The Joe Mortelliti Gallery, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
Outback Australia. The Northern Territory. West MacDonnell National Park covers a vast and spectacular part of the MacDonnell Ranges west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Joe Mortelliti captures the heart of the area with his camera. Just have a look at the magnificent photo of the dawn sun on Mt Sonder in the first picture on this page.
Joe Mortelliti‘s life long love, from when he was first given a Brownie camera as a boy, was photography. It was the focus of his work life for many years. He loved to travel with his wife Marion to as many parts of Australia as he could. He had the ability to ‘see’ the beauty of our land in such a way that he could photograph it for the delight of others. These photos are a legacy that he has left us. Used by permission and with appreciation.
Dawn on Mt Sonder, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. WOW! Magnificent, strong photo of Mt Sonder at dawn. July 2005.
Purple tones, Mt Sonder, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. Taken at sunrise, these captured purple tones of Mt Sonder can be seen in many Albert Namatjira paintings of this district. July 2005.
MacDonnell Ranges, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. Located west of Alice Springs, is an outstanding example of an ancient landscape sculptured over time by climatic elements. July 2005.
Storm coming, Glen Helen Homestead, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. The storm about to hit. Spectacular clouds are the omen of very heavy rain. Pictured from the Glen Helen Homestead Lodge resort. Dramatic weather in the Northern Territory! March 2016.
Finke River, after rain, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. After last nights storm we woke up this morning to the beautiful Finke River in full flow. March 2016.
Finke River flowing through Glen Helen Gorge, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. Photo taken from our outside seating area out the back of our homestead. March 2016.
Flooded crossing, Finke River, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. After the storm, the floods. Dramatic weather in the Northern Territory results in flooding rains. Roads are closed because crossings are flooded. This is the Finke River crossing near the Glen Helen Homestead Lodge resort. March 2016.
Hermannsburg, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. This is the landscape that inspired Albert Namatjira to paint what are now famous landscape painting works of this region. July 2005.
In 1934 a Western Arrernte Aboriginal man by the name of Albert viewed an art exhibition at the Lutheran Mission of Hermannsburg, Central Australia. The exhibition was arranged by mission superintendent Pastor F.W. Albrecht and featured the works of traveling artists Rex Battarbee and John Gardner. Over the two day exhibition more than 300 Aboriginal people attended. They stood enchanted and amazed at the sight of their tribal lands as portrayed by the European artists.
The exhibition fired Albert’s imagination and interest in painting. He endeavoured to learn the new craft. It would bring him fame, but ultimately despair as he discovered the hypocrisies with which it came. His success challenged naïve philosophies of the time and helped pave the way for freedom for his people and respect for their culture in a rapidly changing world.
Tnorala, Gosse Bluff, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia. This feature was created by a huge comet which struck Central Australia leaving one of the largest impact structures in the world, measuring roughly 25 kilometres in diameter. The ring of hills is 50-100 metres high. July 2005.
Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve is a place of great cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people, as well as one of international scientific interest. More info on Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) at The West Macs
Joe Mortelliti‘s life long love, from when he was first given a Brownie camera as a boy, was photography. It was the focus of his work life for many years. He loved to travel with his wife Marion to as many parts of Australia as he could. He had the ability to ‘see’ the beauty of our land in such a way that he could photograph it for the delight of others. These photos are a legacy that he has left us. Used by permission and with appreciation.
