Saddened by the destruction of the recent fires I decided to reprint some of the 8x10 negatives I made when living in Cann River during the 80s. This place to me was the centre of the universe, being close to pristine coast, cool temperate rainforests and only a short drive to the Australian Alps. From what I can ascertain very little has remained untouched by the fires. As well as 8x10s I also have 6x6 negs from the 80s and 4x5s from subsequent revisits to the area. I doubt that I will see it in anything like that condition again. The following are contact prints made on Ilford MGFB Warmtone developed in ID-78. Unfortunately the huge scans have suffered greatly in their reduction for web viewing, but that's life. My homage to a once beautiful country.
Podocarpus aff. lawrenci, Errinundra Plum Pine. Known from only a few locations in the Errinundra Plateau region, these few small groups of trees are the only remnants from the time when Tasmania was joined to the Australian mainland at the time of the last ice age. (Two views: 480mm Rodenstock Apo-Ronar, FP4 at ASA 64, Rodinal 1+50)
Cliff, The Sisters (also known as Three Sisters). A rocky escarpment formed by uplifting of Devonian sediments, and dramatic in presence. The front standard had to be raised to such an extent that a shadow occurs at the bottom of the neg, from upper bellows. (480mm Rodenstock Apo-Ronar, FP4 at ASA 25, ABC Pyro.)
Clematis aristata, Mountain Clematis, can be found climbing into the crowns of tall forest trees. A beautiful sight, as I saw last November when I traveled through the area. I resolved to return with some cameras in Spring 2020, but alas what I saw is sadly no longer there. It'll return, but not in my lifetime. This specimen was climbing well into the crown of a Mountain Ash tree. (Tri-X at ASA160, 480mm Apo-Ronar, HC110 1+15.)
Mountain Clematis on log. These wonderful plants climb and scramble over everything and are a truly beautiful sight. (FP4 at ASA50, 480mm Apo Ronar.)
Morinda jasminoides, Jasmine Morinda. Another example of botanical diversity in temperate rainforests. This one in Lind National Park. (TXP at ASA160, 10" Commercial Ektar, HC110 1+15.)
Forest Regrowth. Three years after the 1983 fires in the area, this patch of bush is regenerating nicely. But it takes time. Fire-killed trees remain standing as stark reminders of what has passed. (FP4 at ASA64, 10" Commercial Ektar, D7 Pyro.)