21 December 2020
Once one of the world’s best-kept secrets, Tasmania’s stunning landscapes and coastlines have become a global drawcard in recent years. Places like Wineglass Bay and Cradle Mountain are among our most photographed tourist attractions, and they’re recognised throughout the world for their unique and spectacular scenery.
But we still have some hidden gems – and many of them are on land managed by us, just waiting to be discovered and shared with the world.
Not least of these are our abundance of lakes – and, for photographers, they offer the chance to capture some breathtaking images.
Sean De Freitas* is an award-winning land-based and drone photographer who has been captivated by our lakes during his travels around the state in his motorhome.
“As a photographer, I want to showcase the beauty of our state and some of these regions are just incredible,” Sean said.
One of Sean’s most recent discoveries is the Reece Dam on Tasmania’s West Coast. And, it was an unexpected delight.
“We were driving through the West Coast and found a campsite at Reece Dam on Lake Pieman and decided to pull over for the night.
“I’d never heard of it before, but it offered some of the most amazing vistas I’ve ever seen. I took a land-based panorama of the dam wall and power station. Little did I know at the time that the image would go on to win a number of awards.
“After setting up camp, I was able to take the drone up and get some more panoramas of Lake Pieman.
“Then I was able to use my drone to gain a unique perspective of the dam wall and take a panorama featuring the massive infrastructure surrounded by the pristine wilderness, this image has also received great feedback.”
Of course, drone use is highly regulated and therefore not for everyone. But we take pride in providing access to the land and waterways to support a wide range of activities. Drones can be used for commercial filming or to support media, scientific, management or education purposes, this will often require a license agreement from us. You can find out more about this on our website.
“It’s incredibly important to comply with Hydro Tasmania’s regulations and get the appropriate approvals, but with safe and responsible drone flying around these assets, the opportunities are endless,” Sean said.
“There are exclusion zones around the infrastructure that really need to be observed because we are dealing with potentially dangerous electrical infrastructure. It’s also vital that nothing is done to damage Hydro Tasmania equipment or cause any power disruptions. And, of course, you need to respect the privacy of nearby landowners and the surrounding environment.
“But Hydro Tasmania has been fantastic to deal with and can work through the process with you to make sure everything is in order, and you can fly your drone safely and responsibly.”
As well as the chance to take some stunning images, Sean has been blown away by the facilities at our campgrounds.
“To be in the Tasmanian wilderness and yet be able to camp in a safe and pristine campground for free was remarkable, and it means you can catch both sunrise and sunset for some of the most extraordinary images.
“As a traveller, I’m grateful to Hydro Tasmania for providing these campsites and giving people the opportunity to take in a real wilderness experience. It’s great to encourage tourism in regional areas.
“The beauty of our best-known tourism hotspots is beyond question. But there is more to Tasmania than Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay.
“I continue to be in awe of the beauty all around us in our own state and I’m looking forward to my next road trip, and the discoveries I’ll no doubt make along the way.”
*Check out more of Sean’s award-winning images on his Facebook page – Sean De Freitas Photography
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