Flinders Ranges Archives - Peter MacDonald Photo

“There’s Gold in Them Thar Hills”

Peter MacDonald — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 02:17:19 +0000

The result of recent rains over Wilpena Pound. Golden Acacia blooms caught in the morning sun are in stark contrast to the rugged cliffs and gorges of the Pound.

Wilpena Pound

Peter MacDonald — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 21:26:34 +0000

A photo from a recent shoot for Wrights Air who are now doing the scenic flights over this very beautiful icon of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. The Elder Range is in the background.

Orange and Red

Peter MacDonald — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 03:49:32 +0000

Working with colour and light. A beautiful Spring day turning into a glowing sunset on Nilpena Station on the edge of the Flinders Ranges.

Leaves from a nearby gum tree. The red ones are dying off but are a standout when backlit by the suns rays.

“The Bloke” on Instagram

Peter MacDonald — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 07:05:30 +0000

Although the pictures posted on the Sentimental Bloke website have always been randomly selected there has always been an underlying theme.

For more than a decade I have been recording the ever changing cycles of nature. These cycles have included drought, flood, dust storms, good weather and bad, the four seasons, the flora, the wildlife and lots more.

Perhaps the biggest cycle of nature that I have followed is the flooding of the salt lakes in South Australia’s outback.

Watching this epic phenomenon unfold brought with it a realisation there is true natural art occurring almost everywhere, the trick being to see it.

The Sentimental Bloke is now on Instagram with the intention of focusing on the these natural events in a more orderly fashion and to showcase a truly amazing part of the world to an international audience.

Follow on Instagram – @thesentimentalbloke

The Spectacular Flinders Ranges…No 5

Peter MacDonald — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 07:30:22 +0000

Acacias to the fore…the amazing formation of the Elder Range and Mt Alec on Arkaba Station outstanding in the background.

The Spectacular Flinders Ranges…No 4

Peter MacDonald — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 07:30:33 +0000

The scrambled foothills of the Gammon Ranges. The Munyalana Valley on Wooltana Station to the left. The Gammons are just a small part of the larger Flinders Ranges.

The Spectacular Flinders Ranges…..No 3

Peter MacDonald — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 07:30:54 +0000

Scene along the Glass Gorge Road which runs from Blinman to Parachilna in the central Flinders Ranges. Taken from Moolooloo Station along the road to the Nuckalina Mine.

The Spectacular Flinders Ranges…No 2

Peter MacDonald — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 05:30:10 +0000

The dawn of a New Year…..

To everyone who follows the Sentimental Bloke, best wishes for a happy, peaceful and healthy year ahead.

The Freeling Heights, northern Flinders Ranges.

The Spectacular Flinders Ranges ….No 1 in a Series

Peter MacDonald — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 07:30:16 +0000

On High on Arkaba Station, that spectacular country just south of Wilpena Pound, Central Flinders Ranges

The Running Brook

Peter MacDonald — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 08:45:38 +0000

This stretch of water was a real surprise. Such a beautiful and peaceful scene.
When I photographed the Oratunga Creek from the ridges above a few days earlier, it looked quite tiny.
Up close it is substantial as far as creeks in the Flinders Ranges go.
Despite the tranquil waters, the stream flows quickly and noisily among the rocks.
This was the point where the waters appeared above ground. It was quite a way upstream.
Further into the ravine the bed is dry but there may be places even further upstream where it reappears once again.
However in this photo it is easy enough to see the steepness of the slopes all around.

The Oratunga Gorge

Peter MacDonald — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:30:27 +0000

As often happens in the Flinders Ranges, the morning can see a bank of cloud over the eastern ranges while there’s clear skies to the west.

There is a sharp contrast from the previous post but not much time between the two photos. The cloud bank is most obvious though.

It’s taken from the same sharp ridge with another glimpse of the creek referred to in the previous image.

Running Water

Peter MacDonald — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:30:27 +0000

I’d never taken the trouble to explore this area before. It’s between the Glass Gorge Road and the Parachilna Gorge in the central Flinders Ranges.

Rugged country and certainly some grand views of the Heysen Range in the background…….a typical Flinders Ranges scene.

However it was the little glimpse of water that caught the eye. Even up so high on a sharp ridge , the distinct sound of running water was coming from the valley.

It was this running water which would lead to finding a most beautiful stretch of creek bed that would take quite a few days to explore and photograph….The Oratunga.

Winter Scene – Flinders Ranges

Peter MacDonald — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 06:12:00 +0000

From a vantage point high on a slope on Moolooloo Station near Blinman in the central Flinders.

Three days at the same spot, waiting, waiting…freezing cold and a bitter wind. You’ve got to be nuts.

Despite the discomfort and the conditions, the Fuji X series cameras and lens have now been through a scorching, dusty summer and this cold and wet winter with flying colours.

I am confident that this image and the earlier landscapes taken with either the X100s, true X-Pro or the X=T1, the three prime lens and the 55-200mm zoom are all capable of turning out high quality images which in turn means large, high quality prints.

For a bloke with a crook back, the size and weight is the icing on the cake.

Winter Hues

Peter MacDonald — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 08:30:15 +0000

A crisp winter’s morning along the Glass Gorge road between Blinman and Parachilna where I have been working on and off for several weeks.

Heysen Magic

Peter MacDonald — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 08:30:12 +0000

For just a few moments the view of the Heysen Range from Moolooloo Station near Blinman in the Flinders Ranges is a sight to behold. But just as quickly as night descends, its gone.

Pug and Pine

Peter MacDonald — Sun, 26 May 2013 07:30:26 +0000

Pug and Pine was a common technique for building houses and huts when the first settlers arrived in the Flinders Ranges.

The trunks of Calitiris pines are cut for the uprights and the gaps filled with wet earth and other materials to form a solid wall.

The pines were in plentiful supply years ago and were used for everything from housing to fences and mining.

This hut is on Gum Creek station.

Ridges and Ranges

Peter MacDonald — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:30:11 +0000

To finish off my little journey featuring ridges of the Flinders Ranges I’ve gone another hundred plus kilometres south to Arkaba station where there is dramatic change in scenery.

This countries lies between Wilpena Pound and the Elder Range near the town of Hawker.

A Ridge or Two

Peter MacDonald — Sun, 12 May 2013 07:30:41 +0000

150 or so kilometres south from Arkaroola in the previous picture, this image was taken on the eastern side of what I suppose is the central Flinders Ranges for want of a better term.

A flight out from Angorichina station which isn’t far from the town of Blinman soon reveals row after row of ridges that keep rolling on as far as the eye can see.

On the Road

Peter MacDonald — Sun, 05 May 2013 07:30:36 +0000

Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges. Looking south from Gum Creek Station towards St. Mary’s Peak.