Tasmania, Australia, is a photographers dream.
Wilderness, huge vistas, interesting elements and unspoilt scenery.
Taking a good picture is not hard but getting a fantastic photograph takes talent, time, effort and perseverance.
In this post, we invited Tasadam to share some of his spectacular wilderness photographs that focus on winter in Tasmania. Winter has just arrived in Australia and these shots are part of Tasadam's beautiful portfolio . In the future, as the seasons change, more of Tasadam's work will be featured here.
Water in Three Forms
About the Artist
My name is Adam and I live in Tasmania, Australia, so I call myself Tasadam.
I have been taking photographs for many years. I started when I was young – I don’t really remember when. I do remember when I was 11 years old, I went on a school camp for 6 days and had a 110 Instamatic film camera. My spending money went on film, and I remember my parents weren’t too impressed when I returned home with all those photographs that needed developing…
I studied Photography as an extra subject at Technical College in 1981 where I first picked up an SLR camera. By this time I had developed an eye for subject and composition detail. The honing of my current skills along with the training in technique I received was excellent and opened me towards a new level. 
Winter Cradle Plateau
Not long after, I had a few SLR cameras and various lenses of my own and my style and skills flourished.
Beyond film, I introduced myself into the digital photography era and have subsequently upgraded my equipment several times.
I have taken modelling and portraiture photography in the past along with weddings, and though I find them enjoyable (although stressful), I prefer to do my photography in conjunction with another passion – bushwalking.
When my wife and I go bushwalking in Tasmania, we typically carry around 10 kilograms of camera gear – two bodies, two tripods, five lenses, and various accessories – batteries, memory cards, cleaning apparatus and the like.
Winter Summit Mt Ossa
I prefer to portray images as I saw them, rather than overdo the post processing with HDR and over-saturation etc. It takes time to process, adjust levels and sharpness to create the best image possible.
I trust you enjoy the results of my efforts.
Check out Tasadam's art here and enjoy more of his wonderful Tasmanian photographs. You can access his full winter gallery "Cold Tasmania" here.
Related Posts
Outdoor Photography - Six great links to help make your pictures brilliant
The Overland Track - Track Images
Tasmanian Winter Images - Introducing Tasadam
Do you know Tasmania? No? then find out!
Want to get to know Tasmania?
Would you like to walk in a beautiful rainforest?
Stroll along a deserted ocean beach?
Climb a rugged mountain peak?
Camp beside a hidden tarn?
Ski across a drift of newly fallen snow?
Follow a meandering river through a misty gorge?
Then the Launceston Walking Club could be for you and their 44th Spectacular Wilderness show is definitely worth attending.
(Click on poster to get a full size view)
The show, on late this month, is a great way to see why we all love bushwalking in Tasmania.
The main feature this year will be the official launch, by Senator Bob Brown (one of Our Hiking Blog's national treasures) , of the first two DVD's of the clubs 16mm movie collection. One movie from each DVD will be featured in the show.
We can't make it, but maybe you live in Tasmania or will be visiting Launceston between the 25th and 29th May. Feedback from this spectacular event has always been wonderful so please try and support the Club and enjoy their Multi Media Wilderness Extravaganza!
Ian, from the Launceston Walking Club, is keen to present to show "on the mainland" in (possibly) November and we hope to arrange one in Geelong. Anyone who lives in the southern States and is keen to attend, or discuss with Ian the possibility of a show near you can contact us here by email. and we will forward your email.
Related Posts:
Joining the Greens
The River Runs Free - book review
Other Links:
Launceston Walking Club
Bushwalk Tasmania Forum
Platypus on Cradle Plateau? - I'd like to see that
Stumbled across this fantastic picture yesterday and had to share it.
The photograph, taken by Cain Doherty is a once in a lifetime shot.
Cain describes how he came across this hardy platypus that is swimming in a stream with pieces of snow:
Rebecca and I considered ourselves incredibly lucky to share a few minutes with this timid Australian mammal. We were high up on the Cradle Plateau, near Kitchen Hut, trudging a 6 hour hike that runs up and across the face of Cradle Mountain, when we saw some movement in a shallow pool. This was the first time either of us had seen a Platypus so close and it was owed to the fact that it was trying to hide from us under some snow.
The Platypus is classified as a monotreme and has the bizarre characteristics of egg-laying abilities, venomous spurs, a duck-billed snout, a beaver-like tail and otter-like feet. I think you can understand it is truly unique!
Cain has an excellent photographic galley and we highly recommend you drop by and have a look at his work. His photographs can also be purchased for very reasonable rates.
The picture below, is of Sue and Clare walking towards Cradle Mountain and Kitchen Hut. This is the sort of environment the Platypus would have been inhabiting when Cain took his photograph - cold and snow covered.
Related Post
Lake Elizabeth - Platypus in the Otways
The River Runs Free - a great read about saving a wild river and more.
Tasmanian wilderness adventures?
Rafting the Franklin in a leaky boat?
Beating the government and saving a magnificant wild place?
The evolution of "the Greens" in Australia?
The River Runs Free has all this and more!
Sue has been immersed in a new book this weekend. Totally immersed. She read it from cover to cover in under 24 hrs.
She loved the stories of not only the battle to save the Frankin River from being dammed, but also of the author's adventures in the Tasmanian Wilderness.
The book, by Geoff Law, is The River Runs Free and it is published by Penguin.
'Law is one of Australia's great outdoor adventurers, authors and advocates.' - Bob Brown
Sue was so impressed by the stories in the book she immediately wrote to Geoff Law. As you can see from her story below, Tasmania and Wilderness have been a large part of our conciousness from the time Geoff started volunteering with The Wilderness Society right back in 1983.
Her email was as follows:
Dear Geoff,
After reading a review in The Age I bought a copy of your book The River Runs Free on Saturday afternoon and have just finished it at 11:40am Sunday morning. WOW!!!
In January 1983 my husband and I went to Tasmania for a two week holiday. We had been very aware of the campaign to stop the damming of the Franklin and joined the Wilderness Society in 1982. As mainlanders we had not been exposed to the negative sentiments toward those who were against the dam and were horrified when we spat on in Strahan and refused service in several business establishments. On returning from holidays we convinced family members to begin a letter writing campaign condemning the damming of the Franklin - arguing although they may never see the Franklin one day our children might want to, once convinced they became very committed.
We have always been enjoyed camping and have spent many hours under canvas. Our children joke frequently about their cheap holidays, but even now as adults the girls still find some time to join us briefly in the bush. Over the years our commitment to the environment has continued to grow as we realise the importance of wild places to our sense of well being.
In 1994 we returned to Tasmania with our children. We showed them places of incredible beauty and magnificence. We encountered animals so unafraid of humans they were almost tame. We watched enviously as bizarrely clothed people wondered off into the distance behind Cradle Mountain and emerged from the undergrowth around the edges of Lake St Clair. My third trip was very brief, accompanying an America student teacher to Hobart for a long weekend. We did manage a road trip to Cockle Creek, stopping at Dover for dinner. Even in that short amount of time she was able to appreciate Tasmania’s specialness. It wasn’t until 2002 I became initiated into the wilds of Tasmania and walked the Overland Track with my husband and our 17 year old daughter. It was quite bizarre to find a NO DAM triangle on a large tree at Frog Flats and to think it may have been there for 20 years. The triangle has since been removed. This is the link on “Our Hiking Blog” where she catches up with the tree again.
I/we have returned to Tassie many, many times since, to go walking in wild places and will continue to do so. Both of us chose to celebrate our 50th birthdays in Tasmania - my husband with a small group, walking the Overland. While I invited a group to walk the circuit around Cradle Mountain via Scott-Kilvert Hut. My brother-in-law at 52 had never seen snow until then. In December, we are planning to do the walk you describe in chapter 25 with our 17 yo son (having done it in June 2007 with our eldest daughter).
In November our eldest daughter will complete her studies in Outdoor Education and her final “trip” will be to raft down the Franklin. It is amazing to think without the dedication and hard work of so many, this wouldn’t be possible. How prophetic was the statement I made to my parents and siblings in 1983.
We take pride, that we in some very small way helped to make this possible and we would like to express our admiration and to say thank you to all who work so tirelessly to keep wild places wild.
Related Posts
Bob Brown Video- how he joined the environmental movement
"Our Hiking Blog" joins "The Greens"
The Spirituality of Bushwalking - one man's reflection
Routeburn Track - New Zealand - is it worth the cost?
Paying to hike? Michelle from Love in a Tent and the author of Sex in a Tent , posted about the Routeburn Track in New Zealand and suggests the costs are a bit steep!
Michelle is on a six week holiday, hiking some of the best tracks in New Zealand. In the last few days she posted a great story about her tramp on the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks. Have a look at Michelle's post, she is a very good writer and her yarn about the walk makes great reading.
Now, down to the dollars. The two night walk costs $40 per adult (in season) to sleep in the huts, and $10 for a campsite. The season runs from 1st October to 3oth April and prices reduce considerably outside that time.
Picture by Arslan (see below for more detail)
The Routeburn is one of New Zealand's "Great Walks", and (from the official website) the Great Walk huts are considered the most comfortable:
They have mattresses, water supply, toilets, hand washing facilities and heating with fuel available. They may have solar lighting, cooking facilities with fuel and a hut warden.
The only place in Australia where I can think you pay additional fees for use of "the track" is the Overland Track in Tasmania. This season, 2007/8, the cost is $150 per person, with a small discount for children, seniors etc.
From the official website - Bookings are required for each walking season (1 November to 30 April). During the booking period walkers will be required to walk the track from North to South (Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair).
Most people take 5 nights to complete the Overland Track, so that works out to $30 a night per walker....slightly cheaper than the Routeburn Track in New Zealand. One thing to consider on the Overland Track is that once you are on the walk there is NO COMPULSION to move onto the next hut each day.
Again, from the Parks Tasmania fact sheet on the Overland Track:
Why do we have to book?
The number of walkers on the track needs to be managed in order for the Overland Track to remain Tasmania’s premier bushwalking experience well into the future. To ensure walkers have the flexibility to walk at a comfortable pace, the booking system manages departures only. Walkers do not book their track accommodation; nor are they locked into a fixed itinerary; rather they will book a departure date. By managing departures onto the track, the number and extent of overcrowding events is minimised, and use is spread more evenly during the peak period.
On the Overland Track you have much more flexibility and can stay for longer periods in a hut. For example, many people stay 2 nights in Pelion Hut so they can have a rest day. In New Zealand, the accommodation is booked, so you must move on as there will be walkers arriving that evening to use the bed!
Also worth noting, the huts on the Overland Track are generally more basic than the "Great Walk" Huts in New Zealand. There are no mattresses, cooking facilities or lighting. You must be self sufficient. In some areas during the season there may be a ranger or volunteer at the hut.
They DO have composting toilets, gas or coal heaters and a water tank.
Cooking dinner inside Windemere Hut - Feb 07
So, is the cost too high for either walk? Debatable. Infrastructure in these wild places costs a lot to establish and maintain. Demand for the walks is increasing and the human impact must be managed. Track fees help with this cost and theoretically protect the fragile environments.
Re Arslan photo: Tents for homeless people line the Canal Saint Martin in Paris.
French association ‘Enfants de Don Quichotte’ set up the tents to draw attention to the need for long-term accommodation solutions to the city’s homeless.
There are more than 200 tents.
Spirituality of bushwalking - one man's reflection
In a hurry to complete your hike in three days instead of five?
Have to tick off another peak, forgetting to enjoy the view?
In this guest post, Grant, our mate we met with Paul at Wild Dog Creek, in the Walls of Jerusalum, agreed to post about his "philosophy" of bushwalking.
Many thanks to Grant, our Wild Dog Minister, for taking the time to craft these words. We hope he got as much out of it as we did.
Bushwalking has, for at least as long as I’ve been in Tasmania, been part of my spiritual journey. The solitude of solo walking, the wilderness, the potential life-threatening situations, the memories and reflections that come to mind while walking, all combine to create, for me, a significant spiritual encounter. The wilderness has seeped into my unconscious with snakes becoming significant primal mythic figures, and mountains becoming symbols of my life’s destiny.
The somewhat artificial psychological impositions, like Peak Bagging points, or beating Chapman’s times, in my view, distract and detract from being present, engaging with grasses, water, trees, snakes, and rock. More and more I experience walking pace as too fast. Surrounded by rocks that rarely move, plants that grow in the one and only spot of soil for their entire existence, insects and creatures who live in a fairly local area, it is this stillness which is a great lure for me. And while there are birds who travel quickly, wombats ambling, various ‘roo-named’ marsupials and recognising my own bi-ped creatureliness, there is something profoundly renewing for me in being attentive to these ‘stilled’ places rather than rushing by, which walking pace at times feels like. I refer to this pausing, pondering and attentiveness as ‘pilgrim pace.’
The emergence of ‘pilgrim-pace’ in my thinking brought back an earlier question of why I go out there. What is motivating me? What need? What desire? What is in it for me? What is in it for the land? What is in it for others? Who else is out there with me?
The land has existed without me for aeons, and will continue without me.These trees, rocks, etc are utterly disinterested in my life and whatever is on my mind as I walk. Perhaps these trees, rocks etc are ‘annoyed’ at my fleeting passing, maybe they’d prefer me to stop so they might take a good look at me similar to the way I stop and have a close look at various plants, trees, rocks, etc. And so I stop, I linger, I cultivate an opening of my Self. I look closely and I consciously see myself as being looked at just as closely by an Other. I ask, what does this plant ‘see?’ I know it has no eyes, but I project my own self reflection out onto the plant from what this plant evokes within me. In the experience I see my own reflection, I identify what within me surfaces during this encounter, and I now have a different kind of regard for this plant and other plants, and for myself. Even without this ‘interaction’ the experience of slowing myself, of considering the life of plants and creatures, or the existence of rocks, all of this changes me. It changes my self understanding. It changes how I feel about this land, about myself and Life. It changes the way I pray and the foundational myths I live by. 
Photo of "Gum Trees of Tassie" by vanlaar
Is the tree a being? Is sentient consciousness a prerequisite to being? The tree is, without consciousness. And yet, perhaps not. Within the Christian traditions there a some traditions that speak of humanity not as pre-eminent creature, not as dominating feral creature called to use and misuse creation for selective groups of humans’ comfort without regard to the extermination of millions of creatures and species nor the detriment of the planet.
Rather, some of these ‘eco-theology’ traditions spring from interpretations of Jesus Christ as the cosmic Christ, who is an embodiment of a universal ‘Wisdom-figure’ who is God. I prefer that part of the tradition that sees the Spirit as incarnate in creation, taking the form of various elements, such as fire, wind, and creatures, such as a dove, so that the creation is seen as an embodiment of the Spirit. So when I walk I am walking on and in the Spirit. When I pause at a plant and ‘open my Self’ I am seeing this encounter as Spirit communing with Spirit.
Naturally, this is just as true in the suburbs as the wilderness, but it seems more easily accessible, or recognisable, to my spirit in the wilderness than the suburbs where life is messier and walking pace is far too slow to do what I’m called to be and do there. So, for me, walking in the bush is spiritual retreat, prayer, awareness of creatureliness, Spirit communion and beginning to become acquainted with places.
And when I return home my family notice I am more relaxed, centred, purposeful about what is most important, letting the inanities remain peripheral, and, as best I can, live attentively and open to the Other.
Excellent Victorian Walking Resource
We were contacted recently by Bob Padula from Mont Albert, in the east of Melbourne letting us know about his walking related web pages and blog. We had a good look around this afternoon and discovered a gold mine of information that has been put together by Bob.
In Bob's own words:
I am a Professional Engineer, providing technical consultancy services in the area of high-frequency broadcasting - I graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1967, and was employed by Telstra Corporation until 1998.
I have been actively involved in bushwalking since 1954, and regularly undertake short walks around Greater Melbourne and nearer country areas. I also have a passion for digital photography, 4WDing along unmade roads, and exploration of parks, reserves, sanctuaries, coasts and mountains!
This Guide contains details of walks I have completed in the period from March 2005, and most can be completed by anyone with a moderate level of fitness. Some walks are suitable for persons with limited mobility.
Most walks described are located in the general area around Melbourne, but there are many further afield!
In publishing this free Guide, and sharing my knowledge and experiences through the Internet, it is with the hope that it will encourage readers to set aside some time to venture regularly into the Victorian countryside and enjoy the beauty and scenery which it offers, and at the same time support the development and maintenance of an appropriate level of fitness.
This is the link to Bob's comprehensive walking site : GUIDE TO SHORT WALKS IN VICTORIA I started counting all the walks that were listed and decided to stop at 100+ . Lets just say there are a LOT of walks described there!
Bob also keeps a Blog he describes as:
A Chronological Journal of my bushwalking activities, which is updated whenever I complete a new walk. My bushwalking is mostly short half-day journeys in Victoria, Australia, and the entries highlight the places visited, with some humor added! Here is the link - BOB'S AUSTRALIAN BUSHWALKING JOURNAL
Just have to say, great stuff Bob, excellent resources to encourage people to get out and about!
Continue Reading ....
Bob Brown video
Now first of all apologies to our hiking purists for posting this video but I could not resist for two reasons. The first was that I wanted to learn how to post YouTube video's just for fun...and lets face it we havn't been hiking for a few weeks so the boredom levels are rising !!
The main reason I have posted this, is to show those of you who don't know, how Bob Brown got involved in the environmental movement in Australia. The work that he has done for the environment, especially in Tasmania, deserves hero status. Today I stumbled across this video that was created by Australian Filmmaker Mark Shea. Mark has a website called Overlander tv which is a travel vlog featuring travel documentaries from around the world. He recently interviewed Bob for this video.
It really appealed to me because of our love of Tasmania, the fact that Sue's dad Graeme once landed a plane on the beach at Lake Pedder (before it was flooded for hydroelectricity) , and we were in Strahan at the time of the blockade Bob talks about in the video. Thanks to Mark for the video.
Joining the Greens - or putting our votes where our mouths are...
Well, big decisions have been made in the Hiking Blog tent over the last few weeks. We have been committed to the environment for many years, especially more so in recent years as we hike in some pristine areas and our children grow older and the possibility of grandchildren looms on the (HOPEFULLY) far horizon.
....well many reasons , too numerous to bore you with here. In summary, we are sick of both main stream parties taking the moderate line and not making hard decisions regarding issues such as green house emissions, logging, alternate fuels, human rights and education. We don't like the way Mr Howard has run Australia. While we may be travelling well, as are many of our friends, there is still a lack of social justice and lack of improvement in conditions for the "bottom" 5% of the population. The loss of a wider "community" feel is palpable.
Day 6 - Pelion Hut to Windemere Hut - Overland Track Tasmania
Being back on the Overland Track was like getting into your own bed after being away on holidays for a while, comfortable, relaxing and secure. The other great advantage at this time of the year was the lack of other walkers and we would enjoy several hours without seeing any other parties. In February, while we were here, it would be rare for 30 minutes to pass without seeing other walkers.
After leaving Pelion Hut we worked our way down hill to Frog Flats. The walking in this area is mainly euculyptus bush and not too difficult, just a lot of exposed roots and the odd boggy section. We stopped at Frog Flats for lunch expecting it to be half under water but we found our usual knoll dry and leech free.
Clare hugging the "No Dam's" Tree - Frog Flats
Check out this link if you want to read a great story of good over evil!!! The Wilderness Society - Franklin/Gordon River campaign
It was fun to walk in the opposite direction than is normally undertaken on the Overland Track. This made for some great scenery and spactacular views of Barn Bluff and Cradle Mountain in the distance, slowly getting closer.
We arrived at Windemere Hut in plenty of time for a relaxed evening meal and wander around the area. There were 10 of us in the hut that night and I am sure everyone enjoyed the space and company.
We had decided to walk out to Cradle Mountain Lodge the following day and complete the hike with two nights at that great hotel.
Related Topics:
Living on the Edge – or was it cold? Pictures of Walls of Jerusalem to Overland Track via the Never Never
Launceston to Dixon Kingdom Hut – Walls of Jerusalem – Winter
Walls of Jerusalem – Mt Jerusalem – Winter
Dixon Kingdom Hut to Meston Hut – Winter
Meston Hut to Kia Ora Hut – via the Never Never – Winter
Kia Ora Hut to Pelion Hut – Winter
Windemere Hut to Cradle Mountain Lodge - Winter
