By Graeme O’Rourke.
Monaro Plains
By Graeme O’Rourke
Canon 5D Mark IV; Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4.0 DI VC OSD lens @ 123mm; f/14; ISO 1600; 1/800s; Cir-polariser; Handheld
This view of the Monaro Plains is looking towards the north from somewhere south of the town of Cooma in New South Wales.
The plains are more or less treeless and were so when pioneers first came to the region. In 1835, John Lhotsky the explorer described the area around Cooma – “The scene all around was composed of undulating downs, long projected hills among them, covered with very few trees”
The soil is thin in this region and the plain has very low rainfall because it is located east of the Snowy Mountains, where the rain-bearing winds deposit rain and snow on the mountains thus leaving the Monaro region in a rain shadow.
The Monaro region is about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) above sea level and the temperatures are cold. In fact, in winter this region is the coldest part of mainland Australia outside of the alps.
Don’s response
The lighting in this scene is marvellous.
Of course that glowering dark sky is very much the star player in the drama, but after making its strong impression, the viewer notices the rest of the cast.
The side lit foreground landscape is a visual delight. I particularly like the way the low angled sun pops out the edges of the telephone poles and catches the top blades of the windmill and its doughty water tank companion.
The only (very minor) quibble I have is with the positioning of the telephone poles. They seem just a tiny bit too close to the edge of the picture.
