38 photos from my Australian road trip taken with a smartphone
On Sunday I wrote about my five favourite places from my 2021 Australian road trip.
Today I wanted to share some more photos from my journey which highlight the capabilities of smartphone cameras.
The 38 photos below were all taken with my Google Pixel 5 which, like many smartphones these days, has a dual-camera system with a wide (12.2MP, f/1.7, 27mm) lens and an ultra-wide (16MP, f/2.2, 15mm) lens.
The only photo editing software used was the free Google Photos app (with the exception of one photo which I will point out when we get to it).
Smartphones are incredibly versatile cameras and while some would say earlier, I think since the iPhone 6s (2015), Samsung Galaxy S7 (2016) and the original Google Pixel (2016) phones have been solid point-and-shoot replacements for most people.
In 2021, great smartphone cameras aren’t limited to top-tier phones with the second generation iPhone SE and Google Pixel 4a both able to take consistently awesome shots for under $600 AUD.
Yes, I know you could get ‘better’ photos with a DSLR, but I only believe that is the case if 1. the user knows how to use one and 2. the user a. has DSLR photo editing software and b. knows how to use it.
I would class myself as a decent DSLR photographer, but I think taking a good picture is less about what you’re using, and more about having an understanding of photography fundamentals (framing, perspective, ratios, lighting to name a few).
I considered taking a DSLR, but the trade-offs (weight, storage, extra charging) didn’t seem worth it, especially since photography wasn’t the main purpose of the trip.
If you do want to see some epic travel photography from people who know their way around a DSLR much better than I do, go and check out my friend Matt Gencevski (Ethnosphere Collective) or photographers Joe Allam and James Popsys.
These images are presented without comment, but feel free to critique and FYI they are in chronological order.
1. Bastion Point, Mallacoota
2. Tongue Point 1, Wilsons Promontory National Park
3. Tongue Point 2, Wilsons Promontory National Park
4. Queenscliff Lookout, Queenscliff
5. Teddy’s Lookout, Lorne
6. Cape Otway Lightstation, Great Otway National Park
7. The 12 Apostles, Port Campbell National Park
8. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, Tower Hill/Warrnambool
9. The Blue Lake, Mount Gambier
10. The Little Blue Lake, Mount Schank/Mount Gambier
11. Umpherston Sinkhole, Mount Gambier
12. Robe Obelisk, Robe
13. Monarto Sporting Complex, Monarto/Murray Bridge
14. Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, Cape Willoughby Conservation Park
15. Weirs Lookout, Flinders Chase National Park
16. Cape Du Couedic Lightstation, Flinders Chase National Park
17. The Remarkable Rocks, Flinders Chase National Park
18. American River Campground, American River
19. Adelaide Central Markets, Adelaide
20. Brighton Jetty, Brighton
21. The Great Australian Turn-off, Port Augusta
22. Kata Tjuta, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
23. Uluru 1, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
24. Uluru 2, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
25. Kings Canyon, Waterrka National Park
26. Simpsons Gap, Alice Springs
27. Daly Waters Pub, Daly Waters
28. Adelaide River, Djukbinj National Park
29. Mindil Beach Sunset Market 1, Darwin
30. Mindil Beach Sunset Market 2, Darwin
31. Mindil Beach Sunset Market 3, Darwin
32. Darwin GleNTi (Greek Festival), Darwin (Edited with the free VSCO app)
33. Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) 1, Kakadu National Park
34. Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) 2, Kakadu National Park
35. North Queensland Stadium, Townsville
36. Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
37. Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
38. Dunville Loop, Kandos
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