!!!Twelve Apostles- South Australia 

by
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

16 March 2011

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

The Twelve Apostles stacks located on the South of Australia not far
from Melbourne is the second most known symbol of Green Continent after
the Opera House in Sydney. Beautiful cliffs, arches, harbors, bays and
grottos, all of them attract thousands of people. In fact, the Twelve
Apostles are twelve stacks in a coastal zone. Unfortunately, one of the
most beautiful sea shores yearly loses its symbols. The sea feels no
mercy towards the stacks wearing away soft limestone. The Apostles
haven't been twelve yet for a long time and one of them has recently
come down. Nowadays, only eight stacks let tourists and photographers
admire them.

The other places of interest of the national park are going through
unlucky streak too. The stack named London Bridge was partly destroyed
several years ago. Before, at a height of 30 meters it was possible to
go along the natural bridge to a separate cliff and in a full
pacification admire the sunset's beauty. It was a lucky occasion that
there were no victims when the stack fell. At that time two tourists
admired the sunset there. I'm not sure that peace was in their souls
that moment but they had got plenty of time to enjoy the wild beauty...
till a rescue helicopter appeared.

Two years ago Island Archway, which is one of the most beautiful arches
in the national park, came down. As a result, the access to many
interesting observation areas located on the brink of a precipices was
completely denied. New paths, which are enclosed and situated in the
safest but not very attractive places for photographers, are controlled
by the park's rangers. If you jump over a small fence you must pay $300
penalty. And during this difficult time for the national park I had an
ability not only to arrive in Australia but also visit the rest
beautiful places of the Twelve Apostles national park.

Despite all the problems and restrictions my expectations came true.
Having arrived at night, I enjoyed the star sky on the beach Gibson
Steps which is one of the few picturesque places of the park opened for
visits without any restrictions. Having successfully finished a night
shooting, I began to prepare for a panoramic helicopter shooting. It was
my first independent flight when I was completely responsible for the
panoramas' quality and, as a consequence, I was a little bit nervous.
The process of preparation was successful enough, I revised all the
necessary adjustments and I thought that I had completely prepared the
equipment for the future shooting. As a pilot required I had to leave my
backpack with other equipment on the ground. Although the weather wasn't
the best one, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and I took off with
pleasant anticipation. My soul sang. Unfortunately, every song has its
end. Having taken the first shots, I understood that the camera didn't
function anymore. When I was preparing
for the helicopter shooting I just forgot to change the accumulator and
after the night shooting the battery was low. That would be the end of
my first independent flight unless a miracle happened. I was lucky in
finding a spare battery. A brain storm helped me to remember the moment
when at night on the sea shore, I don't know why and how, but, I put the
spare accumulator in a pocket. Finally, I was lucky in finding it right
in the pocket...

Having finished the morning shooting with still good but boring weather
I appointed one more flight in the evening. Moreover, the local thunder
storms were forecasted. And Australian weather forecasters said the
truth. Just after midday the sky was full of clouds and the lightning
appeared this or that side but it rained from time to time and I hoped
to have a good chance for a nice evening. Having waited for a suitable
clear space in the sky sitting in the helicopter cabin more than one
hour, we finally flew up. I didn't succeed in shooting either lightning
or rainbow during the flight but there were heavy clouds in the sky
which were lightened by the evening sun. The limestone stacks were also
brightly illuminated. It just was a beautiful state of nature. And I
really hope I've succeeded in show you at least a small part of this
beauty.

\\ \\

[5 Panoramas of The Twelve Apostles|Geography/Australia/Australia/Pictures/Panoramas_of_The_Twelve_Apostles]











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