Pouncing,Orange Leopard captured at World Heritage Listed Shark Bay. No Sharks , but can you see the big cat?
This is an abstract image of the stunning shoreline of Big Lagoon, within the amazing Shark Bay World Heritage area of Western Australia. The Shark Bay region is an aerial landscape photographers dream. Even though it is located in a remote region on the far west coast of the continent, it is worth the effort to visit.
After decades of working in my “day” job, I’d dreamed of pursuing a career following my passion for photography. For the past few years, I have been taking on short term positions in remote areas of Australia. This has enabled me to combine my passion with my profession.
Once I’d heard of this amazing region from other photographers, I just knew I had to try and get there.
As luck would have it, I was offered a few weeks employment in the region. Once confirmed, I immediately booked a two-hour scenic flight on the only day available to me.
I was not disappointed. Once you're up in the air, the contrasting colours of the orange, pindan sand with the ocean, is incredible.
Hanging out of a Cessna with the doors off, is a very windy, noisy, expensive experience. The buffeting made capturing images difficult. High shutter speeds were essential to capture sharp images. I was secured only by a seat belt over my lap, with the placement of some tape over the belt clasp providing a little extra reassurance against accidentally releasing the buckle and falling out of the aircraft to an untimely death.
The vivid orange colour of the sand dunes contrasts beautifully with the translucent hues of the water.
This is one of my favourite images from that flight. In the video you can see me standing with the very large version I have on my wall at home.
Due to the abundance of marine life such as sharks, dolphins, dugongs and sting rays, the area was given the name “Sharks Bay” by the English explorer William Dampier in 1699. Dampier however, was not the first European explorer to visit the region. The Dutch Explorer Dirk Hartog recorded the first landing of a European in Western Australia on 25 October 1616. He dropped anchor off what is now known as Dirk Hartog Island, located on the other side of Shark Bay.
Big Lagoon is a series of magnificent tranquil lagoons in Francois Peron National Park on Shark Bay. It is located just outside of the small town of Denham, a bit over 800km north of Perth in Western Australia. This stunning waterway is a spectacular and peaceful location. This stunning waterway is a spectacular and peaceful location. On land, you can only reach Big Lagoon via very sandy four-wheel drive track. However, to truly appreciate its amazing beauty, you need to see it from above. Fortunately, I can now share my experience with you.
