Amazing Outback Photos

Thought I would share with you all some of the amazing photographic opportunities we get at Australian Traveller magazine.  This one happened a couple of years ago, but it was a real doozie.

On a trip through outback NSW we were guided to a place called “The Chambers Of The Black Hand” at Lightning Ridge. Its probably a 10 hour or so drive from Sydney, and the start of the “REAL” outback.

I have my own definition of Outback Australia. Outback Australia begins when the farmers muster their stock using aircraft. That’s the real outback.

Anyhow, I digress.

Our little bus rolls up to a rather innocuously painted shed.

We collect our hard hats.

The colours of the hard hats are quite striking. There was a good photo here somewhere. I missed it though

Then head down some steep stairs.

And at the bottom of these stairs is a typical opal mine for the area. The only thing is that this is not your normal opal mine. The mine was a bust. But the mines owner, instead of digging another hole in the ground, fell in love with carving intricate sculptures into the stone. And so he did.

And did.

And did.

Seriously. It’s one of the most bizzare things you have ever seen in your life. A mauseloum with a faux King Tuttenkahmen? Tick. The Last Supper? Tick. How about Superman? Tick. Ok then, Batman? Tick. A Gorilla? Tick? Ok. Then how about a mother Gorilla hoilding her baby Gorilla? Tick.

Or how about a weird homage to dead Egyptian Kings?

And everyone loves superman…

And the Hulk.

What about the last supper?

Or Batman.

Or Ned Kelly.

Or a Gorilla. And trust me. There is another one of Gorilla holding baby…..

Add in some heiroglyphics

And before it gets too weird. How about a creepy Gollum looking character?

Or a random hand grabbing a leg….

I give up. If Salvador Dali had been less talented and given a jackhammer I cant help but think that he would have come up with something like this…..

It’s unreal. And better photographers than me should make the pilgrimage. I can guarantee you one thing. You want some vibrant, different photos of the Australian Outback? Head to Lightning Ridge.