Benz World Blog » Sky

Sunset Storm

Jason Benz — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 03:28:10 +0000

This photo is the result of being in the right place at the right time. The weather front arrived as the sun was setting, creating vivid colours in the sky. This pocket of subtropical valleys surrounded by ancient rainforests is a special part of the world.

Follow the coast north from Sydney, turn left near Byron Bay and weave along picturesque winding roads until you are deep in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. On your way, you will have travelled the length of the Northern Rivers region.

Small farms dotted along the hillside put the Wales in New South Wales. Waterfalls in sublime settings feel magical. Natural wonders attract hippies and artisans who add colour to mountain villages. Stunning landscapes strengthen peoples connection to nature. No surprise, it was in this area, the continent saw the first successful anti-logging protest in 1979. It continues to be a centre for counterculture and home many of Australias most interesting people, places and festivals.

Galactic Emu

Jason Benz — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 05:10:45 +0000

This shows the centre of the Milky Way as seen from Australia. The Southern hemisphere has a great view as it faces the bright heart of our galaxy. On a clear night, you can read your watch with nothing but starlight. With this overabundance of reference points, the ancient aboriginal astronomers mapped the sky by creating shapes from the gaps between the stars instead of joining the dots into constellations. The body of a giant emu is formed from the dark clouds of dust in front of the luminous galactic centre and the head of the emu is the coal sack next to the Southern Cross. Seasonal events such as collecting emu eggs were measured by its movement throughout the year.

I have been travelling through Queensland’s coal country since leaving the coast. I did some research in a local pub and was told by two mine subcontractors it is easier to get into prison than a mine. This was proved earlier today when I had to call a dozen people just to get approval to drive past a mine. Fortunately, I have arranged a tour of two Blackwater mines on the 10th-11th of July. After that, I will visit a number of mine viewing platforms in surrounding area where I hope to recreate the success of this shot before returning to Mackay for QME on 24th-26th July where I plan to make some more contacts.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Powered Paragliding

Jason Benz — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 10:28:38 +0000

There seems to be no end of ways you can get around the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

This form of ultralight aviation is called powered paragliding or paramotoring.

The aircraft can be used to herd reindeer, transport soldiers or hire to adrenaline junkies.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Close Encounter

Jason Benz — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 07:26:20 +0000

For the American presidential election, I created this composite of images pulled off the internet. Photoshop was used to blend them together.

Long Beach

Jason Benz — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 10:03:18 +0000

This in Long Beach on Great Keppel which is an island 15km off the coast of Queensland in Australia.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is be available for download here.

The Spit

Jason Benz — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 12:08:28 +0000

This is The Spit on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is a sand bar off the coast of Southport and our largest local beach. We biked down there yesterday to look for one of the sets for the new Pirates of the Caribbean film. We heard they had been planting palm trees here for the movie but we found no sign of Johnny Depp.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Hat Head

Jason Benz — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:19:42 +0000

This is Hat Head National Park. Like many of Australia’s National Parks the camping area was set in a spacious glade scattered with fire pits. This one had four roos in the middle, or maybe they were wallabies, whatever they were, they were doing a fine job keeping the grass short. Beyond the glade was thick forest with one narrow sandy path which rose steeply flanked with dense flora to squeeze through. I had to investigate. The climb was mercifully short then opened out to this amazing view of one of the largest sand dune systems in New South Wales.

Orion Nebula

Jason Benz — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 03:18:56 +0000

This is the Orion Nebula also known as Messier 42. To the naked eye it appears to be the middle star in Orion’s sword. We were lucky enough to see it at the Warrumbungle Observatory where you could attach your DSLR to the telescope. I say lucky because this is the second time we have visited this area and the clouds seem to follow us each time. Our host Peter Starr did his best to point the telescopes at various features between the clouds. We are on our way to visit the Barrick Gold Mine in New South Wales and hope to be in Sydney by Friday in time for Karen to fly back to UK.

Keppel Islands

Jason Benz — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 09:07:26 +0000

This is Great Keppel Island off the coast of Queensland in Australia. It is one of the Southern Reef islands which provide access to the Great Barrier Reef. If you have never visited Australia you would be forgiven for thinking the famous reef was within swimming distance of the mainland. In truth you always need a boat ride. However, once on the islands the coral is within a stones throw of the shore. We took a 30min ferry trip which parked on the island by driving on to the beach. We then walked 45min to this remote place called Monkey Beach.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is be available for download here.

Single Balloon

Jason Benz — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 11:36:20 +0000

This photograph was taken before sunrise in Luxor, Egypt using my old Olympus E-330. To process this image I used Photoshop masks to independently adjust the exposure of the sky and balloon.

Today I fitted my steam punk solar controller to our van and wired it up to the solar panel and batteries. I will find out if it works when the sun comes up tomorrow.