CONTRAST Smugglers Cove, Batemans Bay, New South Wales, Australia
I had not viewed this location for possibly ten years. I returned in early 2021 to visit the only beach I know of on the south coast of New South Wales with jet black sand. I rose early to really overcast conditions, and I thought about giving it a miss, thinking that not much would happen at sunrise. Though once I was in the car, leaving the house, I noticed some breaks in the cloud, which is always a promising sign.
I ambled my way through thick spotted gum forest, with the sound of a heavy shore break in the distance. From the car it is only about a three minute walk to the waters edge, such easy access that is so typical of this area. On my arrival, I stopped for a good fifteen minutes to assess the surroundings and find something to capture. I rely heavily on a strong foreground element in my photography. As I watched the sun rise, this white rock seemed to be almost perfectly resting on the sand. It offered such a contrast against the black sand, I couldn't resist.