Golden Light on the Murray
Echuca River Gums
Golden Light on the Murray
As the sun dips low over Echuca, the Murray River reveals one of its most timeless faces. A dusty track winds its way alongside the water, framed by towering river gums whose weathered branches stretch skyward like ancient guardians of the land. Their silhouettes carve striking shapes against the evening glow, etched in warm golds and soft ambers.
The air feels suspended in stillness. The Murray’s surface ripples gently, each movement catching the fading light in fleeting, delicate patterns. Shadows lengthen across the dirt road, while the last rays of sunlight filter through the gum leaves, painting the landscape in tones that shift between serenity and drama.
In this moment, the river becomes more than a landscape—it becomes a living canvas of light, texture, and memory. The gnarled river gums stand as witnesses to generations past, their presence grounding the fleeting beauty of the sunset in a sense of continuity and permanence.
Capturing this image was a race against time. The sun was sinking quickly, and with each passing minute the light transformed the scene in subtle but powerful ways. To emphasise the winding track and the striking silhouettes of the gums, I switched to a Canon 70–200mm f/2.8L lens on the Canon 6D. The compression of the telephoto lens pulled the dirt road, trees, and glowing horizon closer together, creating a layered effect that amplified the drama of the golden light.
The long lens lens allowed me to isolate the most compelling elements of the scene while still holding onto the atmosphere of the place—the texture of the gums and the play of light across the dust. It was about finding balance: framing the raw strength of the river gums while preserving the quiet rhythm of dusk.
Technical Notes
Camera & Lens: Canon 6D + 70–200mm f/2.8L with 1.4x extender
Focal Length: 155mm
Exposure: 1/400 sec @ f/7.1
ISO: 2000
Metering Mode: Partial
Technique: Used telephoto compression to draw the dirt track, gum trees, and glowing horizon closer together. Handheld shooting allowed for fast adjustments as the light changed minute by minute.
Challenges: The fading sun created extreme contrast between the glowing sky and dark silhouettes. Balancing exposure to preserve both highlights and shadow texture required careful metering and quick adjustments.
