We’re an inquisitive bunch and when we’re out in the field, we’re often capturing the world around us.
Here at CSIRO, we collaborate through a number of channels and our photography enthusiasts group is very popular.
From weather events to the cute-and-cuddly, let’s take a look at how our people are capturing the world around us.
Sensational summer storms
2021 summer storms by Justin Matthews.
“This photo captures the 2021 summer storm season, which offered quite an impressive lightshow dropping some spectacular bolts of lightning.
“I took this shot at CSIRO’s Chiswick Research Station at Armidale, NSW. At the time, I lived on site and I snapped this from my front porch looking across the New England Highway towards Arding and Rocky River localities.
“Lightning is always a very tricky challenge: you never know where it’s going to drop and as the old saying goes, ‘lightning never strikes twice’.
“Long exposure photography of this nature is always a bit of a trial and error exercise; yes you can use all sorts of lightning tracking apps that may help you but this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the shot.
“The challenging nature is all part of the fun and thrill of the chase.
“At Chiswick, I’m a Technical Services Officer in the Farm Operations Team. Lightning and storms are a big part of our work from the impact that storms can have on our livestock infrastructure, to the added benefits of the rain on pastures.”
Photograph by Justin Matthews.
Did you know, we invented the word for the smell of rain?
Captured mid-flight
Australian Emperor dragonfly (Hemianax papuensis) by Lachlan Graham.
“I took this photo of an Australian Emperor dragonfly (Hemianax papuensis) at Karkarook Park, Melbourne.
“I’ve always enjoyed photographing nature as well as architecture. I prepare photo gifts for family and friends and am always looking for interesting animals and scenes.
“This indirectly relates to my work as I do much of the photo and videography for the team. Some of the skills I pick up from the nature photography are useful at work.
“It is quite tricky getting dragonflies in flight. Luck had a fair bit to do with it in my case!”
Photograph by Lachlan Graham, Mechanical Engineer in Melbourne.
Find out why insects like dragonflies are great evolutionary survivors.
Wild about wombats
A wombat scurrying through a pipe by Dr Geoff Bull.
“This is a photo of a wombat in a pipe under a road on Maria Island, Tasmania.
“I took this photo because I saw the wombat disappear into the other end of the pipe and I was wondering if it would go all the way through.
“I was on a holiday at the time, so this is completely unrelated to my work. CSIRO’s Wombat Wednesday posts on social media inspired me to go Maria Island.
“This snap was taken using a long lens and the wombat is not quite as close as it might look.
“It didn’t seem too bothered by the torch I was using for illumination.”
Photograph by Dr Geoff Bull, a Research Engineer in Canberra.
If you like wombats like Geoff, follow us on social media for a weekly wombat profile.
