Australian Landscape & Nature Photography by Michael Boniwell

Australian Landscape & Nature Photography by Michael Boniwell

What's New in April 2018

  LARGE Panoramas - Suitable for enormous prints metres wide.
Morning finds Mt Rosea, Grampians, Victoria, Australia
Morning finds Mt Rosea, Grampians


The Pinnacles, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
The Pinnacles, Phillip Island


Ritches Hut, Howqua Hills, Victoria, Australia
Ritches Hut, Howqua Hills


Photographer's Blog: Sunday, April 8, 2018
Victorian Hikes

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Greetings once again. Another couple of months have slipped by us since my last blog, so I thought I'd better write up my recent images. They are all reasonably local, no more than a few hours drive away. Whilst each required multiple separate trips to get the light at its best (one took decades!), they share in common one feature, being fairly family friendly. This year I was able to enjoy each with our seven year old boy who loved the experiences. So fellow parents reading this, here are three hiking locations you can reach from country Victoria or Melbourne.

First up is Ritches Hut on the banks of the Howqua River not too far from Mansfield. I'm sure you can google the access well enough, just head for the popular Sheepyard Flat and then drive further up river to Eight Mile Camping Area. The roads are dirt, but well maintained.

From there it's a comfortable 6km hike, with only slight altitude gains and some nice views. The high track is recommended over the low alternative mainly to avoid river crossings. It does get a little narrow in places with the hill falling away to the river on one side, but nothing too serious. However, in terms of parental duties, be aware there can be snakes. Camping at the hut is fun, though obviously bring warm clothes. Normal hiking etiquette applies, so be prepared pitch a tent if it gets crowded.

The next location I'll describe is The Pinnacles at Phillip Island. This scene has plagued me for years. Decades even. I've been back so many times I've lost count. I think I'm finally pleased with this image, though I'm sure I'll return again, there's just too much photographic potential despite the endless difficulties with tide, weather and light.

Our boy loved this spot. It's an easy walk of maybe an hour to make your way along the beach, up onto the headland and over to the cliff-top. From there you can sit and stare out into the ocean whilst the sun goes down. Scrambling down to the rocks below isn't child friendly, and best left to crazy photographers and rock climbers. However, the view is almost as good from above anyway.

Lastly I'll mention the third photograph in this series, and my favourite, Mt Rosea in the Grampians. I first hiked Mt Rosea some 40 years ago in the company of my father. He was a patient and caring man, with a grand love of the outdoors. I would have been alive with excitement and wonder, and keen to show him I could keep up. As I recall it rained heavily that night. I remember our little red A-frame tent leaked and we awoke to a minor flood under our sleeping bags!

Fast forward a generation, and I found myself leading my own son up the very same peak. This time it was my turn to help him over the bigger boulders, and answer his enthusiastic questions. Unfortunately the wind was blowing a gale when we reached the top, but I made some careful compositional notes, and marked GPS co-ordinates for a return attempt.

That opportunity didn't arise for six months or more, mainly because I needed both a favourable weather forecast and the time to invest into it. Hiking up in the pre-dawn dark (alone this time) I was glad I'd marked my preferred composition and could easily return to it. Almost impossibly the ever present wind was so low as to be nearly dead calm, allowing me to capture the foliage at its best when the sun rose directly into my lens, casting deeply yellow rays across the beautiful landscape.

So that's it for another blog. I'll be heading north for my next images so please drop by again. All the best dear readers.

Michael Boniwell




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 Shipped from America (US $)

Photographic Print Only US Dollars
8" x 12" 20cm x 31cm $20 US
10" x 15" 25cm x 38cm $25 US
12" x 18" 31cm x 46cm $35 US
16" x 24" 41cm x 61cm $55 US
20" x 30" 51cm x 76cm $65 US
24" x 36" 61cm x 91cm $85 US
30" x 40" 76cm x 102cm $100 US
Panoramic Prints US Dollars
8" x 24" 20cm x 61cm $35 US
10" x 30" 25cm x 76cm $50 US
12" x 36" 31cm x 91cm $60 US
16" x 48" 41cm x 122cm $100 US
20" x 60" 51cm x 152cm $160 US
30" x 90" 76cm x 228cm $185 US
Canvas Prints (Standard) US Dollars
8" x 12" 20cm x 31cm $75 US
12" x 18" 31cm x 46cm $95 US
16" x 24" 41cm x 61cm $100 US
20" x 30" 51cm x 76cm $125 US
24" x 36" 61cm x 91cm $175 US
30" x 40" 76cm x 102cm $200 US
Canvas Prints (Panoramic) US Dollars
10" x 30" 25cm x 76cm $150 US
12" x 36" 31cm x 91cm $180 US
20" x 60" 51cm x 152cm $310 US
Metal/Aluminum Prints US Dollars
8" x 12" 20cm x 31cm $150 US
12" x 18" 31cm x 46cm $200 US
16" x 24" 41cm x 61cm $250 US
20" x 30" 51cm x 76cm $300 US
24" x 36" 61cm x 91cm $350 US
30" x 40" 76cm x 102cm $400 US
Metal/Aluminum Prints (Panoramic) US Dollars
6" x 18" 15cm x 46cm $125 US
8" x 24" 20cm x 61cm $150 US
10" x 30" 25cm x 76cm $200 US
12" x 36" 31cm x 91cm $250 US
16" x 48" 41cm x 122cm $400 US
20" x 60" 51cm x 152cm $550 US
30" x 90" 76cm x 228cm $1000 US
Shipped from Australia & US (AU $) 

Timber Framed Prints Australian
8" x 12" 20cm x 31cm $172 AUD
12" x 18" 31cm x 46cm $245 AUD
16" x 24" 41cm x 61cm $300 AUD
Photographic Print Only Australian
8" x 12" 20cm x 31cm $27 AUD
12" x 18" 31cm x 46cm $33 AUD
16" x 24" 41cm x 61cm $70 AUD
20" x 30" 51cm x 76cm $92 AUD
Panoramic Prints Australian
4" x 12" 10cm x 31cm $27 AUD
6" x 18" 15cm x 46cm $33 AUD
8" x 24" 20cm x 61cm $70 AUD
10" x 30" 25cm x 76cm $92 AUD
16" x 48" 41cm x 122cm Please use
US Printer
20" x 60" 51cm x 152cm
30" x 90" 76cm x 228cm
33" x 100" 84cm x 254cm Available
On Request
(Email)
40" x 120" 102cm x 305cm
Canvas Prints (Standard) Australian
8" x 12" 20cm x 31cm $132 AUD
12" x 18" 31cm x 46cm $172 AUD
16" x 24" 41cm x 61cm $224 AUD
20" x 30" 51cm x 76cm $285 AUD
Canvas Prints (Panoramic) Australian
4" x 12" 10cm x 31cm $132 AUD
6" x 18" 15cm x 46cm $172 AUD
8" x 24" 20cm x 61cm $224 AUD
10" x 30" 25cm x 76cm $285 AUD
20" x 60" 51cm x 152cm Please use
US Printer
33" x 100" 84cm x 254cm Available
On Request
(Email)
40" x 120" 102cm x 305cm
Poster Australian
15" x 23" 39cm x 59cm $25 AUD
22" x 33" 56cm x 84cm $40 AUD
31" x 47" 79cm x 119cm $70 AUD
Postcard Australian
4" x 6" 10cm x 15cm $3 AUD
Greeting Card with Envelope Australian
4" x 6" 10cm x 15cm $4.50 AUD
5" x 7.5" 13cm x 19cm $7.00 AUD

Commercial Stock & Commissioned Photography
All images may be purchased for advertising, editorial and web use. See Stock Prices for details.
Michael is also available for Commissioned Photography assignments within Victoria, Australia.
Email michael.boniwell@gmail.com or Phone: 04 3473 0828.