January Image, 2012 BOM Weather Calendar

21/12/11

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It's a 4pm Saturday January afternoon, and stormy looking cloud is building over the escarpment. Feeling the need to get out and about I pack my gear, just in case, and head off to one of my favourite spots, Wombarra.

There's a few people about, and as I wander the rock slabs in search of interesting compositions, some come up and have a chat, wondering what on Earth am I trying to photograph in this weather? I'm, sort of thinking similar thoughts, as nothing seems to be working in the dull conditions.

An hour on the weather gets more gloomy and the cloud above is beginning to twist and writhe. I make a few interesting images but there's no colour yet. Moving on I setup round the headland, near a raised section of rock that looks like an alter of sorts, and I wait, and wait, hoping for something, anything to happen. An hour goes past, and as the light begins to turn yellow it begins raining. Luckily I'm wearing my waterproof jacket but forgot the umbrella, an essential piece of kit for keeping camera dry while actively shooting in the rain. Rummaging through my bag I find a plastic bag and throw it over the camera, and just as I do it pours. There's a river at my feet, and my camera bag is sitting on higher ground getting soaked, I'm feeling particularly like the proverbial drown rat.

The rain finally eases, thunder rumbles off the cliffs, lightning is flashing out to sea, and a gap in the cloud to the west is getting my hopes up. Golden rays stream forth from the gap, and it begins to gently rain again. A rainbow, tinged on the red scale, forms a slash in the sky. I move to different spots finding compositions, but I'm not getting it. I'm continually wiping down the camera, becoming frustrated. The gap widens, the rainbow fills the sky, a complete bow, while dark cloud is encroaching on it. Going back to the alter rock I finally see it. Working frantically, viewing through the plastic bag, I make adjustments, whip the bag off, press the shutter release. Bag back on, and try and view, more adjustments, bag off and trying to shield it I wipe it down and clean the lens and neutral density filter. By this time I've ditched the bag and am just using a lens cloth to clean the glass, the body is getting wet but I dont have time to wipe it as each moment the light is changing and getting more spectacular. Cock the shutter, click whhrrrr for one second, got it, clean the lens, filter and repeat the process for another three images. Then it vanishes. Five minutes of frantic activity that felt like half an hour. The rain finally peters out as the sun dips beyond the escarpment. I'm drying off the camera hoping it's not too wet. Twilight gold colours the sky and I'm at work again looking for another image to create.

Alpa 12SWA, Schneider 24mm, Leaf 75s, 2 stop ND Grad, tripod, plastic bag and dry cloth optional but essential.