A new/old spot in Barron Gorge — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

4th January 2022

I have been hanging out at this spot in Barron Gorge a lot of late. It is new for me to post photos of it but I have been going here on and off for a few years. Take note of the top of the rocks on the right hand side. That is where the next photo was taken.

From on top of those rocks I have been trying to get some epic light for a composition I have in mind. No luck as of yet and I will show you my best photo so far next. I never mind being up there even if I do not get any good photos as I can sit and enjoy the view with a cup of coffee.

This is the composition for the photo I have in mind but it needs a windless day for the grass and some epic clouds and light. Cleaner water would also be nice :)

From the top of those rocks I get to watch the kayakers make there way down the river once the water starts rising. That is what we will look at next and to do that we need to head down from that vantage point to below.

When the water is down there are natural little spa pools, unlike the man made ones at Cardwell :( It is usually early in the afternoon that I spend time there as the water rises late afternoon with the release from the hydro station.

From the base I often get to chat to the kayakers as they pass and quite often Pacific Black Ducks join me.

Little whirlpools signalling the release of water.

When they start to release the water little whirlpools form on the surface. The water very quickly rises and by how much can vary greatly.

Above is a photo of directly below my vantage point on top of the rocks once the water starts rising properly. You can see from the long exposure the water hits that wall, swirls and then spits itself back out into the river around the bend.

Barron Gorge, 1st October 2021. — Barron Gorge, 1st October 2021, 6:01pm

Here you can see that the rock pools are filling up rapidly. It was 6:01pm when I took this photo.

Four minutes later and the two pools have become one and the water is still rising.

Another 13 minutes and the spot from which I took the two previous photos is going under water. Time to move my camera gear to higher ground.

This photo was taken the next day. I will keep on visiting this spot until I get some magic one day.

Even if I do not get any good light just before nightfall is always a special time to be in the Gorge.