Kakadu Carving

Kakadu Carving, Northern Territory – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery.

Kakadu Carving, Northern Territory – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery.

This is an unframed, limited edition collection landscape photography print of only 25 units. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl papers, structured to refract the highest values in colour and detail. It’s high-quality ink absorbing layer enables exceptional image quality with enormously detailed sharpness, and a very broad colour range, providing archival permanency of your artwork for over 100 years.

Aerial, Canon 5DMk2, 30mm, F8, 1/250th sec, ISO 400, no filter, processed in Lightroom.

The Kakadu fascinates me. It’s intricate river systems are teaming with wildlife. Rarely do you get the chance to see this from the air. Travelling in a Robinson R44 helicopter, I wanted to showcase the colour palette of the South Alligator River, from 3000 feet. Not for the timid, leaning out of a chopper at that height does make you twitch a little, but I knew what I was after when looking at this scene. I love the twisting and turning of the river through the bright red desert and the golden edges of sand glowing in the patches of sunlight.

Kakadu Carving, Northern Territory – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery.

Aerial photography has certain rules. A fast shutter speed over 1/500th sec is a must. I always suggest switching ISO to Auto and using the TV (Shutter Priority) setting (if you have it) to make sure you control what you need to and let the camera do the rest. Looking down at your camera to change settings can often mean you missed a frame.

Advise you pilot what you are hoping to get in the way of angles from the ride. If you have no plans, then keep a good eye out for potential images as you move toward them. If you have the heart to have the doors off (go on, you’ll love it), then remember to look behind the chopper at where you’ve just flown over too. Always sit on the side opposite to your natural hand. Ie , if you are right handed, sit on the left. Trust me being right-handed and trying to shoot backward out the right side becomes awkward and clumsy. And speaking of clumsy, always, always, always, wear a neck strap. Never free hand your camera. I seen a few cameras drop from a great height, when people haven’t been prepared.