Following a mud map to 'Chocolate Topped Mountains'

I published this first on ABC Open, again under the Pic of the Week project. If you have time, check out ABC Open, it is a collection of stories from regional Australia.

Gathering family together for a camping trip produces bonding, mateship, friendship and all kinds of good stuff among the stresses of heat, flies, spinifex and the close proximity of a tent.

In a place like Karratha, where few have spent their lives and live with family generations, your friends become your family. Connecting with people through workplaces, clubs, churches and hobbies is paramount to staying sane so far from home.

We organised a church camp to bring the congregation together - combining 'Pilbara family' and hobbies. To give people time to connect with those they wouldn't normally connect with. The thing about the Pilbara is that most people are transient - here for many reasons but connected by a commitment to the place for a time. A camping trip is one way to give people one weekend of family fun - to know they have friends and a network even when most of us come from so far away.

We are blessed in our church members, to have some community strongholds who have been here for a lot longer than most. The true locals who have seen this town grow and change, but can bring us back to the reality of the landscape that just goes through cycles. These people shared with us the camping spot on their station, provided us with directions on a 'mud map' to find the best camping spot for fun that had easy access.

We followed a dirt road, spied the 'chocolate topped mountains' as they have been described by a dear friend, turned off the road to a grassed area by a waterhole. The sun had taken more than its fair share of the water, but the mud, the water, the walking, the photos and the stillness still had attraction enough to inspire people and help them connect.

JRR Tolkein once said through his writings: "The road goes ever on and on. Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone and I must follow if I can". Follow the road, follow the mud map, you may be surprised where it takes you - friendship, connection, love, acceptance and family away from home.

The Pilbara: Tough on Cars

We recently made a purchase of a new car. Some people may perceive this as hasty, materialistic, take your pick. But the truth is, the Pilbara is tough on cars.

Rule one: don't leave your car unattended in the bush. Otherwise this happens.

Pilbara: Tough on cars - Canon EOS 50D f/10, 1.250 shutter, ISO 100, 18mm. Reduction of saturation in Photoshop, also contrast and brightness adjustment.

Lucky for me, old beaten up cars in the bush make great subjects - they don't move! Plus, they have distinctive character. The bush will rule over mankind trying to tame it!

The Original Kodak Moment

Remember what I said about not taking photos of anything that moves? Well, sometimes life presents an event that you either say “I wish I had my camera in the car right now!” or “I’ve got to do anything to I can to get a photo – the opportunity is too great!” I call it the Original Kodak Moment. Or making your own luck. Or putting yourself in silly situations just for a photo.

One such moment presented itself on the weekend.

I was driving my little car along an outback road, when suddenly my tires nearly burst thanks to the little guy below running out onto the street! I slowed down, the guy coming the other way stopped, and I raced out with my camera, and my grandmother’s camera who was visiting at the time. Of course, I wasn’t first to the scene of the terrified echidna, but I think my Betsy managed to intimidate the other onlookers a little…oops, that’s really not meant to happen!

So here I am, crouched down on a road where the speed limit is about 80km an hour. It’s a popular road on a weekend as it leads to a nice little cove. Two cars had to swerve to the other side of the road to miss me. I’m sure they thought I was quite mad but let’s face it: you don’t want to hit one of these guys with your car!

Pilbara Echidna. Canon EOS 50D f/4.5 1/6400 shutter, ISO 500, +1 Step, 50mm, shutter priority setting. So this picture is boringly composed - who puts the subject almost of dead centre? - but I like it because it shows the echidna literally in the middle of the road, with the gorgeous Pilbara colours behind and even a bush of some wildflowers! Plus I like how the echidna is in focus. Why does he have a stick on his back I wonder? Fancy Dress? Not likely.

Canon EOS 50D f/5.6 1/6400 shutter, ISO 500, +1 Step, 110mm, shutter priority setting. I like the shape of the echidna in this picture, and the pattern his spikes make. I'm still confused about the spike - I wasn't game enough to remove it on the day, I'm a chicken! The only thing that could have improved this picture is getting his eye. I only caught a brief glimpse of it, but my father always said when photographing wildlife, get the eye in focus or else it's worthless! And the threat of speeding traffic should be no excuse, not to the real amateur photographer!

Normally I would remove such a gorgeous creature out of the way on my departure (generally by chasing it, yes) but to tell you the truth I was a little intimidated by those spikes! When left alone however, he quickly scampered off into the bush so no harm done. Well other than the fright of its life!

At the end of the day, if it moves it’s difficult, but if it refuses to move out of shear fright it’s fair game!