Exploring the High Country with the Folks
17/08/25
My parents came down from the Northern Rivers to visit for the weekend. Despite travelling through the Armidale region countless times on their way to Tamworth to see my sister and nephews, they had never actually stopped to explore what the national parks in the Armidale LGA have to offer. Our first stop was Dangars Gorge, which was absolutely raging after all the heavy rain and snow over the past few weeks. It’s never anything but a spectacular view, though one of these days I’d love to be there when it’s a little foggier to really bring out the depth of the gorges below.
I think my parents left pretty impressed. I know I wasn’t expecting to see gorges of this scale when I first moved up here and started exploring. Closer to the coast and the edge of the ranges? Sure. But just 25 minutes out of town, and over two hours from the coast? Much less so. I can’t even begin to imagine how things look from the bottom of the gorge, there’s a massive hike you can take to get down there, but I don’t know that I have the fitness level to brave it. And I’m even less sure that I could find anyone willing to do it with me…
This was followed by a drive to and a walk around Gara Gorge (The Blue Hole). I love this track for the sheer variety of environments you get to explore along the way, from rocky river systems to dry woodlands and deep, craggy gorge country. Once again, I really need to be out there when it’s a little misty to get the kind of separation in the landscape that makes for truly great photos, but even as a casual 90-minute hike it’s hard to find anything to complain about. Hopefully, I’ll make it back there again before it starts to warm up too much in summer.
Knowing that my parents were going to be the main subjects of the day’s photography, rather than the landscapes themselves, I opted for the Canon R8 paired with the good old classic EOS EF 50mm f/1.8, a combo I really enjoy using together. I mean, 50mm is kind of easy mode already, but there’s something about the way its images render with the R8 that I really, really like.
And while it’s not a macro lens, I’ve often found it gets close enough for the general effect. It’s sort of become my go-to lens when I really want to focus on the little details in the environment around me.
The afternoon was spent just relaxing out the back of the house, and of course, I had to pull out my vintage lenses and shoot some black and white, that’s just how it is! I even managed to get a few bangers of the oldies.
My mum only shoots photos on her phone, but she was curious to give the modern digital body and vintage lens combo a whirl as well, and she managed to get a few great shots too. Maybe the workflow isn’t as intimidating as it sounds?
My dad will be back down in November for the Walcha Motorcycle Rally, and I’m sure that’ll be another great chance for family photos. But for now, this will be it for a while, and honestly, it really was a fantastic weekend.
