Ken Dunca class – coastal lessons in landscape photography

Australian TravellerBy Australian Traveller
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Australian Traveller photography intern Daniel Hine gets a masterclass in landscape photography, comedy and humility from legendary Australian snapper Ken Duncan (all photos Daniel Hine)

My alarm went off and, after a couple of ‘snoozes’, I woke up to pitch blackness and crisp spring air flowing through my window. Usually I’d go back to bed, but today was the beginning of Ken Duncan’s Coastal Exposure 2014, a photography workshop based in picturesque seaside Terrigal on the New South Wales Central Coast.

 

We came from myriad career backgrounds, but we were all there to appreciate nature and capture its timeless beauty. The group’s skill ranged from the most extreme novice to amateurs and learned semi-pros. Ken had time for all of us.

 

It was odd waking up at these ungodly hours (did someone say be ready by 4am?), however, being out of my comfort zone was extremely rewarding. And, as Ken said, “sleeping is overrated."

Just like family

What truly made the weekend great were the people at the helm; the great Ken Duncan, his ever-efficient wife Pam, and the lovely Debbie Iverach. They really made us feel like family.

 

I have always looked up to Ken’s landscape work, and I know his talent is immense. What I did not know was that he was one of the most down-to-earth, caring, and funny people I’ve ever met, preferring to give all of his knowledge, as opposed to focusing on his own photos.

 

I wouldn’t call myself a novice photographer exactly, having done courses at university and practised for more than three years, and I knew I could glean some nuggets of information from Ken’s head.

 

There was a wealth of technical tips on offer, techniques such as blurring water at 1/15s shutter speed and slower, and utilising leading lines to draw in the viewer. We also delved into digital asset management, post-processing, stitching panoramas and printing techniques.

Breaking the rules

The most important elements I took away from the workshop, however, were to enjoy the moment, capture the feeling, and break the rules where possible.

 

A landscape photographer’s mindset is a bit different than others’ – they appreciate beauty in the mundane, and are extremely patient while waiting for shots. On the first morning, after getting on the bus at 5am, bleary eyed and sleep deprived, we knew we’d be in for a busy and challenging few days. We did not, however, know the lengths we’d go to to get the shots.

 

A simple sunrise shoot at The Skillion at Terrigal was made a bit risky by an impending storm and high tide. To get this shot we had to traverse a rocky outcrop, down muddy slopes and onto slippery rocks. I even squeezed into a very low, tight cave just to get a different angle.

Anything to get the shot

We witnessed a pelican feed, where one of the photographers lay on the ground amidst a sea of white beaky birds seemingly unaware of his presence. Wings were everywhere, commotion aplenty, and droppings were, well, you do the math.

 

Also throughout the workshop we came perilously close to 100 stampeding horses, we navigated gushing waterfalls, and we rushed over seaside rocks to capture photos of a lighthouse at dawn.

 

Sounds exhausting? It wasn’t really, as each morning we’d return to the hotel after the early starts for a sumptuous buffet breakfast.

 

With recharged energy and idle chit-chat flowing, we were ready to tackle the rest of the day. More adventures, more learning and more capturing the essence of a location – letting it speak through our lenses. This is a frame of mind that Ken lives by.

 

He showed us a slideshow of his eye-opening homage to Australian life, the characters and locations he documents captured with such emotion and clarity. It is obvious that this man feels deeply for our sunburnt country.

Ken the comedian

He has many touching stories to share, and some that had us in tears of laughter, as in one memorable anecdote about capturing one of his famous shots of the Bungle Bungles. Ken was waist deep in water to get the reflection, and fish started biting his ankles. He swears they had dentures and threatened to cook them for breakfast.

 

Lessons learned from the workshop? Do whatever you can to get the shot and, if the passion and determination are there, the photos will come.

 

Ken’s doggedness, along with his infectious humour, rubbed off on all of us. I left the workshop in high spirits, with a wealth of new knowledge, friends, and great photos to boot.

 

It’s a pity I have to wait a year for the next one.

 

For details on Ken Duncan’s photography workshops, see kenduncan.com

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From black swans to bin chickens: it’s time to vote for Australia’s Bird of the Year

    Taylah DarnellBy Taylah Darnell
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    It’s a small act with a big impact – your vote matters!

    From the unmistakable garble of magpies to the colourful flash of rainbow lorikeets, Australia’s native birds are as vibrant as the country they call home. To spotlight our often-underappreciated Aves, The Guardian and Birdlife Australia have teamed up to bring you the nation’s most charming wildlife competition, and your vote counts.

    Australian Bird of the Year explained

    Originally launched in 2017 and held every two years since, the Australian Bird of the Year competition is a celebration of our birds, one of the country’s most unique wildlife species. But it also serves a deeper purpose – to highlight the importance of our native bird species and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing environment.

    Rainbow lorikeets
    Rainbow lorikeets are one of Australia’s most recognisable birds. (Image: Getty/Matthew Starling)

    Australia is home to roughly 850 native bird species. A significant portion of those are also endemic, meaning they cannot be found anywhere else on the planet – mainly due to Australia’s geographical isolation.

    The troubling news? Under the government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , 22 native bird species are already completely extinct, with 77 classified as vulnerable, more than any other species on the list. Over 65 are listed as endangered and 18 critically endangered, including some of the competition’s nominees.

    Black cockatoo
    The black cockatoo one of 77 species listed as vulnerable. (Image: Getty/Jeremy Edwards)

    Take one of the previous Australian Bird of the Year winners. The swift parrot took out top spot in 2023 – and it’s no surprise. The endemic species, usually found in Tasmania, is one of just three migratory parrots on Earth. But it’s also critically endangered, with demographic studies predicting it could be completely extinct as soon as 2031.

    Here’s how you can help – and vote!

    We still have time to make a difference, and it really doesn’t take much. If you’re in a position to do so, Birdlife Australia accepts donations, which are funnelled into protecting endangered species, restoring habitats, building conservation partnerships and educating the public. Or you can volunteer your spare time to monitor birds, collect data and repair damaged habitats.

    Splendid fairy wren
    Birdlife Australia helps restore habitats for species like the splendid fairywren. (Image: Getty/Outback to Coast)

    I get it though, we’re all busy. But just by voting for your favourite Australian Bird of the Year, you’re not only raising awareness, you’re also supporting an organisation that is working hard to save our native birdlife.

    Voting is easy, too, and it’s open now! Simply head to The Guardian’s website, scroll through the list of this year’s candidates (which come with their own adorable photo and bio) and click the ‘vote’ button under your favourite.

    Can’t pick just one? Yeah, me either. But don’t worry – polling refreshes daily, so you can vote for a different bird every day. At the end of each round, the five species with the fewest votes will be removed from the race, a bittersweet but necessary step to crown a winner.

    At the time of writing, 2023’s runner-up, the tawny frogmouth, is in the lead with over 1000 votes. The black cockatoo is close behind, followed by the gang-gang cockatoo and willie wagtail, with the bush stone-curlew rounding out the top five. Other favourites include the kookaburra, galah, splendid fairywren and little penguin, which can be spotted across southern Australia.

    The details

    The 2025 Australian Bird of the Year competition runs from 6–15 October. Voting is free, with one vote allowed per day and tallies refreshed at midnight – no sign-in or registration required.

    Just 10 bird species will enter the final round on 14 October, and vote tallies will no longer be visible. The poll officially closes at 6am on 15 October, with the winner announced on 16 October. If you miss it this year, the Australian Bird of the Year returns in 2027.