Nine Days Across the Outback: Day Eight

Miseration. Heat. The 4WD vehicle we were taking through these tropical parks was a unique vehicle. Unique, because it lacked any insulation between the engine and the floorboard above it. And this vehicle, once it started going off-road, got very, very hot. Outside was hot, inside was hot, it was a mess.

I was ecstatic to find out that our destinations for the day were two giant waterfalls. Unfortunately, both of these waterfalls involved hikes. The first one was a fine hike, but I had to turn back when the trail required edging along a ledge you had to edge along facing the face of the rock. I might have made it -- but definitely not with the camera, lenses, and tripod. (Good news: The falls weren't running this time of year). The second set of falls involved clambering over boulders. Lots of boulders -- very high.

While the rest of the group decided to go climbing, I sat on one of the boulders, read my Kindle, and photographed a few lizards. Very relaxing, and when I discovered that the members of my group who had dived into the pool at the base of the falls were completely dry (from the heat) by the time they got back, I felt like the reading and lizards plan was a hit.

After looking at some really far away wild horses at Anbang Billabong (Outback version of an oasis/crocodile breeding ground), we went to our camp, which ended up having modern amenities like a saloon, and real bathrooms. I went to check-in desk (which was really the saloon), and asked what I considered to be the million dollar question. "Excuse me", I said, "But along with the places to camp, do you have .. rooms?". The bartendress smiled and said, "Yes, but it only has air-con, a bed, and a light". I nearly fainted from euphoria. "How much?" She didn't catch the note of desperation in my voice.

"Forty dollars."

"Sold!"

I woke up icy cold from the A.C. in the morning, and it was the best forty dollars I spent in years.

"She Didn't Start the Fire"

Speaking of heat, I snapped today's photo of a girl from our tour group by the campfire. When I took the shot, I was really only interested in the yellows & oranges of the fire coloring the scene.

What I got was a sort of glow, that seemed to capture the rays of light from the fire like a kind of orange fog. Which was a neat trick, considering it was so clear.

So, what caused this?

Hate to say it, but I'm not quite sure why I got this look (luck on my side, at last!). I have a few theories, but maybe someone reading this can explain the glow. Here are my theories so far:

• I shot this at f/2.5. Some sort of aberration from being so close to wide open?
• Off axis light bouncing around inside my lens, providing some sort of ghosting?
• "Banding", or sensor artifacts? (I did shoot this at ISO 6400)

Hopefully someone else knows more than I do -- hope you enjoy the fire. :)

For the interested, here are the rest of my photos from Day 8:

Twin Falls
Jim-Jim Falls
Sunset and Wild Horses at Anbang Billabong
Camping