Picnic at Hanging Rock Photo

Photographer’s Note

Hanging Rock

This Rock was made famous by the book & subsequent film Picnic at Hanging Rock, a 1967 drama and mystery novel by Australian author Joan Lindsay and first published in 1967 in Australia. The plot focuses on a group of girls at an Australian women's college in the year 1900 who vanish during a Saint Valentine's Day picnic at the site of an enormous rock formation. The novel is often discussed and debated due to its ambiguous ending.
The novel was adapted into a critically-acclaimed film of the same name in 1975 by director Peter Weir.
Nearly one hundred indigenous plants can be found at the Hanging Rock Reserve which comes alive with colour in spring and summer. The area is also said to be the home to nearly forty species of birds including the popular rosella and cockatoo and nine mammals including the greater glider, which was not known in the area before the mid 1980's.
Other indigenous species which visitors to Hanging Rock can expect to find include koala, kangaroo, wallaby, echidna and goanna.
Visitors should note that the native animals living on the Reserve are all wild and should not be approached, bothered, or fed.
Hanging Rock is said to be one of the best examples in the world of a volcanic feature known as a mamelon (French lit. nipple). It was formed six million years ago when a particularly stiff type of lava formed a rounded pile of layers on the surface as it was squeezed through a narrow vent in the earth.
This type of rock is only found outside of the region in Norway & Sweden.

The Hanging Rock Races have been held at the base of the world famous Hanging Rock for over 120 years, currently racing is held on only two days a year, New Years Day & January the 26th Australia.

It hurts me to say this, I hope Mr. Wall (phwall)doesn't read this, approx. half an hour after this shot was taken it started to rrrrrrain, we quickly found our way down, waiting for us was a very beautiful & unusual surprise but you will have to wait to see it.
Taken in the company of Alfred (alftrek) & Bill (trekks), Thanks guys.

PS, I must mention as pointed out by John (bisok) the fabulous & mysterious music was by world renowned Romanian Gheorghe Zamfir, considered to be the finest pan pipe player in the world.

jusninasirun, bisok, trekks, siamesa, francio64, paololg, phwall, bakes888, pablominto, bobocortis, Longroute, mikebottomley, adores, daddo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

delpeoples (6756) 2009-10-26 20:02

Ciao Caro Santo, that film still creeps me out, although your photo of this amazing place definitely does not. That sky - fan-bloody-tastic. I like The Rock in the far left FG and your DOF is enviable. The billabong in the middle is a bonus too. Bellissimo, semplice, bravo! Un caro abbraccio, Lisa.

jusninasirun (10213) 2009-10-26 20:18

Hello Santo: A nice place to be with fellow photographers like Bill and Alfred. Pleasing high angle view with pleasing light and shadow on the lower ground. The cloud is amazing and puffy against the saturated blue sky. The rock balances well in the frame. Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

bisok (290) 2009-10-26 21:21

Hi Santo

I've seen this movie at least 5 times.
One of the best from Aussie Country, In my opinion.
Really beautiful but you didn't mention about Zamphir's music to this movie. All together creates this amazing movie.

The photograph looks amazing and really invite us to visiting this "strange" place.

Thanks for the photo and the Photographer's Note in particurar.

Regards
John

siamesa (13231) 2009-10-26 23:20

Hi Santo

I never saw this movie, but now I want to see it, besides the tragic end of it, according to sinopse that I read in Google. The picture is marvelous with an excellent depth and splendid colours.
Abraços
maria

bracasha75 (22387) 2009-10-27 0:16

Hey Santo
The most best place in ALLLLL Australia for picnic making.So great view on far hills and beautiful dale with many many nice green field and water reservior !!!
TFS
Cheers,Braca

burraburra (906) 2009-10-27 5:17

Ciao Santo,
My wife says this is a fantistic POV, which I certainly agree. Why did I tell my wife of this shot, her mother (God bless her sole) loved the music of John Biosk (Picnic at Hanging Rock). I loved my mother in law - so your photograph & note is something special to me. But, removing my sentiments - nice pov, nice clouds, nice a lot of things :)
Cheers,
Graham.

francio64 (11744) 2009-10-27 6:16

Ciao Santo,
uno scenario che dà vita ad una spettacolare immagine.
Tanti elementi compositivi, come il piccolo lago, le grandi nuvole e la roccia sulla sinistra, perfettamente inseriti nella cornice della tua bella foto.
Se potessi, mi tufferei dentro questa tua foto.

A presto amico mio!
L'Assessore

paololg (14237) 2009-10-27 7:44

Ciao caro Santo,
ricordo anche io di avere visto questo inquietante film, che come dici nelle note, non ha una vera fine. Hai fatto una foto bellisiima, con una profondità incredibile e una grande definizione dei dettagli. Stupendo il gioco dele luci con le ombre delle nuvole. Una delle tue più belle fotografie di paesaggi, bravissimo!
Ciao, un caro abbraccio a tutti!
Paolo

lousat (16092) 2009-10-27 15:07

Waaw Santo,con questo paesaggio davanti il picnic passa in secondo piano,qualsiasi cosa ci sia da mangiare va bene...grandissima foto,prospettiva da manuale e colori brillantissimi,complimenti e buona giornata,LUCIANO

phwall (5705) 2009-10-27 16:40

My dear Santo,
The images you are getting from the "Fisheye" lens are extraordinary, this capture looks bloody amazing. I love what it is doing to the sky, it's like a swirl pattern that's happening to the clouds.
I'd love to see the whole frame before cropping just to see what else you captured.
Gorgeous light, the cloud shadows across the rolling landscape are just so beautiful.
Wonderful colours, so pure.
I didn't know you could use a CPL on such a wide lens.
It's a brilliant shot Santo.
And then it rained eh, now that's unusual for Victoria.
Warm wishes
Peter

bakes888 (18353) 2009-10-27 23:43

Hi Santo.
OK, now you’ve got me hanging on the edge of my seat, a surprise and I have to wait!
Great photo, I’m jealous of your fisheye lens (I’m turning into a gear freak!!). Great sky and nice handling of light. Well composed and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

holmertz (9963) 2009-10-28 8:44

Hello Santo,
It takes a short while to realize that this is actually not so far from civilization. At first glance it seems to be in the middle of absoluely nowhere. It's a great view anyway and the clouds are terrific. The steep rock makes an impressive foreground.
I saw that movie very long ago and remember it vaguely for its strange and melancholic atmosphere.
Regards,
Gert

mozzy27 (367) 2009-10-28 14:10

hello Santo
Great composition and wonderful sky, you can almost reach up and touch it, good use of light, I particularly like sun lighting up the valley below, great depth in this photo. This fisheye lens is producing some lovely shots
Congrats
Peter

alftrek (2913) 2009-10-28 16:14

Hello Santo,
Your POV with this huge rock is really nice. I wonder why I didnt see this even without the tattoo distraction. The light and shadow over the panoramic landscape and the special effects of your fisheye on the clouds are just amazing. The clouds appear so close and like coming right up to where you stood. I am waiting for your next post with the roos and rainbows;))
Take care
Alfred

pablominto (41354) 2009-10-28 23:10

Hello Santo,

A stunning landscape, where the rock itself is a strong eye-catcher!
And as a cloud guy I can't help admiring the present, even if they later showed to have some rain in stock hehehe...
The wide view is well framed and the varied light adds life to the landscape!

Greetings,
Pablo -

bobocortis (14144) 2009-10-29 2:44

Ciao Santo.
Ricordo il film e la bella colonna sonora col flauto di pan. L'ombra che circonda la roccia e le prossimità le dà un'aura di mistero.
L'obiettivo supergrandangolare ti ha permesso una composizione superba.
Ciao.
Bobo.

Longroute (9857) 2009-10-29 2:51

Hai proprio trovato sia un pov molto adatto a riprendere la roccia e il laghetto sottostante che la giornata adatta che ti ha regalato delle nuvole eccezionali!
E' una composizione molto ben arrangiata ed equilibrata e il paesaggio è realmente affascinante. mi piace molto il bel contrasto cromatico tra il verde tenero dell'erba e il blu intenso del cielo con le nuvole bianche. Ha un grande impatto visivo.
Chissà cosa ci mostri dopo!!!

Cari saluti,
Donato

papera (5681) 2009-10-29 15:26

ciao santo,
oh, I remember Peter Weir's movie, too - the feeling of uneasiness and the creepy atmosphere were so tangible...
great choice, the wide angle - it really opens our eyes on this landscape as if we were on a gigantic stage.
and gives the clouds body and structure =)
c.

kschanna (6) 2009-10-31 4:10

Hello Santo,

The dynamic range in the scene is brilliant. one can see with clarity from the fg right out to the bg.

Nice one.

Thanks for sharing
Kamran

Silvio1953 (42821) 2009-11-01 2:48

Ciao Santo, fantastico panorama e roccia ben disposta nella composizione, magnifico cielo, bravo, buona Domenica, ciao Silvio

mikebottomley (43) 2009-11-02 22:30

Santo, Nice scene,dramatic sky,sharp,love the composition,another masterpiece.
Regards Mike

adores (15755) 2009-11-03 14:31

Hi Santo!
Good photo, taken on the right moment! I like the sun reflecting on the fields in background and I think it was a good idea to include the rock on the left side. The sky is perfect!

s_lush (2560) 2009-11-10 9:22

Hello Santo,
What a wonderful scene! The contrast between the mystic foreground, the green valley and the nicely clouded sky make a special atmosphere and almost 3-D view. Perfectly good landscape photo!
Best regards,
Sergiy

giorgimer (21478) 2009-11-20 16:00

Hi Santo,

I saw the movie, but there a did'nt see a similar amzaing sky!

Compliments!

G

daddo (11541) 2009-11-29 22:51

Ciao Santo. Looks as if I had missed some great photos while away- yours I mean.That cloud on the right looks like a grumpy old codger with a big nose. Amazing clouds that add a touch of the surreal to an already unsettling place. Love the shadows cast by the clouds.Great light too. Bellissimo lavoro. Klaudio.