The wet season is still around, and this week’s photo mission took me back to Fogg Dam—a place I’ve visited countless times, always hoping for something new to capture. Even when conditions aren’t quite right, the drive out from Darwin makes it worth the trip.
This time, I was expecting to see water spilling over the dam wall, maybe even fish swimming across, as I’ve seen in past seasons. But as we rolled down the narrow road, it was clear the levels weren’t quite high enough. A little disappointing, since the higher waters usually bring a flurry of bird activity—always fascinating subjects to shoot.
Luckily, we came prepared. With a macro lens and a new 85mm to test, we shifted gears and headed for the Monsoon Walk in search of insects. It wasn’t long before we came across some debris on the track—right where Ashton spotted an interesting jumping spider. We perched up here and got some great shots. Then, we found something truly strange: a tiny moving structure that looked like Gandalf’s hat or a miniature pagoda. It was slowly making its way across a leaf, eating as it went. At its base, something tiny shifted inside, just barely visible. We had no idea what it was, but I’m looking forward to seeing the macro shots Ashton captured.
The 85mm lens delivered some stunning results—not the ultra-close details I usually enjoy with wildlife, but beautifully smooth shots and I am so impressed by the creamy background at a low aperture.
The afternoon was well spent, wandering through the dense greenery and searching for hidden details in the leaves. As the afternoon heated up, we packed up and headed home—another photo mission complete.
