Australian Landscape Photography

Talented photographers across the country have been inspired to create beautiful Australian landscape photography. There are so many unique and stunning landscape in Australia if you’re planning on expanding your portfolio it can be difficult to choose where to go. 

Now, with new photographic equipment and platforms like Instagram, it’s so much easier to create stunning landscape photos. Here are some Australian landscape photography tips from talented self-taught Australian landscape photographers who are out there creating amazing photos on their Instagram accounts.  

Australian Landscape Photography

Featured Australian Landscape Photographers

Nathan White – Rockhampton Photographer

Lammermoor Beach by Nathan WhiteLiving in Rockhampton on the Capricorn Coast in Queensland has provided aspiring photographer Nathan White with a regional and coastal canvas to practice his craft.

Rockhampton is about an eight-hour drive north of Brisbane and is on the Tropic of Capricorn.

Rockhampton is considered to be Australia’s beef capital and while it’s not one of the most obvious places to visit in Queensland, for Nathan White, Rockhampton has always been home. 

His interest in photography started in 2009 during a family holiday to New Zealand, using a Fujifilm FinePix point and shoot.

Several years later, the opportunity to assist on a professional travel shoot reignited his passion and he has been taking his photography seriously for the last four years.

His work as a destination marketer for the Capricorn Coast region has allowed him to capture some amazing photographs of the region, which he shows off on Instagram @nathanwhiteimages

Photography philosophy 

The role that photography can play in our lives is different for everyone.

I find photography amazing in its ability to cause such a mixture of emotions all at the same time, not just when you are looking at an image but when you are actually outdoors creating it.

Whenever I am out shooting a sunset or sunrise, the type of image I create is subject to the available light around me.

Sometimes it can be a race to get to that one vantage point to give you the best composition for the image.

This race against the light not only gives a feeling of excitement and adrenaline, but I also find that this is when I am most relaxed and at peace.

It’s when I feel most alive.

As a Christian and a photographer, I also strive to pay tribute to the One that created the amazing scenes that unfold in front of my lens.

To capture these moments is a privilege and I feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to share with others the natural beauty of this world.

Favourite Australian Landscapes 

In Queensland, I have travelled the majority of the coastline via the Bruce Highway, from the southern border to as far north as Cooktown.

There is so much to see along this route and there are a number of areas on that drive that are photographically spectacular.

My inland travel has taken me to some amazing national parks but my all-time favourite would have to be Carnarvon Gorge.

With 21kms of walking tracks through creeks, mossy gorges and cool rainforests, there’s a lot to explore. 

The one that stands out the most for me though, as a photographer, was a road trip I took last year with travel and landscape photographer, Elia Locardi and his wife Naomi.

Elia’s photos are well-known throughout the world and this trip was the perfect opportunity for me to learn from one of the best.

Elia and Naomi were travelling to Queensland as part of Tourism & Events Queensland’s ‘Room 753’ campaign (here is where the perks of my day job kick in).

As part of my role in the destination marketing of the Capricorn Region, I was tasked with hosting them and planning their itinerary.

This was only a short road trip lasting just one week.

Places we visited included Blackdown Tableland and Carnarvon Gorge. 

The one experience that stands out the most for me was watching turtles come up onto the beach and lay their eggs at Mon Repos, approximately 14km east of Bundaberg.

The one we got to witness laid 143 eggs!

Favourite beach  

Great Keppel Island by Nathan WhiteLong Beach on Great Keppel Island. The water is a really deep blue with pure white sand.

As the name suggests, it is a long straight beach with spectacular headlands at either end and the best part is 90% of the time you will have the entire stretch of coast to yourself. 

Head north from Brisbane and you’ll find plenty of interest, here are some things to see in Hervey Bay and fun things to do in Townsviile and things to do at Magnetic Island.

Favourite Australian Landscape

I would have to say Maleny.

My wife and I spent our honeymoon up there in a secluded stone cabin on the edge of Obi Valley.

It’s the perfect spot for some romance.

Secret Australian landscape

Hedlow Creek by Nathan WhiteMy fortress of solitude is a place called Hedlow Creek.

It is located amongst cattle properties approximately 25kms northeast of Rockhampton.

It is an area surround by 12 trachyte plugs (internal remnants of extinct volcanos).

The vast areas in between these mountains are very flat and filled with grassy plains and wetlands.

There is only one dirt road through the middle of this area and for the majority of the time, you won’t see another car.

Sunrise has always been my favourite time to visit as the morning sun bathes the grassy fields in golden light.

It is also the perfect location for astrophotography as there is no light pollution from the neighbouring towns.

Reichlyn Aguilar – Brisbane Landscape Photographer

Raised in Sydney and based in Brisbane for the last 11 years, Reichlyn Aguilar has found her niche in the world, wowing fans on Instagram. 

“I think of what I do as social media more so than pure photography which is why I don’t consider myself a professional photographer, but having said that, I do accept some commercial work if it suits,” she says.

Check out her photos and let us know what you think.

Favourite Australian Photography Landscape Spots

Oh gosh, where do I start?

Port Douglas, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands, Fitzroy Island, Mt Isa, Lawn Hill, Julia Creek, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Great Keppel Island, 1770, Agnes Waters, Bundaberg, Lady Elliott Island, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Stanthorpe, Lockyer Valley, Brisbane, Moreton Island, South Stradbroke Island, all up and down the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

I’ve visited lots of places but not nearly enough!

Most memorable Australia Landscape Photography Spot

I couldn’t possibly pick one!  They are all unique and offer something different. The last one was Outback Queensland.

We flew into Mt Isa, drove five hours northwest to Lawn Hill then from Lawn Hill another seven hours southeast to Julia Creek.

After that, there was a three-hour drive back from Julia Creek to Mt Isa. 

The whole trip took five days with lots of stopping to take pictures.

Whale watching in Hervey Bay is always spectacular and a hot air balloon ride at sunrise is magic.

Jet skiing from Fraser Island to Pelican Banks was awesome too!

Currimundi Lake on the Sunshine Coast holds a lot of good memories for me, I love to go there. I think the fact I shot one of my favourite sunsets at Currimundi Lake also helps.

Colin Davis – Brisbane Photographer

Colin Davis has lived in Queensland for the past 10 years and has explored the Sunshine state from top to bottom.

The Brisbane-based medical practitioner fell in love with photography at the age of 10, when his mum bought him his first point-and-shoot film camera.

Now, he’s also in love with his adopted home, Queensland, where he’s gradually ticking off his bucket list all the amazing places to visit in Queensland. 

You can follow Colin Davis on his Instagram account @colindavisphotography

Photography Philosophy

I am by no means a professional photographer. I just love taking photos, always have.

The first camera I bought was a flashy digital camera. It had a whopping five megapixels! Unfortunately, the memory card could only store around 12 photos.

How times have changed.

I took the plunge into DSLR world in 2010 after borrowing my brother’s DSLR and fell in love with not only the quality but the creativity it allows through the use of manual settings.

Ever since then, I have taught myself to take photographs through trial and error and by doing lots of reading.

I’ve lived in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Murgon, Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Sarina. 

Through living in these places I have pretty much explored most places within a three-hour radius of them.

Other destinations I’ve visited are Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Hamilton Island, Yeppoon, Great Keppel Island, Heron Island, Lady Musgrave Island, Lady Elliot Island, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, North Stradbroke Island and the Gold Coast just to name the big ones.

That’s pretty good considering I only moved to Queensland in 2006!

Favourite place for Australian landscape photography

My favourite place in the world is Lady Elliot Island. I really love this place; in fact, it’s one of my favourite places in the world.

I’ve been back three times since first visiting in 2011, each time staying longer, each time learning more about it and each time falling in love with it more and more.

Lady Elliot Island is located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and is home to some of the world’s most amazing creatures, including a resident manta ray population and the friendliest turtles you will ever meet, guaranteed.

What do you like photographing? 

I love all types of photography but capturing animals in the wild is my absolute favourite.

I honestly believe you can see how happy they are, whether it be the affectionate turtles of Lady Elliot Island, the magnificent humpback whales in Hervey Bay, the colourful parrots of Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast Hinterland or the inquisitive water dragons of the Brisbane botanical gardens.

Tips for better wildlife shots

The one thing I have found makes a better animal photo is getting down to their level and making it about them.

If you take a photo of a turtle from the surface looking down, you get a nice shell and head, but no personality.

If you swim down and take it at their level or even swim below them and take the photo upwards, you capture their expressions, their mood and their happiness.

I often spend hours with the animals I photograph, appreciating and understanding their individual personalities.

A couple of other pointers are to learn to read the light and try different angles to see what works best.

With wildlife, understand your subject and realise that they are most likely more active at dawn and dusk. 

Finally, having the eyes in focus is essential to a good photo.

Favourite Australian landscape 

The Gold Coast Hinterland – Lamington National Park, Mount Tamborine and particularly O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

This is definitely a place to explore, go on adventures, take in the magnificent scenery and wildlife as well as just relax and unwind.

If you are heading up that way, don’t miss visiting Natural Bridge, it is totally worth the trip.

Mark Fitzpatrick – Gladstone Photographer

Beautiful beaches, awesome waves and stunning skies mark @_markfitz as a photographer to watch.

The talented shutterbug captures eye-catching shots of Queensland’s laid-back coastal lifestyle and has the amazing ability to make every place he visits look mighty alluring. 

An accountant for 14 years, Mark shifted gears to focus on his passion for travel and the outdoors and jas attracted a following online of over 80,000 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Favourite Australian landscapes for photography 

We like to do a lot of weekend getaways to the beach and Queensland islands so it’s the perfect opportunity to take photos.

My main photography passion is the ocean, whether it’s at the beach, snorkelling out on the reef or in the surf.

Any chance I can get in the water with the camera basically!

I’ve travelled from Coolangatta in the south to Cape Tribulation in Far North Queensland.

When I moved to Queensland back in 2010 I travelled for around six months checking out a lot of the coastal areas and loved it.

Heron Island photography

We flew from Gladstone in a seaplane over the amazing Southern Great Barrier Reef and all the incredible little islands dotted along the way.

We then spent a couple of days snorkelling, watching baby turtles hatch, lazing on the beach and having the most amazing weekend.

There’s nothing quite like being out on a coral cay in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef and walking straight off the beach and into the most stunning blue water teeming with thousands of fish, brightly coloured coral, and sea turtles absolutely everywhere.

Underwater Photography Tips

I like to do a lot of snorkelling and use my GoPro to capture my underwater shots.

It’s a fantastic camera and great for shooting under/over shots (showing fish swimming below the surface and islands and or boats above the surface in the same photo), you get to see the best of both worlds!

Lady Musgrave Island photography

Lady Musgrave Island is one of my favourite places to snorkel, the water out there is crystal clear and the underwater life has to be seen to be believed.

Snorkelling with turtles at Lady Musgrave Island for the first time would have to be at the top of the list.

We’d heard Lady Musgrave was a fantastic spot to see them so we organised a day trip and headed out there.

Shortly after lunch we went snorkelling and hung out at the turtle cleaning station.

We were there for around 10 minutes before one appeared.

For the next little while, she hovered there as the fish cleaned her shell and I swam down to take a few photos and just enjoy the moment.

She didn’t have a care in the world and it was quite surreal to be a part of and experience her tranquil underwater world.

Finally, she moved off and slowly swam through the lagoon with us just snorkelling nearby until she came up for some air, had a look around and then dived into the depths.

It was an amazing experience and everything I’d hoped it’d be and even more!

 

Christopher Nobbs – Darwin Photographer

Christopher Nobs @chriznobs seeing the world through the eyes of the fictional character “Woody”.  

I am originally from Germany and have German and Filipino blood. Photography is my hobby.

I work as an educator and I’m furthering my interest in primary school teaching. I started taking photos as a child, playing with my mother’s film camera.

At the age of 16, when I had some money, the first thing I bought was a camera.

Nature, architecture and animals always fascinated me.

With Instagram, I got more serious to take more photographs and taught myself how to shoot with manual settings.

It opened up lots of opportunities for me, which involves travelling. I got lucky and found a following for my little friend’s adventures.

• Other than that, I was able to drive to Girraween National Park for camping.
• The south of Queensland is quite easy to travel around by car.
• There is so much to see on a Queensland road trip.

What was your most memorable experience?

My most memorable Queensland experience was diving at the Great Barrier Reef.

It really is an amazing place, colourful and has very clear water with lots of sea life.

Here are some Great Barrier Reef facts. 

Unfortunately, during my time in Cairns, I didn’t own a good camera then and also had no underwater gear.

Nowadays I am fortunate to use my GoPro for snorkelling or diving.

Favourite Australian Landscape Photography spots

I personally love the beach, to listen to the waves especially which calms me down quite a bit.

Also seeing the sunrise and sunsets at some locations like Currumbin is so peaceful.

I love watching the sun go down with the reflections on the water.

My favourite beach Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. I haven’t been there yet, but from pictures, I imagine them as the best because of the white sand.