A photographer’s guide to capturing the Wimmera Mallee
A photographer’s guide to capturing the Wimmera Mallee
The Wimmera Mallee is a photographer’s playground, which makes it no surprise that so many talented photographers call the region their home. Here, we highlight some of the talented artists in the region, who are passionate about capturing the Wimmera Mallee. Read on to discover their style, what they love to photograph and their favourite times to do it.
Alishia Garlick
Local farmer, Alishia Garlick, has a keen eye for capturing the beauty of any moment. From a quiet and contemplative pause to the exciting action of farm life, Alishia’s images evoke a true sense of emotion. As a mum in a family of passionate farmers, it’s no wonder that her favourite place to photograph is the family farm. Although Alishia will always recommend the local creeks, bushland, and sand dunes, as well as the many ‘old’ and weathered buildings that pepper the region. They hold so much character and charm. Alishia finds that autumn is her favourite season to capture memories and images, with the Wimmera Mallee landscape in its full glory after a hardy summer.
Amanda Brownsea
Local photographer Amanda Brownsea specialises in drone photography, capturing aerial images of the region from a birds-eye perspective. Her work covers a range of broad landscapes, particularly farming, all the way to creative perspectives of lakes and rivers. Amanda was our go-to for updates on the filling of Lake Hindmarsh this year, documenting the flowing Wimmera River. Amanda loves to get outdoors, but you won’t catch her without her camera, taking incredible shots of the coastline and her adventures. Amanda’s prints are available for purchase and make a great addition to any space. Amanda likes to look for the patterns and shapes that you can only see from above, with the Wimmera Mallee region being perfect for just that. Winding roads, grain crops, dams and rivers are all features in her work, and make for a great photograph.
Ben Gosling
Self-described as an “accordion playing Mallee farmer”, Ben is full of talents. As a local of the Mallee region, Ben is passionate about capturing life in the region and on the farm. You’ll often find him capturing images of harvest season, crops and old homesteads, expertly capturing the rural grit and rugged beauty of life out here. You’ll also see Ben at events across the region, capturing the action of the Patchewollock Music Festival, the ARB Big Desert 480 and the local ag shows. Ben expertly captures the busy, yet still life of living in the Mallee.
Chris
Chris is passionate about capturing the beauty of regional Victoria, and in particular, the Wimmera. This ability to capture the beautiful landscapes in their most vivid form lends itself to bright, sharp images that you could stare at for hours. Her love of colour makes it no surprise that winter is her favourite season to capture the region, when it is green and full of life. You’ll also catch Chris up bright and early in search of the beautiful fog that often covers the desert region in winter. While landscapes are a top favourite, Chris is also a lover of the small country towns, with their heritage preserves in the old buildings and original streetscapes. Her favourite nature spots are the Minyip wetlands and the Wimmera River, among many others. Chris utilises the natural framing that occurs, often getting down low or using a tree to frame her images.
Kristy
Kristy is passionate about the Wimmera Mallee region, and it shows in her photography and in everything she does. Kristy is big on capturing the moment and living for every minute, which is why she loves the sunsets and sunrises of the region, “sunsets and sunrises are one thing in life that don’t wait”. Because of this, you’ll often see her whipping out the camera to get that perfect shot, often around the local fauna parks, lakes and rivers that are so prominent in the region, often getting down low to allow for a silhouette of the landscape to be in the foreground of the open sky. With its signature big skies, it’s no wonder why Kristy is in love with the Wimmera Mallee region – it is truly the perfect place to capture the magnificent shows that nature puts on display out here.
Michael at Explore the Mallee
Photographers of all forms are spoiled by the options available to them in the Mallee; and for bird and wildlife photographers like Michael, this is even more the case! Michael feels very fortunate to have a conservation property adjoining Wyperfeld National Park near Patchewollock which is – surprise surprise – his favourite place to photograph birds. Michael likes to take images of birds throughout their life cycles and in the various seasons. He finds it endlessly fascinating how a bird’s feather colours and patterns can change as they age. Having his own photographic playground allows him to capture the changes that a particular bird may go through, such as their juvenile plumage stages; or the changes many birds show when they are either in breeding or non-breeding. The incredible flashy blues of a breeding male Splendid Fairywren becoming a plain brown during non-breeding periods; or the transition period where he is wearing an outfit of inky splotches. Then there are the distinct visual differences between male and females in some species of birds such as this female Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius) whose subtle colours and feathers are in many people’s eyes (but not Michael’s!) outshone by the more ostentatious and resplendent male. Every season brings a different facet of bird behaviour and wildlife to the Mallee, but it is often hard to go past the amazing light of spring and the increased activity of birds who are desperately seeking a mate… or three.
Michael and his partner, Louise offer tours of their property and the surrounding national parks at Explore the Mallee. Their wealth of knowledge makes for an informative and enjoyable touring experience. Michael also offers photography workshops as well as Lightroom tutorials, where he passes on expert knowledge and tips to improve your own skills.
Female Mulga Parrot
