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Photography – Page 2 – Irawan's blog

Irawan's blog

Category: Photography

  • Barunga Festival

    Barunga Festival

    The Community

    The Barunga Community or Bamyili is located alongside Beswick Creek, about half an hour drive from Katherine, a 4-hour drive south of Darwin, Northern Territory.

    The Festival

    Every year, the Barunga community holds sports and cultural festivals open to the public. The sports festival includes basketball and the Australian Football League (AFL) championship with other Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The festival also has traditional activity shows such as the didgeridoo-making workshop, bush tucker cooking, spearfishing, and many more Aboriginal culture-related events.

    There are also a few different performance stages for music or dancing performances. The main stage, located in the middle of the community, will be the main act or headline of the festival. Paul Kelly, Gurumul, B2M and Briggs were the headline performance when I went in 2015.

    There is no accommodation open for the public. Still, the area around the community will be open for camping and caravan parking. Food carts are also available. Barunga Festival is one of the biggest open community festivals in the Northern Territory. I’m blessed to have visited the event twice.

    Photos

    Here are some of my shots from the festivals

  • Alice Springs

    Alice Springs

    In the heart of Australia’sAustralia’s Red Centre, Alice Springs is a town that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who visits. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this charming outback town twice—once for a short holiday on my way road tripping from Darwin to Adelaide return and on a two-week work trip. Each visit offered something unique, but both reminded me why Alice Springs has the title of the soul of the country.

    I took these photos during my work trip on the weekend and drove around the area. I still remember how the landscape stopped me in my tracks—burnt orange earth stretching toward the horizon, framed by distant ranges and a sky that always seemed bigger than anywhere else. Even though I was there for work, something about the place made every moment feel like an adventure.


    Alice Springs has a laid-back pace that invites you to slow down and take it all in. Whether you’re driving through Mt Gillen, visiting the historic Telegraph Station, or catching a sunset at Anzac Hill, there’s a quiet beauty to the town that stays with you. It’s also a great base for exploring the wider region—from the dramatic gorges of the West MacDonnell Ranges to the iconic landscapes of Uluru and Kings Canyon (if you’re up for a road trip).


    I had more time to explore and soak in the local culture during my holiday visit. The art galleries showcasing Central Desert Aboriginal art, the Desert Park with its immersive look into desert ecosystems, and the friendly locals made the trip both inspiring and enriching.

    Alice Springs may be small, but it has a big heart. It’s where nature, culture, and history meet in unforgettable ways. I’m grateful for both trips—each offering a different perspective, shaping my appreciation for this remarkable outback town.

    Alice Springs road trip entrance
    Tanami desert road
    Mount Gillen rock at night with long exposure shot taken by Irawan and friend
    Tanami Desert
    A silhouette of little wallaby on the rock in Alice Springs
    Wall painting/art in Alice Springs town taken in 2016
    Lizard in the desert in Alice Springs
    Mount Gillen at night taken with long exposure round circle stars
    Alice Springs Sunset time
    Tanami desert

  • Flores

    Flores

    Flores was one of the most beautiful place I’ve visited in terms of the fauna or wildlife I encountered during the visit.  Not only it’s is famous for the protected Komodo Dragon national park but in the water as well.

    Flores - Irawan
    Flores – Irawan

    Flores - Irawan
    Flores – Irawan

    Flores - Irawan
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    Flores - Irawan
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    Flores - Irawan
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    Flores - Irawan
    Flores – Irawan

    Flores - Irawan
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    Flores - Irawan
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    Flores - Irawan
    Flores – Irawan

    Flores - Irawan
    Flores – Irawan

    Flores - Irawan
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    Flores - Irawan
    Flores – Irawan

  • Split Level (Over-Under) Water Photography

    Split Level (Over-Under) Water Photography

    Not only because I myself enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling, I like to explore any photography styles related to what I enjoy doing. Split Level Underwater photography is one of them. It’s also known as ‘over-under’ or ‘split-shots’ an amazing technique to take an underwater photo but include what’s above the water as well. So its a half way split between water and the air.

    They often are taken with wide angle or fisheye lenses with big dome port to capture both sides. To be able to capture both side clearly it’s better to use small aperture for the clear focus and best shot in a shallow and calm water. This technique could be tricky as the air and water has different index of refraction. To understand the science deeper, here’s the tutorial on how to do it by Jonathan Bird.

    Here are some amazing samples of Split Level or Over-Under photography, David Doubilet is one of the most outsanding underwater photographers with this technique:

     

    David Doubilet | Southern Stingrays Grand Caymand Island

     

    David Doubilet

     

    David Doubilet

     

    Tim Grollimund

     

    Meanwhile in the Philippines

     

    Octopus, Italy | Pasquale Vassallo

     

    Lionsman Jelly by Native Marine

     

    Kona Village Resort, Big Island, United States

     

    Mahout Elephant Underwater – Best photos National Geographic August 2010 – Cesare Naldi

     

    Baby green sea turtle French Polynesia – by David Doubilet

     

    Photo by Kelly Broaken

     

    Bunaken, Sulawesi, Indonesia – photographer unknown

     

    Shawn Jackson

     

    And here are some of the big buggers to shoot it with :

    David Doubilet on assignment Grand Cayman Island

     

    Dome Port

     

    Ikelite dive housing

     

    Big 8 inch Dome Port Ikelite

     

    And I have to share this interview of David Doubilet going through one by one of his best shots at the The World We Explore- David Doubilet Zeitgeist Americas 2012. And yes, he mentioned Raja Ampat of West Papua is like a dream place and I wish I will be able to go there someday: