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Aurora Australis-Blue Mountains-November 2025

Aurora Australis over the blue mountains, november 12th 2025

A few photos from the Aurora Australis event on Wednesday 12th November 2025. I had been getting a few aurora alerts on my email leading up to Wedndsday night, so I was aware that there might be a good display if the weather played nice. Wednesday in the Blue Mountains was a beautiful cloudless day so in the early evening I actually started to check in earnest to see if there was a good chance for the aurora that night. By 7.30pm all the information pointed to a good chance, so I pack some gear and headed of for the long 1 minute drive from my home portrait studio down the road to Echo Point in Katoomba.

Upon arrival I could see a few people hustling down to the main lookout with tripod in hand eagerly squinting like myself to see if there was any colour in the sky over the jamison valley. Often it’s very hard to see the aurora with the naked eye and it actually isn’t visiable until you capture it with a camera. As I was up my camera on the tripod, a tour guide told me that he had about 25 guests who were going to share the space where I was a part of a star gazing tour. It wasn’t until about 30 minutes later when he look at the images I was capturing, when he excitedly exclaimed, “Oh wait…are you here for an aurora?”. I couldn’t help but give a cheeeky grin and say, “Yep, I thought you guts were too…”, we both laughed and then over the course of the next couple of hours I had a steady stream of onlookers behind me waiting for the long exposures to finish so they could see the aurora on my screen.

Echo point isn’t a great location for getting aurora images or night time images in general, due to the amount of light in the area. The iconic 3 sister landmark are floodlit each night from the lookouts, which causes allot of what photographers call, “light pollution”, to enter your camera. I wasn’t too fussed really as I was generally just looking to get some snaps of the event and not take it too seriously as a photographer. After a while I decided to call it quits as it was getting pretty busy and onlookers phone camera flashes were starting to become a problem with my longish exposures…Anyway here is a few photos, nothing amazing, but it was nice to be able to quickly share some of the images online for people to get an idea of what a camera can capture during these events…

Aurora Australis dances over the iconic 3 sisters at Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW.
Aurora Australis dances over the iconic 3 sisters at Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW.
Aurora Australis dances over the iconic 3 sisters at Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW.
Onlookers at Echo point in Katoomba gather to try and see and capture the Aurora Australis event

Thanks for having a look and I hope you get to see the aurora soon….

Ben Pearse is a Blue Mountains photographer specialising in portrait, headshot and commercial photography. Ben works from his home based portrait studio in Katoomba. Website

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Smartkits Australia Competition 2023

During July I was asked to come out to Wherool Flat, NSW and document the carport extension build that Jim and Denise Brydon had completed on their home. Jim was wanting to enter his new build into the Smartkits Australia annual competition. This year the competition saw 130 entries from across Australia utilising the kits from Smartkits Australia. When I was photographing the carport I knew that Jim & Denise had done a really fantastic job on this massive undertaking.

Over the years I’ve photographed allot of varying commercial properties and I was keen to showcase this build as a great addition to the current house. So with a ladder in hand we wandered the property getting the strongest angles and perspectives that represented the new addition. Here are the images that I passed onto Jim for entry in the competition….Oh yeah, their entry got second place in the Smartkits Australia competition in 2023!

Thanks for viewing…

Ben Pearse is a professional photographer residing in the beautiful Blue Mountains, Australia.

Website

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Winter Magic Festival 2023

It was great to see the return of the annual Blue Mountains Winter Magic Festival at Katoomba on Saturday 24th June 2023. Nice sunny weather on the day attracted a big crowd of festival goers who enjoyed the parade and all the other activities and performancers throughout the day. It was nice to wander the festival and grab a few photos over the day when something caught my eye. Once again it was a great effort by all the volunteers who put in allot of time and effort to ensure we get to enjoy a great Winter Magic Festival….

Here a few images I captured during the day

Ben Pearse is a Blue Mountains photographer based in Katoomba-website

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Saskia Everingham-Blue Mountains Portrait Prize 2023

This image of artist Saskia Everingham is my entry into the annual Blue Mountains Portrait Prize 2023 exhibition held at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in Katoomba, NSW. This image had been in my head to create ever since Saskia turned up in my studio to document these felt art pieces for an exhibition she was entering…

I’ve been documenting Saskia’s artwork in my studio for several years. Each time she arrives I am intrigued to see her latest artworks and hear the creative processes behind the new body of work. Artists are always fascinating to me as they take a deep dive into each new project, totally immersive in their creative pursuit…This time the artist and not the art, takes centre stage.

Saskia has been involved in the Arts all her life. Born in Australia, she grew up in Italy and England, which gave her exposure to many disciplines. She has an Art Diploma from TAFE and a degree in Creative Arts from Wollongong University. Moving through sewing and quilting, she settled on wool felting as her main medium, finding that it offered the sculptural qualities she was seeking. Her work has been featured in several publications including Felt Magazine, Textiles Downunderr and Oz Arts and she has won a number of awards, including the Eden Gardens Unearthed Award in 2021, the North Sydney Art Prize Site Award and in 2022 a Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, which includes a solo exhibition in the Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery.

Saskia has lived in the Blue Mountains since 1995 and has raised her family there. Deeply immersed in the community, she has been Exhibition Coordinator at Braemar Gallery in Springwood, Community Arts Coordinator for Winter Magic and a presenter on 2BLUFM radio. She has also been a recipient of a City of the Arts grant, has sat on numerous committees and was part of the duo that set up Mind the Gap, a non-profit designed to activate empty shops for Creatives in Katoomba. The Mountains continues to inspire her.

Photographic print | A0 | Cotton Rag

Some Bts phone shots from the exhibition opening

Ben Pearse is a Blue Mountains portrait and wedding photographer based in Katoomba NSW.

Website

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Snow in Katoomba, Blue Mountains-August 2022

There had been a slight chance of snow a couple of times throughout July-August here in Katoomba, however it never quite eventuated. Forecasts on the 22nd of August were starting to look good for some snow falling here in the upper Blue Mountains in the late afternoon on Tuesday 23rd. I had seen some video online of some good falls happening at Shooters Hill (1355m), one of the high points in the central tablelands, and it was starting to look promising for Katoomba.

At around 6.45pm I could see the first proper flakes and within an hour it was starting to settle on the ground. As I stood on my porch watching the cars go up the road in the snow, I had the thought of getting a long exposure image as the car travelled along Lurline street. I grabbed the camera and a umbrella and setup on the footpath and waited for a lone car doing about the right speed for what I wanted. I had estimated I needed about 15-20 seconds to expose the shot correctly and get the red trail I envisioned.

After waiting for a few faster 4WD to exit the street, I saw a car approaching, quite slowly. With the shot pre-framed, I pressed the shutter as it entered my frame and then ended the exposure after 20 seconds. When I looked at the back of the camera, I knew I had the shot I envisioned and it was time to go and warm my hands by the heater….This is the fifth image in the “atmosphere” series which explores the transitional atmospheres within a landscape or urban environment.

Snow in Katoomba, Blue Mountains, August 2022
Snowtrails – Lurline street Katoomba

The next morning we went out before sunrise looking to see how much snow was around. I was a little dissapointed to see that we didn’t get any more falls that night as I was hoping for a really solid dumping…We drove around and found some nice views looking across to Narrowneck plateau on sunrise, which had a nice light dusting on the trees. I waited for the early warm light to filter in and took a few frames. I’m still hoping that we’ll see another good snowfall here in the mountains, before the weather warms up later in the year.

Narrowneck plateau on sunrise
Snow on the eucalyptus trees on sunrise
The sun starts to warm the cold landscape
Golden light and snow on the Blue Mountains landscape
Old cars and new snow

Thanks for viewing, cheers Ben

Website

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Thompsons Creek Dam-chasing winter trout

Well it’s been a while since I posted a blog so I thought I’d just write a few words and post some images from a recent winter solo fishing day out west at Thompson Creek Dam (TCD).

I don’t often bring my camera along on my fishing trips, however sometimes you just know that the conditions are probably going to be great and you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t…I knew that the clear skies overnight would probably mean a decent chance of a good frost….and it didn’t disappoint. I had, a bit of time to take some pictures as the trout wouldn’t be interested until the water warmed a little. The mount piper power station chimneys blew a magenta infused smoke on sunrise as the early light unveiled a frost laden landscape. As I wandered I took photos of scenes that caught my eye in the interesting frosty conditions. After a while the light warmed the cold, white ground, dissipating the frost, and it was time to put the camera away and start fishing….

Images captured on Nikon D850 & 85mm f1.4 prime lens. Thanks for looking,

Cheers Ben Website

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Echo point Katoomba- Lockdown-August 2021

Echo point in Katoomba is one of the major tourist destinations in NSW, Australia. Located in the township of Katoomba within the world heritage listed, Blue Mountains, it attracts millions of visitors each year with it’s majestic views of the iconic three sisters and jamison valley. However as we enter our 9th week of lockdown due to the corona virus (Covid-19, delta strain), the lookout has been closed off for all visitors, including locals who live nearby. As I wander past most days on my permitted exercise walks, I begin to see new compositions emerge that perhaps would never have been considered….

As I look through the wire fencing that council has installed to keep people out, I definitely think it’s a little surreal to see an empty viewing platform that should be teaming with overseas tourists and holiday makers. I totally understand and agree that these restrictive measures need to be put in place in order to deter and stop the congregation of people mingling together at certain popular areas. I thought it would be good to document this area via some photos, showing how it looked it during the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in August 2021…

Echo point Katoomba- August 2021
Echo point viewing platform- August 2021
Echo point, closed to visitors due to Covid-19 health orders- August 2021
Echo point fenced off to visitors- August 2021
Echo point- Dusk- August 2021
Moody sunsets- September 2021
sun setting at echo point- September 2021
Quiet streets- September 2021

Stay well and thanks for looking…

Cheers Ben

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Interconnection

This is my entry into the Blue Mountains Portraits 2021 exhibition, currently on show at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in Katoomba.
“In this image of Becky, I wanted to capture and combine two key aspects of Becky’s life, her work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and as a long-time senior performer with Wagana Aboriginal Dancers. Both of these life paths enable Becky to honour and to be on Country, which as a Kamilaroi woman, is very important to her”.
Subject- Becky Chatfield
Photographer: Ben Pearse
Medium: Photographic print, AO size.

Note: This image went on to win the “People’s Choice Award” at the Blue Mountains portrait exhibition in March 2021.

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After the Bushfires – Blue Mountains, Australia.

Narrowneck plateau in Katoomba after the bushfires

In late late 2019-2020, you probably heard and saw dramatic and devastating footage of the bushfires that ravaged Australia. I posted images and footage in this blog post here about these bushfires in my local area of Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Australia. After the fires had gone through I was interested to see the impact on the local landscapes in my area. After the bushfires many of national park areas that were burnt remain closed due to the risk of falling trees etc. I was very interested in hiking out to Mount Solitary, however this trail is still closed at time of writing.

narrowneck plateau, Katoomba

Altered lands

Aftermath of the Katoomba bushfires

Life still remains…

Mount Solitary panoramic view from Narrowneck plateau in Katoomba

Panoramic view looking past Ruined Castle (small outcrop in middle) to Mount Solitary (left) and Lake Burragorang just visible in the rear. Castle Head jutting out from Narrowneck on the right.

Ruined Castle, Katoomba

Looking down to Ruined Castle, where these bushfires originated in 2019. Allot of what is pictured here was burnt in the bushfires.

Lightbleed- Ben Pearse 2020- Web Size 2048

New growth catching the light

I decided on documenting one of my favourite areas, Narrowneck plateau in Katoomba. This area was impacted by the ruined castle bushfire in early December 2019. As I wandered through different areas of narrowneck plateau, it became apparent that certain areas were going to take some time to regenerate compared to others. In the gully of diamond creek, the unmistakable vibrant green regrowth stood out against the dull magenta and black of the surrounding burnt landscape. I couldn’t help but be drawn into this area due to the alarming contrast of colours on display. As diamond creek carves it’s way through the valley, it brought a lifeline, in the form of water, enabling new life to regenerate and grow.

Resilient Lands- Ben Pearse 2020 (2)

Resilient Lands- Narrowneck plateau- March 2020

Narrowneck plateau in Katoomba after the bushfires

Return to Green- Diamond creek pathway

Blue Mountains fire regrowth

Narrowneck plateau, Katoomba, Blue Mountains.

After the bushfires 2020

Green returns to the landscape

Over the next few months I would see more regrowth appear across the burnt fireground. In the steep gullies and the tops of ridgelines where the fires burnt very hot and intense, it will take additional time for the regeneration to gather momentum. The flora and fauna that grow, dwell and cling to the sandstone formation that is Narrowneck plateau are resilient and should thrive once again in the years to come.

Lizard emerges after the bushfires

Wildlife returns

Regrowth after the bushfires, Blue Mountains

New buds emerge…

New growth

New growth after the fires

Green returns- Ben Pearse 2020 copy

View from Narrowneck into megalong valley

Kangaroo tails emerge after bushfires in Blue Mountains 2020

Emergence- Kangaroo tails (Xanthorrhoea) catching the last light of the day…

Looking west over megalong valley on sunset

Looking west from Narrowneck plateau over megalong valley on sunset

New Life- web 2048

Regeneration- New growth returns after the fires…

New Growth- February 2021 - Web 3840

Still going- February 2021- Web size 2048

Pink flannel flowers in bloom- Febraury 2021-Web- 2048

Pink flannel flowers (Actinotus forsythii) in bloom on Narrowneck plateau- February 2021

Pink flannel flower- Ben Pearse 2021- Web 3840

Beautiful pink flannel flowers bloom a year after the bushfires, it’s actually the smoke and not the heat that makes these rare flowers germinate…

Thanks for looking,

Cheers Ben

Visit Ben’s website here- Ben Pearse Photography

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Blue Mountains Snowfall-August-2019

It’s always nice to wake up to snow covering the ground in my hometown of Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Australia. Over the last decade I’ve tried to capture a snowfall that has settled on the iconic three sisters in Katoomba. I’ve only seen an old postcard of snow that has properly settled on these sandstone ladies from the 1970’s. I thought this time I might be in luck as the snow really starting coming down on sunrise, however it just wasn’t quite enough. So the quest continues, perhaps 2020 will be the year I get the photo I’m seeking…

Snowfall in the Blue Mountains

Snow on the Mountains

Snowfall in the Blue Mountains- Three Sisters

Sunrise and Snow

Snowfall over Three sisters- August 2019

Snowfall over Three sisters- August 2019

Ben Pearse Photography

Blue Mountains Snowfall- Ben Pearse 2019

Visit Ben’s Website here: Ben Pearse Photography