Full Moon Sinking, Simpson Desert 2007. Photographer: Julia Featherstone
In July 2009, I travelled with photographer /husband Alasdair Macfarlane again, to the Simpson Desert area in far NE of Sth Australia. We camped among the deep red sand dunes of Cordillo Downs Station for 2 weeks, powered by solar panels, which ran our computers and fridge. When we ran out of food, we packed up and drove 180 km south to Innamincka. The Store was out of fresh food, but luckily a semi trailer (with supplies), was due next day. So we drove 15 km north to Burke’s Grave, near Coopers Creek. Burke, an early explorer, died here in 1846, beside a river full of fish and abundant birdlife. We thought he must have eaten poisonous food, as co-explorer King survived, living with a local indigenous tribe. I’m pleased with the photographs/video from this trip.
Now that I’m back in Sydney, I’m researching/editing my images and video to find a meaningful context, while working on a 5.1 surround soundscape in the studio – it still sounds toooooo rhythmical and dense.
I’ve just shot video (Sony Z1p HD) in the Green Chroma Key Studio, tracking around barbed wire from the Simpson Desert. The results weren’t too good. When I keyed the wire video over desert landscape video, the results were disappointing….. soooooooo far. I tried putting magenta gels over the sidelights to improve the separation, but this didn’t work, either.
Surprisingly……… The emotional impact of my footage/photos appears comforting, full of colour, with interesting textures… whereas, I thought I was visualising the void, isolation (no people) and a wasted heartland… However, looking down at the desert floor, and not out to the far distant horizon, creates other emotions. My Moonlight Sonata Series (one image above), feels particularly romantic!!!!!!!!????
Julia Featherstone 
Hey, climate change is a perceptive observation! A great extension of current global debate. I was focussing on the Renaissance buildings printed on the umbrella. These were built in Florence during the innovation of drawing in linear perspective. This was finally achieved by Brunelleschi and Alberti and two of their famous buildings are on the umbrella. Thanks for opening up my mind… I’ll investigate the symbolism of umbrella more.
Your umbrella in the desert suggests you are preparing for current forecasts of unpredictable changes in our climate.
This is a great way to find out about your travels.
Your blog design is spacious, like your deserts.
We can see what you find within them: colour, texture and delicious ambiguity.
This is one way for me to find out about your travels! Great start.