Barn Beams, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania

Luke Tscharke

Image: Barn Beams, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania

Hi there! I'm a landscape, nature, and travel photographer living and working in Hobart, Tasmania. Photography has always held a special place in my heart, but embarking on this career was initially unplanned. My background in science and biology didn't quite prepare me for the profound connection I would feel capturing nature's fleeting, beautiful moments. It was during one particular sunset, alone in the Tasmanian wilderness with my camera at the ready, as I watched a cloud over Barn Bluff ignite in a brilliant orange halo, that I felt more alive than ever before. In that moment, I understood—photographing the landscape was what I was meant to do with my life.

My work is deeply rooted in a love for the natural world, aiming to preserve its beauty and share its stories. Whether braving the wild elements or quietly observing a serene landscape, each photograph represents a chapter of my adventure, a testament to the extraordinary beauty that surrounds us.

One constant throughout my career has been my enjoyment of Sony cameras, starting with the DSC-V1 in 2002 and embracing the entire Alpha 7R line since 2014. This long-standing relationship with Sony gear has been a pivotal part of my photographic journey. I'm incredibly proud to be a Sony advocate, as their cameras have not only been with me every step of the way but also have continually pushed the boundaries of what I can capture. This commitment to using the latest gear is all part of my dedication to delivering breathtaking images.

Beyond photography, my love for bushwalking allows me to connect with the landscapes I photograph on a personal level, enriching my work with genuine appreciation and understanding of the natural world.

Looking forward, I'm excited to further explore nightscape and aurora photography, sharing the mesmerising beauty of the night sky. My aim is not just to capture images but to inspire others to see the world through a lens of wonder and exploration.

I am dedicated to connecting with fellow nature lovers and photographers. Through my workshops, prints, and stories, I aspire to inspire others to appreciate and document the beauty of our planet in their unique way. Come join me for a workshop online or down here in Tasmania!

What is in your camera bag?

Landscape	Sony Alpha 7R V with 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, 24-105mm f/4 G, 70-200mm f/4 G Macro, 100-400mm GM
Astrophotography	Sony Alpha 7 IV with 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, 20mm f/1.8 G
Infrared	Sony Alpha 7R with 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, 24-105mm f/4 G
Accessories	remote, memory cards, 2x spare batteries, SD cards, lens cleaning tissues, head torch, tripod, filters

What is your go to in your Alpha kit and why?

If I could only take one camera and lens it would have to be my Sony Alpha 7RV camera combined with my Sony 12-24 f/2.8 GM lens. This is an incredibly versatile landscape photography kit. Not only is the lens razor sharp, but at f/2.8 it makes an great astrophotography lens.

If I could take another lens it would be my Sony 24-105mm f/4 G lens. For shooting at night and in low light it's really hard to go past my Sony Alpha 7IV combined with a 20mm f/1.8 G lens.

Milky Way over Mount Emmett, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 1 / 10

Rupert Radiance, Tarkine Coast, Tasmania 2 / 10

Rugged Tarkine coastline, West Coast, Tasmania 3 / 10

Golden Pandani, Southwest National Park, Tasmania 4 / 10

Reflections in an alpine pool, Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Tasmania 5 / 10

Binalong Bliss, Bay of Fires, Tasmania 6 / 10

Sunset at the Fence to Nowhere, Mortimer Bay, Tasmania 7 / 10

Prehistoric Dawn 8 / 10

Sunset at the Neck, Bruny Island, Tasmania 9 / 10

Freycinet Aerial Panorama 10 / 10

Most memorable moment shooting with Alpha?

There have been so many amazing moments, it really is hard to pick just one. If I really had to choose it would be at the end of a very special trek I did in late 2017. I had just hiked the hardest single day of walking in my life, a gruelling 10 hour mountain ascent through dense rainforest deep in Tasmania's remote Southwest National Park. After arriving at the top of the mountain ridge the skies began to clear. As darkness fell the Aurora Australis gradually became visible, dancing behind the rugged dolerite mountain peaks. It was a very fitting end to an incredibly challenging day, and being able to capture the moment with my Alpha camera made it even more enjoyable!