The Sapphire Coast of NSW is blessed with long stretches of picturesque beaches, interrupted by jagged sea stacks. Three of the most striking are Horse Head Rock, Camel Rock and Glasshouse Rocks. Each unique in their formation and surrounds, these icons of the area offer many opportunities for keen landscape photographers. Yet if you explore a little further, scenes like this await around every cove.

Australia’s Sapphire Coast is home to world-class seascape locations, like Glasshouse Rocks and Camel Rocks. But for me, both pale compared to the sheer presence of Horse Head Rock.

Only accessible at low tide, the trek to reach the sea stack calls for scrambling over jagged rocks and wading through tidal pools. But with views like this, it sure makes the 4:30am alarm unequivocally worth it.

It’s moments like these when the light, the waves, the scene aligns—as rare as they are—that make the tribulations of landscape photography unequivocally worth it.

Boxing Day, 2019. After weeks of bushfires, smoke rolled across the land, lingering out over the sea. With the incoming tide rushing into the cave, the sun ignited the haze, transmuting it into this golden glow.

This summer will remain with me, and many other Australians, for years to come. A sombre reminder of the beauty and terror of our natural world.