Magical Mountains Photography Tour

Join me over two days as I guide you around the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area helping you develop your Landscape Photography Skills while capturing the captivating beauty of this superlative natural landscape. 

Ideal for all experience levels. This tour takes you to majestic lookouts with sublime sunrise and sunset views. You'll descend deep into fern and moss lined gullys to get up close and personal to some of the most stunning waterfalls and visit deep water filled canyons to capture blazing sunbeams. Learn about the forgotten industrial heritage of the Blue Mountains, and focus up close to the diverse array of flora and fauna we may encounter as we travel.

Our small group of 5 partcipants will ensure you get plenty of space to explore your compositions and plenty of help and assistance from me.

Meeting at Katoomba Railway Station each day, you will be driven to each location in our tour vehicle, and safely guided on adventurous bush tracks to access lookouts, waterfalls and some of the hidden places only the locals know about. I'll provide expert tuition on location to help you get the best out of your camera and gear. We will cover important safety considerations of outdoor and wilderness photography, discuss the best equipment and which settings to choose for various times of day, tutor you on filters and long exposure techniques, and guide you through how composition can dramatically improve your images. 

Depending on conditions, we will also make some time to go through my Post Processing workflows for Blue Mountains imagery & Waterfalls and spend time critiquing your images guiding you further on editing and capture techniques.

There is no better way to experience the splendour of the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, and this tour has something for everyone. Even non-photographers will see parts of this magical area in a different light, with your tour guide (me) providing plenty of interpretive talk of the mountains natural values.

Proposed Itinerary
This itinerary is an example. Final itineray will depend on conditions on the day but will always include a sunrise, sunset and 2 bushwalk/waterfall sessions each day.

Day 1

• Meet at Katoomba Railway Station & Introductions
• Sunrise @ The 3 Sisters
• Breakfast
• Waterfalls 1 - Valley of the Waters
• Lunch & Break
• Waterfalls 2 - Wentworth Falls
• Sunset @ Princes Rock or Rocket Point
• Post Processing & Critique

Day 2

• Sunrise @ Govetts Leap
• Breakfast
• Bushwalk @ The Grand Canyon or alternative waterfalls shoot
• Lunch & Break
• Waterfalls 4 - Katoomba Falls
• Sunset @ Cahills Lookout / Boars Head

Fitness Requirements - Some bushwalks on this tour are considered Grade 4 - Hard - Steep Stairs Down and Up - Muddy, slippery bush tracks. You should be of good fitness and mobility to attend this tour. We will be traversing a number of Blue Mountains National Park bushwalks involving clambering up and down steep staircases and over varied rocky and muddy terrain. Each day will likely exceed 15000 steps on your step counters so be prepared for an adventurous few days of bushwalks :) 

Accommodation - Accommodation is not included in your tour cost. Why not #goblue #stayanightortwo Due to the early start each day, we recommend you arrive the night before the tour commences and book into one of Katoomba or Leura's many guest houses or hotels for the duration. If you are looking for any recommendations, please contact me and I can discuss the options with you directly.

Meals - Meals are not included in your tour cost. Each day we will stop for breakfast, lunch and dinner at a number of outlets, cafes or restaurants around Katoomba, Leura and Blackheath. You are also welcome to bring your own food, or buy locally when you arrive. Katoomba has an array of grocery options including an Organic Co-Op, Woolworths, Coles and Aldi supermarkets. If you have any specific dietary requirements, please be sure to let us know before you arrive so we can ensure café choices will be able to cater for you.

Getting There - We will meet each morning in the commuter car park at Katoomba Railway Station off Goldsmith Place next to the old Gearin Hotel. If you are arriving by train and staying locally, we may be able to collect you from your accommodation each morning before meeting the rest of the group.

Jay is licensed to operate Photography tours and Bushwalk Activities in NSW National Parks under an Eco Pass License # LIC20/116.

We wish to ackonwledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the country we visit during our tours, the Gundungurra, Dharug, Wiradjuri, Darkinjung and Thawawal people and pay our respects to elders past, future and ongoing.

• Bushwalking for Landscape Photographers
• Landscape Photography Essentials
• Capturing the Blue Mountains
• Using Filters and Circular Polarisers
• Macro Photography
• Nature/Wildlife Photography

• Mirrorless or DSLR Camera & Lenses
• Lens Choice - Wide Angle 16-35mm, Telephoto 24-105mm. You may wish to bring a Macro lens.
• Tripod & plates/mounts for your camera
• Shutter Remote
• Charged Batteries and empty memory cards
• Good Camera/Neck Strap
• Landscape filters inc Grad ND and CPL (if you own them)
• Comfortable Camera Backpack
• Good Hiking boots or Walking shoes (waterproof high ankle support boots are essential)
• Hiking clothing suitable for the weather
• Small towel, Rain jacket & Pack cover if rain is forecast
• Hiking poles if you use them
• Water bottle (750ml minimum main bottle recommended)
• Change of clothes for evenings
• Personal medications and toiletries
• OPTIONAL - Laptop for post processing