Nightscape astrophotographers tend to have favourite locations that they revisit over and over again. There could be a few reasons for this. One possibility is that the location is conveniently located and offers many unique compositions. Another possibility is the sense of “unfinished business”. The feeling of chasing the perfect composition that defines the location of choice. In my case, I found myself revisiting the fabled Sugarloaf Rock on a yearly basis in attempts to capture the perfect composition.
Located 250km south of Perth, Sugarloaf Rock is a popular tourist destination by day and it is not difficult to see why. It offers some of the the best sights in Western Australia’s south-west.
Sugarloaf Rock, itself, towers over any noticeable feature for miles around and the drive down towards the rock will always put a smile on your face. The rocky coastline faces due west and is the perfect place to watch the sunset into the Indian Ocean. Clear blue skies and deep blue waters merge at the horizon with the sun seemingly extinguishing as it dips below sight.
It is at this time that most would head back to the local town of Dunsborough for some food and accommodation. Not realizing that best sights of Sugarloaf are about to unfurl.
Being quite a distance from the nearest major city, light pollution is kept to a minimum, resulting in an extraordinarily clear view of the stars. The milky way stretches across the entire sky. Its milky glow reflected in the waves crashing upon the weathered boulders. These are the best sights of Sugarloaf Rock.
There seems to be an infinite number of compositions to be found in this area. The night sky changes depending on the time of year, forcing you to move away from the obvious compositions and find different angles and perspectives. Yet, the never ending goal is to capture an image that best represents the location.
The landscape can change within a hundred meter radius. As the milky rises or sets, the different orientations present opportunities for rare and spectacular shots. Planning for the right moon phase can yield even more dramatic results. This shot was captured at the crescent moon was setting, carefully positioning the camera to align all the elements for a pleasing composition.
Western Australia contains many isolated pockets of beauty and dark skies enviable by the rest of the world.
Chase new and interesting compositions from the same location. It’s all about what your eye sees.