Nick Rains

Nick Rains

About the Photographer

Nick Rains has been photographing landscapes all over the world since leaving University in 1983.

In 1986 he spent a year in Perth, Western Australia covering the Americas Cup for a variety of International magazines such as Yachting World, London Times, and Boat International. Images from this event also appeared in Sports Illustrated, Stern, Paris Match, Regatta and many other well known publications.

Over the last 10 years Nick has traveled the length and breadth of Australia covering over 250,000km in his search for fine "Australian" images for the stock photography market. He makes his home in Brisbane, Queensland.

Recent work has been published in Australian Geographic, Outback and GEO (Germany). Nick is now concentrating on photographic books of his favourite places.The Kimberley, Journey through an Ancient Land, was released in July 99 and his most recent, onSouth Australiawas released in March 2000. In between outback trips Nick operates a small studio and shoots commercial and stock photographs at home and overseas.

Nicks current equipment includes Canon EOS, Mamiya RZ and Silvestri camera systems.

You may also wish to visitNick’s Web Site, or contact him by e-mail directlyhere.

Ed:Nick will be a guest co-Instructor atThe Luminous Landscape’s2000 Fall Colour Workshop in the Sierra.

 Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

This photograph is a good example of the worth of getting up early. The previous few days had been miserable with heavy rain but I persevered and was rewarded with a promising pre-dawn. I rushed off to the lake’s edge and was able to capture this brief moment before the clouds set in again. The colours were fine at the time but it wasn’t until the film came back from the lab that I saw how much colour the film had picked up that the eye had missed.

There were no filters used with this shot.

Photographed with a Silvestri and 100 Schneider lens on Fuji Velvia

Simpson Desert Sand Dunes, Central Australia

This kind of deep red sand dune is considered a part of the quintessential ‘Australian Outback’. Unfortunately, completely bare red dunes like these are very hard to find, most are covered in light scrub which spoils the fantastic sweeping forms and shapes. This spot is about 150miles south of Birdsville on the eastern fringes of the remote Simpson Desert. This is one of the most isolated parts of the Outback and I travel in a fully self-contained Toyota Landcruiser complete with long range radio, water tanks, tools etcƒâ€˜ just in case.

The isolation adds to the sense of achievement when you find a place like this and there is not another single human being for hundreds of miles. As the sun rises, the low angle of the sun picks out the sand ripples and adds to the already deep red colours. There are angles and images everywhere and it’s a challenge to pick out the best places without being sidetracked or putting footprints right in your best shot.

Photographed with a Pentax 67 and 45mm lens on Fuji Velvia

Cape Leveque, Western Australia

I think that this is my favourite image and feel that it captures something of the feel of remote locations. Late in the dry season in northern Australia the pre-monsoon weather is appallingly hot and humid. It’s also good for photography because the weather is so varied, the light can be superb and there are no other people crazy enough to be here at this time of year!  

This shot was taken as the sun touched the horizon after hiding behind some storm clouds for a while. The brief wash of sunlight picked up the red rocks and the pure blue sky added a perfect contrast. The only downside was it had been 40 degrees C all day and even at sunset was still 38. Even carrying the tripod 200m from the car made me drip with sweat but it was worth it.

Photographed with a Silvestri and 58XL lens on Fuji Velvia

Lake Hawea, New Zealand

Clouds maketh the image. This was pure good fortune as I was traveling between towns on South Island one day. These amazing high altitude clouds formed and I hurried along looking for a good vantage point over the lake. With the lake being still, even at midday this turned out to be a striking image. The addition of a warm polarizer picked up the contrast and made the sky leap off the lightbox back home.  

Taken with a Silvestri and 100mm Schneider lens with a Tiffen Warm Polarizer on Fuji Velvia 

All text and photographs on this page are Copyright‚© 1986 – 2000 by Nick Rains

Be sure to visit the work of otherGuest Photographers.

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