feels so healthy and I take loads of deep breaths as I roam blissfully among the fragrant aroma of the delicate, purple-coloured plants.
Bridestowe Lavender Estate is a 45-minute drive from Launceston and the flowers are in full bloom each December to the end of January. The estate began with a dream and a packet of seeds brought over from the French Alps by CK Denny and their family when they migrated to Tasmania in 1921. Now it has the finest lavender oil in the world and is one of the most photographed landscapes in Tasmania.
A few years ago, the estate was in financial trouble and serious hardship. Around this time a Chinese model Zhang Xinyu happened to post photos of herself online holding a purple bear. Thanks to Chinese social media, that year 65,000 visitors then flocked to the farm to buy the fluffy teddy. Bobbie the bear was also given to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first visit to Tasmania in 2014.
After a lovely stroll and taking plenty of photos, it is time to enjoy morning tea at the cafe. I have chosen to indulge in Lavender Scones with cream and Lavender Jam and a cup of Lavender Chai tea. Lavender research suggests that it may be useful for treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, and restlessness.
Well, my morning tea is simply delicious and just like the herb it has created a sense of tranquillity and peacefulness.
Photographing plants and landscapes is enjoyable however moving targets are a little trickier. Tonight, I am at Low Head which is about a 45minute drive north of Launceston.
It is 9 pm and with my warm coat on and camera ready for action I am walking with a small group of people heading to the beachfront. The Pademelons quickly bounce away as we approach as they are quite shy and give us plenty of room in our search along the sand tracks.
Then right on time the Fairy Penguins flap along happily with their webbed feet fresh out of the cool Bass Strait waters and walk single file right in front of us. They head to the nearby rocks to feed their young ones which are 33cm high and weigh about 1 kilogram.
I focus my camera on the male in front of me, “You can tell he is a male by the deeper bill and thicker head than the female” the guide tells us. No tripods or flashes are allowed as the white light will blind them, only yellow light from a special torch is permitted. So, I need to adjust the shutter speed to give enough time to let a lot of light enter the camera.
It’s so exciting just to watch as they are so cute.
They eat live seafood, anchovies and mostly pilchards and we watch them feed their babies by regurgitating pre-digested food into its mouth. The chicks are fully grown at 8 weeks and the life expectancy of the Little Penguin (Eudyptula Minor) is 7- 9 years of age.
The beach is alive with short loud barking sounds and there is a very fishy smell in the air. Like people, they fight with each other making a lot of noise over their burrows and while mating.
Low Head Penguin Tours run every night at Sunset and are fully guided for the hour and cost $22.00. There are up to 200 penguins some nights and this unique experience is a wonderful way to see mother nature up close and personal.
What has the tail of a monkey, no teeth, no stomach and a head like a horse? It is a Sea Horse, of course.
I am focusing my camera on a slow-moving Hippocampus while it floats gently in the water holding a sense of poise and gracefulness.
Seahorse World at Beauty Point is approximately a 45-minute drive from Launceston and tours operate daily which are full of interesting facts and great detail on the life of these fish and you even get to hold them if you wish.
Some are colourful and unlike any of my previous partners they are monogamous, they mate for life and the men have the babies which are called Fry.
They make great pets and sadly some species are already extinct. As they are the slowest fish in the world they make perfect models for photography.
Right next door to Seahorse World is a great location to see Tasmanian Platypus and Echidna at Platypusworld.
The smiling Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) moves quickly in and out of the water tanks while the tour guide provides plenty of interesting information.
The Platypus has a duck bill, lays eggs like a bird or reptile but feeds milk to its young like a mammal and they can live for 9 to 12 years.
Echidnas and the platypus are the only egg-laying mammals, known as monotremes.
Echidnas have a long life span of up to 50 years in captivity and they use their long, sticky tongues to feed on ants, termites, worms and spiders.
We are busy enjoying these tiny animals roaming about the room, they are so unique and bring a smile to everyone’s face.
There is so much to photograph here in Tasmania, I will be busy for many years with my new camera. There are plenty of naturally beautiful sights to enjoy and my photographs can only improve over time, so cheers to see loads more.
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