A shorter drive today – about 460kms, or nearly 300mls.

Driving out of Alice, I was struck once again by the beauty of the place – and how accurately the aboriginal artists depict the textures of the land and vegetation.

To get to Uluru you have to drive about 260kms off the main highway. I stopped to take a shot of a truck being loaded with gravel.

About 100kms from Uluru, we saw it in the far distance. Even that far away, you could feel its power and spiritual energy.

Small hills masked the rock until I got closer, and then it revealed around a bend in the road. In the distance still, but again its power was palpable.

Let me just say: I’ve been fortunate during my life to see some of the great wonders of the world – the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza, Angkor Wat, the Cathedral of Notre Dame –

And there’s one thing I’ve observed; that on first sighting one of these wonders, I’ve been shocked, truly shocked, at how magnificent they are.

Why?

Because I’d grown up with a familiarity to these icons. You see them constantly in travel posters, on the covers of books and magazines, in documentaries – and after a while you begin to feel blasé.

You feel a certain familiarity.

I had no real desire to see the Taj Mahal for instance. I felt I’d already seen it, because I had seen it thousands of times, although not in real life. And then while I was working in Delhi I had an opportunity to take my wife there on our thirtieth wedding anniversary.

I remember first seeing the Taj Mahal, and being electrified at how beautiful it was. It was just like all the pictures I’d seen of it, but being there in person was something else.

That’s how I felt today at Uluru.

I’ve never had any real desire to go to Uluru. Like with the Taj Mahal, I’ve seen so many images of it, the thought of actually going into Central Australia to see it for real was kind of boring. There are other better ways for me to spend my time. And really, if it wasn’t for this Consciousness Retreat tomorrow, I would never have come all the way out here.

But today, when I drove around the bend and there it was in front of me, I was stunned at just how magnificent it was. No pictures can ever fully give you that experience – a profoundly spiritual experience – of seeing Uluru at sunset.

In its own way, it is a cathedral. An important energetic nodal point. There are stories within that rock that go back millennia. It is truly a sacred place.

Here are some shots I dashed off. I tried really hard not to take any tourist shots – the kind of shots we’ve seen a thousand times – but hey, I got suckered in. It’s really hard not to take tourist shots of this magnificent beast of a rock…

Tomorrow, work schedule allowing, Jennifer and I will do a 11km walk around the base of the rock. I’ll take my camera, and try really hard not to take any tourist shots!

Kryon is someone you’ll be hearing about a lot over these next several days.

Kryon is an entity, channelled by a bloke from the US named Lee Carroll, who is staging this week long Consciousness Retreat at Uluru which Jennifer and I are attending tomorrow.

Jennifer has been following Kryon for years.

She never talks about this stuff.

It’s taken me a while to wrap my head around some of the things he discusses – but if you approach this on the basis that no-one really knows anything, that nothing ultimately is provable or can be quantified, then the corollary of that is that everything is possible.

And so why not consider viewpoints that challenge your accepted notions?

I’m up for it.
Have been for a while, I guess…

Kryon calls Lee Carroll his “partner.” I’lll give you more of an introduction to Kryon and his partner over the next coming days – but if you have the time and inclination, check out his website, which contains audios of his various seminars.

http://www.kryon.com

Here is a link to an mp3 that relates directly to Uluru, and the spirit stories that are held there.

http://www.kryon.com/cartprodimages/download_Auckland_1_10.html

And here is a piece from his Q&A page on his website:

QUESTION: Dear Kryon: I have read all the Kryon books and have been studying spirituality for years. Recently I came across “A Course in Miracles” while at the same time reading the book “The Disappearance of the Universe.” Now I am in a quandary. It seems to me there are a lot of similarities to your material; but also there is much that is not in alignment with the Kryon material.

“A Course in Miracles” (ACIM) says the ego is responsible for our problems, this world is an illusion and therefore all in it is illusion. ACIM states that God did not create this universe but we did through our minds/ego by way of separation from God. The ego keeps the perpetuation of this universe going. My question is should I follow this and start a study of ACIM? Is this “when the student is ready a teacher will appear”? Or is this something to distract me on my path to enlightenment?

ANSWER: Why are you surprised that other sources sound like Kryon? I represent Source and therefore these things should be everywhere.

We have given you much to ponder and consider in our writings. When you encounter differences, we encourage you to study anything that appeals to you, then use your own discernment to decide what to do with it.

But at the same time we try to give you guidance within your discernment that you might not have thought of. When you are faced with other materials that are very different, make your decisions based on these things:

1. Does it magnify the Human Being or tear him down? Human weakness is all part of the test. So the question is: does the study show how the Human can get above the details and create a divine goal? If not, then what’s the purpose?

2. Beware of any study or process that wishes to limit your power, or the potential power of Humanity to create peace on Earth. If the study keeps you suppressed or teaches you that only “others who are stronger than you can do it,” then run the other way.

3. Does the study exemplify the emotional self and speak of the power of love? Beware of anything that is so intellectual that the emotional self is seen as a weakness, for this is not so. Just remember: God is LOVE. And JOY is a product of that love. Therefore, you are an emotional creature as well as an intellectual one; and the balance of the two is the key to an enlightened self.

4. Does the study require you to give away anything that makes you nervous? Remember: God will never ask you to go out of your own integrity.

Dear ones, there are many roads that lead to an enlightened Human. If, along the way, you differ in the details (what happened when, or how; or who did what, or when…) this doesn’t matter to God. What matters is that you eventually discover the magnificence of the Human potential and move into balance, live a longer life, and create light for this Earth of yours. The goal is a higher vibrating Earth, and a Humanity that does not have to suffer to be there. The goal is to achieve mastery so that your life clearly shows the love of Spirit in everything you do.

We packed out of our quarters at Utopia early, and hit the track back to civilisation.

There was 160kms of dirt road before we hit tar. And then another 100kms or so back to The Alice, as it’s called out here.

I did the trip in good time, because in the Northern Territory there’s no speed limit. You can go as fast as is safe. It’s one of the few places in the world now where there’s no speed limit.

(The autobahns in Germany now have speed limits…)

I found myself winding the Toyota 4WD rental up to 195km/hr.

It freaked me out a bit, going that fast – but the road was straight, there was no traffic, the 4WD was almost brand new, and there was no risk of roos.

Back in Alice Springs we had lunch, checked back into our very ordinary but comfortable motel (laundry, kitchen, friendly service, cheap) and then we waited until it got cool before we headed out for a 10km walk.

Alice Springs is full of tourists – most from overseas. Many are either on the way to, or have come back from, Uluru.

The town is also full of art galleries selling the most amazing aboriginal art. Quite a lot from the communities on Utopia. And the artworks sell for surprisingly solid prices.

I hope the people out there get a fair cut for their unique work.

The walk took us along the Todd River, which floods frequently (you wouldn’t think so out here, but the floods can be savage) – and then we wound our way up to Anzac Hill, which has a view out over the town.

I took photos of white trunked gum trees as we walked back, and the light started to drop.

 Tomorrow it’s a 450km drive to Uluru – a sacred and spiritual place – a place I’ve always wanted to see.

We stayed indoors until 4pm today. Listened to the cricket (the Kiwis crushing poor West Indies in the World Cup quarter finals) and did some admin work.

It was too hot to go outside, and the quarters we’re staying in has serviceable air-con.

Also, we now always travel with an Aldi espresso coffee maker, so that wherever we go we can get a decent cup of coffee. Four double espressos and I was flying this morning.

At 4pm, once the temp had dropped down to below 40C, we ventured outside to begin work. The light was better too. From 7am on, the light here is too harsh.

We filmed some more with Cowboy and his family. He is the elder statesman here. And I took some stills – close-ups – of his extended family.

Notice how the young men have a tooth missing. This isn’t from fighting – this is part of their initiation ritual. They get a front tooth knocked out.

In interview Cowboy spoke in language about “dreaming,” and about his spirit world. It was fascinating…

I noticed that he sat like a Sadhu – in the half lotus position. And this man is 74 years old.

Later as the sun was setting I got a visually stunning sequence of Cowboy just walking through the grasslands, surrounded by his dogs. Beautiful stuff.

We leave here tomorrow morning having had an extraordinary time. I have spent a lot of time on aboriginal communities, all around Australia. And in particular in remote parts of Arnhem Land. It is special there, and it is special here.

There is a very gentle benign energy here which is quite transfixing – exemplified in the dignity of the faces here…

After nearly 4000kms of driving, the last 160kms on dirt, we got here.

To Utopia.

And it is Utopia.

There is a serenity here – a quietness – which stills the heart and mind.

It looks anything but Utopian. But the people here are content.

It may not be what you might regard as Utopian, but it is for these people.

Yes they have their problems – we all do, elsewhere – but there is virtually no crime here, it’s a “dry” community, and there is respect for country, and culture.

It’s also very famous for its aboriginal art. Some artists’ work here sells for millions of dollars, and is collected by galleries around the world.

Today we met Cowboy. Cowboy is 74 years old, but he looks much younger. That’s because his diet has been largely goanna (big lizard), kangaroo and bush turkey.

He’s an elder here, and a holder of ancient wisdom. He’s also a much sought-after artist.

We filmed with him late this afternoon while he was doing a painting. The painting will sell in Sydney or Melbourne for $25,000 or more.

His works out of the back of an old meat truck just outside of Utopia.

His family lives in humpies nearby.

While he painted, I did an interview with him for the intuition film. On the interior wall of the truck he had a graffiti-ed – ANGELS. 

Tomorrow we’re shooting with him some more. He’s what’s called a “wise man.”

Tonight Jennifer and I are staying in very basic quarters – kind of like shearers’ quarters. More basic than anything you’d get on the Camino. But it’s perfectly fine.

It’s a privilege to be invited into this community, and to spend time with gentlemen like Cowboy.

Today I photographed a wedding.

Two very beautiful young people – beautiful in every sense of the word.

I won’t put their images up here until I get their permission. But the wedding was held in magnificent grounds on a private estate in the Dandenongs, outside of Melbourne.

I get very nervous before I photograph a wedding. I’m always terrified I’ll screw it up somehow.

Wedding photographs are important. Very important. I feel a huge responsibility whenever I shoot a wedding.

And today, before the ceremony started, the father of the bride came up and began talking to me. He is a Frenchman, very urbane and charming – and it turns out that he’s led an incredibly exotic life, running a charitable organisation that tended to refugees on the Afghan border during one of the major conflicts in the 90s, and then he and his family were in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit, and he spent the next seven years working on the reconstruction of villages, and the rehabilitation of the local popular.

But what terrified me about this man is that he is a celebrated published photographer.

YIKES!

He’s had three books published on life on the Indus River in India.

We got talking about Buddhism and Hinduism, of which he knows a lot, and whilst I found him to be an enormously fascinating man, he scared the hell out of me.

Because I was about to photograph his beautiful daughter on the most important day of her life.

Did I say YIKES? 

Anyway, the day worked out ok – some of my shots are good, verging on acceptable. The man’s daughter is stunningly beautiful, so that makes up for any technical deficiencies on my end.

Tomorrow we head down into Melbourne, where I do an interview with a film distributor for the Film Producers School website, which I’m working on for QUT. Then Jennifer and I stay overnight with the Landers Express.

It will be good to see them again.

One last thing about today – the ceremony reminded me of the day I married Jennifer, nearly thirty-three years ago. And I looked at these two beautiful youngsters, and wondered what life has in store for them.

What joy, what sadness, what beauty, what tragedy.

Whatever it is, whatever lies in wait down their path, their love will get them through it.

The outlaws Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Doc Holliday – these are names that most of us are familiar with, largely because of Hollywood.

They are infamous “Wild West” outlaws.

Australia had outlaws too. They were called “bushrangers.” And the most famous was a bloke named Ned Kelly.

Ned Kelly has been immortalised on film too – one version starring Mick Jagger, and a more recent movie starring the late Heath Ledger, produced by a mate of mine, Nelson Woss.

Most Australians laugh at the Mick Jagger version, because he’s as far off being an Aussie as a “shrimp” is from being a prawn.

 Ned Kelly has taken on the mantle of Australia’s Robin Hood – although the reality is vastly different to the myth.

The myth was the subject of a series of iconic paintings by one of our greatest artists, Sidney Nolan. His paintings based around the Ned Kelly myth are amongst this nation’s most celebrated works of art – selling for millions upon millions of dollars.

Why am I starting off this trip blog raving on about an Australian bushranger?

Because tonight Jennifer and I are staying in Glenrowan, which is the small country town in Victoria where the myth of Ned Kelly was forged. This is where he was gunned down, wearing a vest and helmet made of iron.

He wasn’t killed, thanks to the armour. He was shot in the legs. He was later charged with the murder of three policemen, and hanged. All this in 1880.

Ned Kelly was a very political Irish Catholic – and he still retains cult status in this country, even though there’s no doubt he killed three coppers.

Glenrowan today is a very small sleepy town that lives vicariously off the legend. We stayed in the town’s only motel, and ate at the famous Glenrowan pub – which has a replica of Ned’s outfit on display out front.

We drove 700kms today to get here. I wanted to see the police station, which had a very tatty Australian flag flying out front… read whatever symbolism you like into that!

Here are the cameras and lenses I’ll be taking on the road trip –

SONY system:
Sony a7s – full frame
Sony 70-200mm f4
Zeiss 16-35mm f4
Zeiss 24-70mm f4
Leica 18mm f3.8

NIKON system:
D700 – full frame
Nikkor 16-35mm f4
Nikkor 24mm  f1.4
Nikkor 50mm f1.4
Nikkor 85mm f1.8

FUJIFILM system:
Fujifilm X-E-2 – APS-C sensor
Fujinon 18-55mm f2.8-f4 (27-87mm equiv)
Fujinon 14mm f2.8 (21mm equiv)
Fujinon 60mm macro f2.4 (90mm equiv)
Fujinon 35mm f1.4 (50mm equiv)

Why all the cameras?

Well, the Sony system is largely for video work, but I’ll also be using it as a stills camera for the wedding – particularly with the spectacular 70-200mm lens.

The Nikon system is also for the wedding – for fast focusing and also the sharp-as-a-tack 16-35mm lens. Also for desert work, because of the weather sealing, (keeps dust out) and because of the delicious 24mm f1.4. An amazing lens.

And the Fuji system is for everything else. Discreet documentary photography – an easy walk-around camera because of its size and weight.

Luckily I’m not carrying all of this on my back!

If I were walking the Camino, I’d take just one camera and two lenses – the Fujifilm X-E-2 with the 18-55mm zoom, and the Fujinon 14mm f2.4. That would cover me for just about everything, and would give good image quality.

But for this trip, I have the luxury of a car, and so I can take the whole she-bang.