The Todd River Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the the mighty Todd River, that flows through Alice Springs, in the red heart of Australia. Well! It would flow through Alice, except for one thing. The famous thing about this river is that it has no water. In fact it only flows about every ten years, after exceptional rains out in the desert. Every year, they hold the Todd River boat races, but, because there is no water, they have to carry the boats and run. I was told that only once was the boat race cancelled and that was because there was water in the river.The basin of the river is marked by the river gum trees (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). These tees can grow, because, even though these rivers are dry, there is always water under the ground and the root of the river gum can find it.The aboriginal people, who know the land well, can always find water underground, wherever they find river gums growing. This is my last post for a while because I am off to Sri lanka and India today. I will be back in about a month. Lucky me!

al-Farrob, ribeiroantonio, macondo, ifege, ALIRIZA, riclopes, jhm, siolaw, axiotea, Graal has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

al-Farrob (683) 2008-11-18 14:32

A photo with no special interest, though well done, until you read the description, then it turns very interesting.
Thanks for sharing

Mike-Rix (144) 2008-11-18 14:39

This is a very beautiful place. The trees are of impressive size. Shadows are nicely captured.

ribeiroantonio (21749) 2008-11-18 15:16

I have seen on TV those Todd River races. They are absolutely amazing. By the way, there are many amazing sorts of races in Australia. One day, I participated and lost a yabby race in SW QLD!
It is a nice POV where the dry river bed is well shown and matches the note. The gum trees are quite impressive and beautiful against the nice blue sky. Well done.
Antonio

litiancai (1040) 2008-11-18 21:34

Hi Kevin,
What spectacular colours from the sky, and the shadows from the trees are nice. Interesting notes, it's a very simple, but nice photo none the less, and I appreciate the relative symmetry between the trees.
Regards
Lee

macondo (12987) 2008-11-18 22:49

Hi Kevin.
Really good strong contrast shot that captures the light of central Australia very well. Great pair of trees you saw here - like twins almost. The simple composition makes the most of them, against that stunning blue sky. Good sharpness and marvellous long shadows. Interesting note, too. These river gums are marvellous trees.
Have a good trip!
Regards,
Andrew

ifege (1575) 2008-11-19 1:24

A classic Central Australian shot Kevin. You've captured the trees and the river bed beautifully and the colours are great.
regards
Ian

ALIRIZA (16195) 2008-11-19 1:50

Hi Kevin,
An excellent scene with strong blue of the sky, trees and good light. Beautiful composition my dear friend...
Have a nice day...
Ali Rıza

riclopes (32865) 2008-11-19 2:09

What a great story about this dry tiver, Kevin. The boat races are a crazy thing! A nice dramatic POV for these two trees stretching their arms to the attractive polarized sky. You got a marvellous lighting a very nice game of shadow and light in the ground, I mean, the river bed ;-)
I wish you a great journey and lots of pics for us.
cheers,
ric

jhm (81731) 2008-11-19 9:10

Hello Kevin,

Very nice through the blue sky between the trees.
Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees are here unknown, we life here in a totally other climate.
Composition and presentation are superb, pleasant for look it.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

toto (18563) 2008-11-19 21:49

Bonjour,
belle photo de ces arbres magnifiques, belle grandeur, bel angle, bon POV qui donne au deux arbres un role principal et les autres sont des figurants très joli bien sur.
La nature arrange bien ces figurants et vous avez eu l' oeil pour nous les montrer.

Amitiés Thomas

siolaw (25702) 2008-11-20 21:53

Haha... I was reading the note before seeing the picture... this is the mighty river....etc!
I guess no one evere drawned in this river! Such a dry place... and hot... and remote, all this shows on your image.
Regards
Laurent

axiotea (15929) 2008-11-24 9:04

Hello Kevin
Interesting note and a funny anecdote about the boat race cancelled! Here, the blue sky makes for a good bg on which the trees stand out well!
Cheers
Marilyn
P.S I like your new photo ;)

bracasha75 (21701) 2009-01-16 19:56

Helo Kevin
Nice trees picture and very good part of Middle Australia nature
I supose that in Alice S. thry all year is very hot temerature, or????
Thanks for sharing
Cheers,Braca

Graal (57292) 2009-01-24 23:32

Amazing wild nature. Unusual place and fine presentatrion. Good photojob. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

smythdylan (65) 2009-05-07 8:17

Such a simple shot, yet so well done. I think the framing is spot on here, making these trees fill the shot and grab your attention. The lighting certainly adds to the scene as well.
It's great to see such a great shot of something genuinly amazing yet often overlooked. Well done