Discover 5 Top Locations to Photograph in South Australia

With the warm summer weather and long, light days ahead it's the perfect opportunity to get out in the great outdoors and shoot some epic sunrises and landscapes. Adelaide-based Canon Photographer, Steve Huddy shares his local picks of where to shoot around South Australia.

1. Port Willunga Jetty Pylons

This spot is a 45 minute drive south of Adelaide in the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula and is surrounded by a wide range of beautiful landscapes. One in particular is the seascape, affectionately known to locals as “the sticks” of the ruined Willunga Jetty. The remains of the jetty are a well-photographed location for sunsets, long exposures, astrophotography and light painting. It’s best shot from the golden hour to sunset and if you’re committed to shooting the stars, stick around until it's completely dark — the perfect time to capture Milky Way images.

Photo tip:
• Shoot in manual with your aperture set between f/11-f/16, ISO set to 100. Don’t be surprised that your exposure times are fairly short, as you want to use your camera’s light meter to gain a reading off the brightest point.

2. Port Adelaide Wonderwalls Street Art

As one of the oldest suburbs in Adelaide, Port Adelaide has taken its time for rejuvenation but wow — it’s changing fast now. If you haven’t been down to the Port you’re missing out. One of the more striking new features is the street art adorning the walls of prominent buildings and side streets; a giant outdoor art gallery created by the annual Wonderwalls street art festivals. Take your time and wear some good walking shoes, as you can walk the day away photographing all this amazing art. Don’t delay as the artwork might not be there forever!

Photo tip:
• Check out a map of the artwork and pick the best time of day to capture them. Some of the artworks might be in the shade due to the time of day, so planning ahead is essential.

3. Henley Beach Jetty

Adelaide is blessed with amazing jetties that once serviced the shipping trade of a bygone era. The jetties jut out into the Gulf of St Vincent and now serve the community in a new way. From fishing to a gentle evening stroll, these unique structures are amazing to photograph, and not just at sunset.

Photo tips:
• Shoot in manual with the aperture set between f/11- f/16, ISO set to 100, and exposure times up to 10-20 seconds for evening shots. For sunsets, your exposure time should be faster as you want to meter off the bright sunset to see better colour.

• If there are people walking in front of your shot and you'd rather them not be in the frame, if you try an exposure time longer than 3 seconds, they should be moving too quickly for the camera to record them and they'll simply disappear. Alternatively, if your exposure time is between 1 - 3 seconds, the camera will record someone moving at walking pace with a 'ghosting' effect.

4. Goolwa, Murray Mouth

Just a short drive from Adelaide through McLaren Vale and positioned near the mouth of the Mighty Murray River is the stunning and historically important town of Goolwa. Around the area you'll see replica paddle steamers, the Cockle Steam Train, Hindmarsh Island, 90 Mile Beach, the Murray Barrage and the gateway to "Storm Boy Country", the amazing Coorong.

Other than the amazing historic sites, I believe this is one of the best locations for bird and wildlife photographers, with an abundance of Long Nose Fur Seals playing in the waters in search of food.

Photo tips:
With wildlife photography patience is the key. To give yourself a better chance to pounce on a shot of these moving subjects try these tips:

• Set your cameras AF into AI-Servo mode. This will allow the system to continuously focus on where you place your autofocus point. It won't lock your focus, however it will keep your moving subject framed in focus as best it can.

• TV (Time-Value) mode allows you to adjust your shutter speed faster or slower, and the camera will take care of using the correct aperture for exposure. To help gain a correct exposure in mixed lighting have your cameras ISO set to auto. If the camera feels it needs more light it will increase your ISO accordingly. Fear not about increased digital noise, this feature will always use the lowest ISO.

5. Wilpena Pound and The Flinders Ranges

Approximately 4.5 hours drive from Adelaide and 40 minutes from Port Augusta is the stunning Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound. This region offers epic landscapes dotted with ruins of a bygone era of farms and towns that line the old Ghan Railway. Natural formations like Wilpena Pound were thrust upwards by the fault lines that run through these ranges, and the red rocks simply glow at the right time of day. If you can, also check out the Pichi Richi Railway at Quorn which runs some mighty steam trains along a repaired Ghan Line on weekends. There's also an abundance of wildlife to photograph. From kangaroos, echidnas, emus, birds of prey, and the endangered Yellow Footed Rock wallaby, there's something for every photographer.

Photo tips:
• To get the most out of this amazing region I recommend doing some planning as most of these locations lend themselves to being an afternoon or evening shoot. This is also key for wildlife. For instance the endangered Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby will only appear for a feed early in the morning or late afternoon. Once you've chosen your locations, planning apps like The Photographers Ephemeris or Photo Pils can show your chosen location and give you by date, the best times to shoot.

• Don't just limit yourself to a wide angle lens for landscape. You'll find that a medium to long telephoto lens gives you better reach for detail on some of these awe inspiring ranges. 

Photos by Canon Photographer, Steve Huddy.