With the spate of Melbourne lockdowns a distant memory, I thought I would take advantage and go chasing some canola photos. The great thing about canola is that they never plant the same fields with canola two years in a row, so you never know what kind of fields and compositions you will get.
We decided to go to stay in Shepparton which is located close to the central Victorian canola fields. Big 4 Shepparton was the place to go with 2 young kids in tow. It was a good set-up for families, with pedal go-karts and a well equipped games room. The boys in particular loved riding their pedal go-kart through all the puddles in the caravan park!
2023 proved to be a bumper canola season with the fields surrounding Shepparton a glorious patchwork of green and gold. We were also blessed with fine weather which generated some great photographic opportunities.
It’s all about colours and patterns in the shot above, and the drone really helped identify the patterns in the field.
What caught my eye in the shot above was the green and gold patchwork in the fields.
I was also lucky enough to find this field of golden canola with undulating hills and trees to add some interest. What caught my eye here was the shifting light on the field caused by the clouds racing by overhead. I particularly like how it ‘spotlights’ some of the trees in the field.
Part of the attraction to photographing in this area was the combination of colours – the red cambrian soil, contrasted with the yellow canola and green grass. The leading line of the road and storm clouds looming in the distance were a bonus.
A different perspective of the same filed as in the first shot. I like how the different perspective highlights the scale of the field which in this shot stretches into the horizon.
Top tips for canola photography
- Don’t trespass. No shot or amount of attention on social media is worth trampling over some innocent farmer’s livelihood.
- Get off the beaten path. Go down some country lanes and dirt roads to find some undiscovered field no one has photographed before. Don’t restrict yourself to what you see off the highway – often these fields are not in the best condition or aren’t terribly interesting (being a homogenous blob of yellow).
- Change your perspective. Drones can be expensive so this won’t be an option for everyone – but you don’t need a drone to get a different perspective. Even just a step ladder can dramatically change the look of a field. Alternatively, if the static roof load of your car can handle it, jumping on the roof can yield a very different perspective as well. This is especially convenient if you forgot to pack a step ladder.
- Look for a point of interest. Unbroken fields of yellow don’t make for an engaging photo. Look for fields with features such as lone trees, sheds, windmills and/or undulations. These will add interest to the photo and capture the viewers attention.
- Golden hour is overrated. Typically golden hour is the best time for photography, but this can result in colours which aren’t ‘true’. Late morning can yield the best contrast between blue skies and yellow canola that to me are what makes canola photos really ‘pop’.