www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au The Chronicle, Saturday, May 29, 2010. — Page 21

Fraser

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Take a walkon the wild sideTake a walkon the wild sideTheChronicle goes on safari at Fraser Islandwith awell-travelled photographerPhotos& story: Pages 22 and 23

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Page 22 — The Chronicle, Saturday, May 29, 2010. www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au

HE HAS locked eyes withlions in Africa and anacon-das in the Amazon but

facing his wife’s stare as he re-turns from a beach tour with asalt-ridden car is just too much.“Don’t tell Julia,” Darran Lealcalls out as the tyres of their four-wheel drive sink lower into thesand.Ruing his decision to stop fiveseconds too long on Fraser Is-land’s boggy beach, for the sake ofa better photo, Darran asks hispassengers to honour the adage“What happens on tour stays ontour”.Too late – this photojournalist ison board.Darran has Buckley’s chance ofescaping Julia’s salt patrol.The self-confessed clean fanaticis wise to her husband’s ways andalways has fresh water and towelsready for his return. She is wellrewarded for her efforts with earlymorning cups of tea – before heheads off on more photographicadventures.Based on Qld’s Sunshine Coast,Darran and Julia own and runSafari Wise Australia, the coun-try’s only licensed travel agencyspecialising in photography toursand workshops in areas as far

away as USA, Africa, South Amer-ica and beyond.Since February alone Darran

has been to Norfolk Island, Tasma-nia, Kimberley and Fraser Island.Cape Town (South Africa) andNamibia (South-west Africa),Bhutan (Mountain Kingdom), WildWest (USA) and Yellowstone Na-tional Park (USA) will fill theremainder of the year.Catching up with Darran on

Fraser Island during the ninthannual Bird Week in May, the BBCWildlife Photographer of the Yearsaid his work had been publishedaround the world and used inbooks, magazines and commercial

products. He writes for specialistphotography magazines, has ap-peared on television several timesand has been commissioned byQantas, Warner Brothers, theState Government, Australia Post,Steve Parish Publishing and manyother companies ... and publishedsix of his own books.The former Queensland Nation-al Parks and Wildlife Servicephotographer said: “My life hasnever been one of sitting aroundand waiting for things to happen.Rather, I get out and explore,touch, catch, view, experience andsavour every unique moment. Idon’t specialise in one area but

shoot everything from the smallestinsect to the grandest landscape orunique culture.”Darran’s widespread successsuggests complex techniques are atwork but they are surprisinglysimple.“I take the KIS (Keep It Simple)principle seriously,” he told shut-terbugs attending his week-longworkshop on Fraser Island.“We have the technology now –just understand light and meteringand let the camera do the work.”

Darran Leal from Safari Wise Australia captures a mud crab on camera at dusk. Photos: JOCELYN WATTS

Ivor Davies, group general manager ofKingfisher Bay and Eurong resorts, takesone of the tour groups on excursion.

Michael Schwarcz looks for another subjectto photograph.

Photographer Darran Leal.

Queensland’s answer toMick Dundee ofcrocodile movie fame is hard to pin downlong enough for an interview soJOCELYNWATTS decided to joinhim on his annual photographic tourofWorld-Heritage listed Fraser Island

Photographer’snature on a safari

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Darran said most of his stun-ning images had been taken withhand-held cameras, using thesame techniques he learnt 30years ago. The limited use of tri-pods frees him to capture fleetingmoments at the blink of an eye.Getting the images from idea to

print or canvas doesn’t happenovernight, however. He and Julia,a travel consultant of 28 years,spend months or sometimes yearsresearching remote regions for

possible images before Darrantakes to the field and returns toprocess, catalogue and print theresults.“The most gratifying aspect of

my work – after all of the expenseof equipment and travel and themany hours in the field – is to hearsomeone else enjoying that samesplit second with me.”Darran’s passion for the art is

infectious.Group general manager at Fras-

er Island’s Kingfisher Bay andEurong resorts, Ivor Davies, is oneof his converts.Ivor said he had little photog-

raphy experience until Darranstarted running workshops duringthe annual Fraser Island BirdWeek, attended by birdwatchersfrom throughout Australia.The artist and former military

chef bought Darran’s “hand-down” camera gear and has be-come an expert in the field. Henow presents photography ses-sions for birdwatchers and joinsDarran’s excursions, driving afour-wheel drive and helping stu-dents with their work ... and serv-ing up tea, coffee, biscuits andmuffins during the breaks.Every year Darran and Ivor,

who will clock up 15 years as

group general manager of theisland’s resorts on June 15, devotetheir time throughout the week topresenting theory sessions, help-ing camera buffs spot birds andwildlife at the Kingfisher resortand leading tours through theisland’s rainforests and alongbeaches where opportunities tocapture unique and creative imag-es abound.Travelling in a convoy was cer-tainly handy at this year’s event –particularly when one driver,despite his vast experience trekk-ing through the world’s mostremote wilderness areas, stoppedfive seconds too long on wet beachsand.Watching the towing was allpart of the island’s four-wheeldriving experience and offeredDarran’s students yet anothergreat photo opportunity – not tobe used as evidence, of course.Next year’s Safari Wise photog-raphy workshop will again be heldduring the Fraser Island BirdWeek in May 2011.For more information on theSafari Wise tours and workshopslog on to www.safariwise.com.au.Kingfisher Bay Resort detailscan be found at www.kingfisher-bay.com.

ABOVE: Wendy Coutts-Smith (from left), RonBishop and Graeme Coutts-Smith from theBirdwatchers of Hervey Bay, scan the treesaround Kingfisher Bay Resort’s pool for theirfeathered friends. Many birdwatchers alsoare keen photographers.

Ray Asimus aims hiscamera at a bird.

Karen Davidson zooms in on a soldier crab.

A soldier crab.

Pandanas tree roots create interesting shapeson Fraser Island.

LEFT: Judith Schwarcz focusesher lens on a shell.

dream is to catchtrek across our Fraser

■ Photographs andstory by ChroniclephotojournalistJocelyn Watts

A crimson cheeked finch is found within metres of the Kingfisher Bay Resort’s pool area.

www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au The Chronicle, Saturday, May 29, 2010. — Page 23

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