One of the most noticeable effects of rainwater falling on the desert is the range of beautiful colours it generates.

It’s hard to appreciate it from the ground but from 8,500 feet (2,600 metres) over the Great Victoria Desert i’s a different matter.

Diffused light from a partly cloudy day is bringing out the best in the colours and textures.

As mentioned earlier, the rain fell in late February and early March but it has been rapidly evaporating so scenes like this are very fleeting.

The photograph of the Painted Hills on Anna Creek station in the previous post needs to be put into perspective.

It was quite selective, featuring just one formation but the Painted Hills area is quite extensive.

Because of the rapidly fading light there was only time for two passes, but this image gives a better idea of the crumbling ruins of a landscape millions of years old.

All my aerial photographic work over the Painted Hills, Anna Creek Station and Lake Eyre have been done through WrightsAir who are based at William Creek but have planes at Marree and Coober Pedy as well

This is one of the many spectacular formations in the Painted Hills on Anna Creek Station….that Kidman property that covers a vast part of South Australia’s north.

This area is extremely fragile and for that reason the location is closely guarded.

Obviously an aerial view is the best way to see these remarkable formations in the desert which have been shaped by erosion over millions of years.

Even though it was partially overcast this late afternoon, there was enough sunlight to show off the range of rich colours which cover a spectrum starting with red going through orange, ochre, yellow and white.

Another gem of Australia’s Outback.

This isn’t quite Lake Eyre but these salt lakes run off the main lake towards the east.

They make interesting shapes and patterns in the desert dunes.

The deep blue areas are rainwater the result of big rains that fell a few months ago.

This rainwater is rapidly evaporating…leaving the discolouration in the surrounding salt.

This photograph was taken about three weeks ago, so the water has probably gone now from these minor, yet quite substantial salt pans.

Somewhere over the Great Victoria Desert at about 2,500 feet (760 metres)

Canon 5D camera, Canon 24-70 f2.8L lens shot at f7.1, 1/1000th sec ISO 200

Another in the aerial series taken as the sun sank lower on the Great Victoria Desert.

Shot at 2,500 feet above sea level, f8 @ 500th sec, ISO 200

It has been suggested that this is an artists impression of a South Australian Leafy Sea Dragon.

Having never seen one I can’t vouch for that.

It’s the surface of the Great Victoria Desert somewhere south of William Creek on the Oodnadatta Track taken from 2,500 feet (760 metres) up.

I can only admire the very good aboriginal artists who are able visualise and paint their land from on high with such accuracy.

Taken with the usual Canon 5D Mk II, f10 at 400th of a  second. ISO 200. Focal length 70mm. Shot vertically without glass or perspects in the way