Irawan's blog

Tag: Darwin Australia

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

June 7, 2016
Golden hour at the Corroboree Billabong

Chasing Light and Crocodiles with the Darwin Photography Walk 2012

The Corroboree Bilabong is well-known for its amazing water wildlife scenery, including various Top End birds and crocodile species. Some tours offer this beautiful place, and when I joined the Darwin photography group, we had a chance to capture this beauty.

It’s one of those places where the landscape shifts with the light, and every moment holds potential for the perfect shot.

A Creative Gathering by the Water

There’s something about photographing in a group. While photography is often a solitary hobby, doing it with others turns it into a shared experience of discovery and experimentation. We exchanged tips, admired each other’s gear, and pointed out interesting angles and movements across the water.

As the sun began its slow descent, the billabong transformed. Golden light spilled across the water, casting long reflections of the paperbark trees and lotus lilies. Every frame became richer and more textured. Photographers call this the golden hour, which lived up to the name.

We focused on capturing the soft ripples on the water, silhouettes of birds taking off into the sky, and those elusive crocodile snouts just breaking the surface. The challenge of shooting wildlife at dusk is part of the fun—waiting patiently, adjusting settings, and holding your breath just long enough to catch the perfect moment.

Crocodile Encounters

The highlight of the evening? Spotting several crocodiles slowly drifting near the boat ramp and around the reeds.

Some in the group captured close-up shots with stunning detail. In contrast, others played with composition, framing the crocs between overhanging branches or reflecting skies. The results were as varied as the group itself.

A Sunset to Remember

It wasn’t just about photography—it was about connection: to place, wildlife, and others who see the world through a creative lens. I like sunsets and reflection on the water, whether on the ocean, billabongs, lake, or even on my drinks ;). And that’s why orange is my favourite colour.

Crocodile at the billabong

Blue bird at the Corroboree billabong

Crocodile at the Corroboree billabong

Corroboree billabong sunset

Corroboree billabong sunset

Corroboree billabong sunset

Close up crocodile at the billabong

Jabiru at the Corroboree Billabong

November 24, 2012