Thirteen years ago I had something similar happening to a friend of mine and me at Salmon Beach near Windy Harbour. Beautiful calm day on the beach, then a sudden surge, we got thrown against the limestone cliffs behind us. Both of us lost all our gear, everything got sucked back with the outgoing wave. I had nightmares for years, especially when it hit me that my daughter, who was four at the time, had wanted to come along and play in the sand... luckily I had said no. There would have been no way to save her. It was a wake up call. Never underestimate the ocean. Nice pictures by the way. If you ever get near Denmark/WA, try Hillier Beach (behind Parry's Beach) to the far left. Beautiful granite boulders with purple wavy strata lines, grasses and the water circling around them, with the point and the cliffs in the background. Magic!
I documented the same experience you had with the wave. It really is unpredictable at times. After drying and cleaning all my gear started working again.
As a seascape photographer myself, I feel it isn't really seascape photography if you aren't getting wet. Otherwise, you are just a landscape photographer taking images of the ocean 😂 Gotta get in it to win it! Nice set of images Andrew!
With the coast lines you get in AUS you'd never have to leave. Just incredible. That said, should you ever find yourself in England, and more specifically the North East Coast you should check out a place called Flamborough which is famed for its white rocks, Sea stacks and caves. Love to see what you woukd make of it as it case to where I live. Anyway keep it up man, all the best.
Love the photos you took. I was recently at Woolshed Cave, SA. Unlike photos I've seen of the cave this time the seas were very rough, preventing me from getting right inside but I did manage to slow my shutter speed enough to show some wave motion over the large rocks. It was a wonderful experience. Hope you didn't suffer too much damage with your equipment
Glad the outcome of being hit by the wave wasnt worse Andrew, sometimes it's a fine line between risk and reward and I'm sure you will put that one down to experience. Out with the drama with the waves, the images were fantastic. Did the key fob work when you got back to your rig?
I guess it was worth the risk, but it could have been a different outcome had there been rip currents. Personal safety should come first before your gear. Fantastic photographs and I understand why that one is your favorite.
As long as you're safe Andrew, and love the photo that you took (I think it was stunning), then I think some calculated risks are worth it! Sorry to hear about the damage to your gear, but hopefully this is the kind of adventure and story that will give you that greater attachment and fondness for the beautiful image you captured 🙂
Nice images Andrew, I'm very wary of the rogue waves, my question would be what is one image worth and could you do it at a better time?? You only have to look at the amount of rock fisherman that get swept of rocks in Australia.
