This MacDonnell Ranges Photography Tour 2016 with Steve Parish is what I (Steve) think of as a ‘photo project’ driven photo adventure tour. While the projects – wildlife, plants, geology, landscape, history – are entirely of your own choosing, I will be available day and night to assist with any project you are working on. Throughout my career I have found that the highest return of images comes from working to a specific project theme.

Regardless of whether your end results are for sharing on social media or are the beginning of a whole new direction in your photographic life, maybe a publication or a broader educational path, you will come away from our tours feeling empowered and life enhanced. Steve Parish

DATE Saturday 7 May to Wednesday 11 May 2016
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS The tour is limited to 7 participants

HIGHLIGHTS

• Five days in stunning and scenic West MacDonnell Ranges and surrounds.
• Private one-on-one tuition and feedback from master photographer, Steve Parish, supported by his Nature Connect Team.
• Group size limited to 7 participants; enjoy a quiet moment for your vision to ignite or share ideas with the group and Steve.
• Photographic projects designed by Steve to enhance creativity, skill and your vision. What is your vision for your photographs?
• Optional scenic helicopter flight; enjoy all the wonders from above (flight cost is an added extra).
• Stunning and unique localities to photograph with Steve; Simpson’s Gap NP, Standley Chasm, Ormiston Gorge and Finke Gorge National Park to name a few.

INCLUDES

Five days / 4 nights
Staying at Glen Helens Resort, twin share; single supplement available. All meals inclusive.
Transfers included; pick up Alice Springs on Day 1, drop off Alice Spring at the end of Day 5
Travel by air-conditioned mini-bus

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 SATURDAY 7th May

Early morning Pick up of participants from hotels.
DESTINATION Slow drive to and walk at Simpson’s Gap National Park.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Tripod photography in low light, creative gorge photography, possibility to photograph a rock wallaby with a long lens.

Breakfast at Alice Springs Desert Park.
DESTINATION Alice Springs Desert Park photographing wildlife, birds, wildflowers, free flight birds on the wing.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Walk and talk with Steve featuring macro photography of wildflowers, telephoto photography of spectacular arid land birds and birds in flight.

Early Lunch at Alice Springs Desert Park.
DESTINATION Middle of the day at unique Aboriginal owned and managed Stanley Chasm. We need midday to illuminate the gorge walls.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Managing lighting challenges in harsh light in the field.
DESTINATION Slow drive to Glen Helen Gorge in afternoon light, book in and spend afternoon exploring a photographing Glen Helen Gorge and the Finke River.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Landscape panorama photography with tripods and telephoto lenses – collecting images for photoshop stitching panoramas.

Welcome drinks and dinner at Glen Helen Resort.
Followed by a short talk on the week to follow, the idea of working to projects and and also post production techniques and the assembly and processing of stitched panoramas taken during the trip out from Alice Springs. Q&A with Steve.

Day 2 SUNDAY 8th May

DESTINATION First light free to explore reflections and early light colours of Glen Helen Gorge with Steve.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Photo capture techniques on one of Steve’s favourite Red River Gums with post production in mind. We go on to explore the reflections and birds of the gorge. Or free to wander at will.

Breakfast at Glen Helen Resort.
DESTINATION Birds and reflections at the entrance to beautiful Ormiston Gorge.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Contemplative photography can produce astounding results. During this period Steve will introduce the group to the power of working in the moment.

Lunch at the Resort.
DESTINATION Ormiston Gorge and Pound 3-4 hour walk completes a full circuit from the Visitor Centre, meandering around scenic slopes, dropping into the flat expanse of the Pound and returning along Ormiston Gorge via the main waterhole. We take afternoon tea and ‘hang out’ in the gorge following the light back to the camping area late afternoon. Sunset photography on the way back to the resort at the Mount Sonder Lookout.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – How to create a photo storyboard while on the move.

Drinks and dinner at Glen Helen Resort.
Free evening for post production. Q&A discussions with Steve.

Day 3 MONDAY 9th May

Early breakfast
DESTINATION – SPECIAL ADVENTURE DAY TRIP TO FINKE GORGE NATIONAL PARK

HIGHLIGHTS

• 4WD bus to get to this visually stunning Park.
• Palm Valley! Within the Finke Gorge National Park.
• Natural rock amphitheatre.
• Impressive stands of rare Red Cabbage Palms and other relict plant life.
• A range of optional walks or ‘hang around’ and photograph the birds as they visit the waterhole.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Create an online multi media group presentation on the Palm Valley experience.

We will lunch and, morning and afternoon tea on the road and in the park.

Light Dinner at Glen Helen Resort.
Free evening for post production of the days images –  happiness from a fulfilling day.

Day 4 TUESDAY 10th May

Early morning
DESTINATION Mount Sonder sunrise presents one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the West Macdonnel ranges National Park. We will be looking for new and exciting ways to photograph landscapes.

Breakfast at Glen Helen Resort.
Free morning to wander and explore Glen Helen Gorge. This morning there will be optional opportunities for a helicopter charter; your length and direction of choosing. Steve is available for one on one on any photography topic.

Lunch at the Resort.
DESTINATION – Afternoon exploring Ellery Creek Big Hole, Serpentine Gorge and the very scenic range area between Glen Helen Gorge and Tylers Pass Lookout. We will photograph the sunset across the incredible Gosse Bluff before returning to Glen Helen Resort.

Drinks and farewell dinner at Glen Helen Resort. Each participants ‘show and tell’ best ten shots of the week.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT Short talk on nocturnal photography followed by a spotlight walk looking for frogs, snakes, lizards, spiders and geckoes along the banks of the Finke River.

Day 5 WEDNESDAY 11th May

Glen Helen Gorge Sunrise. The facing wall of Glen Helen Gorge lends itself to wonderful sunrises.
Relaxing breakfast before packing up.
DESTINATION – Journey back to Alice Springs. This time we will follow the Larapinta Drive back via Hermansburg viewing different landscapes and vegetation.

Lunch in Alice Springs.
DESTINATION – Explore Alice Springs, visit the Telegraph station and the Alice Springs Botanic Gardens.

Drop off airport 4.30pm, or in town 5pm or you may wish to stay over and explore the Alice Springs region on your own.
OPTIONAL Sunset Shoot with Steve.
Tour and sunset photography of Alice Springs with a shoot from the lookout.

PHOTO PROJECTS DEFINED – The purpose of photo projects is to ensure that during our time together you have experienced the techniques developed by Steve over many years of photography. Of course you are free to approach each area and allocated time freely and under whatever creative approach you might like to take.

Images from the 2015 West MacDonnell Ranges National Park Tour

More about West MacDonnell Ranges National Park Photo Gallery

Investment: $4995