My Sky-High Canvas: Capturing the Tweed Coast from Above
by Ross Langdon
There’s a unique quiet that happens when my drone leaves my hand. The hum of the rotors fades into the background, and my world shifts from the earthly to the aerial.
This is my meditation, my passion—the art of seeing the familiar from an entirely new perspective.
And my favorite subject, my magnificent muse, is the stunning Tweed Coast of New South Wales.
From the ancient volcanic remains to the serene river mouths, each location tells its own story.
Through my drone’s lens, I get to listen, compose, and share these stories.
This is my journey through the skies of this paradise.
Fingal Head: The Ancient Guardian
My aerial adventure often begins where the land feels most ancient: Fingal Head. Ground level reveals its power, but from above, its true mythology unfolds. The Giant's Causeway’s hexagonal columns form a breathtaking geometric pattern, a natural mosaic laid down by time and fire. Framing the steadfast white lighthouse against the endless blue of the Pacific, with the turquoise sea swirling over the dark rocks below, is a shot that never fails to fill me with awe.
It’s a view that speaks of timeless resilience.
Cudgen Headland & Kingscliff: The Golden Crescent
Soaring south, the mood shifts to sun-drenched serenity at Cudgen Headland and Kingscliff. The Cudgen Creek breakwater itself provides a perfect vantage point, but from the sky, the entire picture comes together. The golden arc of Kingscliff Beach is revealed in its perfect entirety, a sun-kissed crescent embraced by the deep blue sea. I love to capture the intricate patterns left on the sand by the receding tide, the neat lines of surfboards in the water looking like a fleet of tiny specks, and the long, dramatic shadows of the late afternoon.
It’s the epitome of coastal bliss.
Cabarita Beach & Norries Headland: The Iconic Vista
For many, Norries Headland at Cabarita Beach is the iconic image of the coast, and from the air, its grandeur is undeniable. I often launch from the top, using the rugged headland as a powerful foreground element leading the eye towards the sprawling beach and endless ocean. The point break here is a dynamic spectacle from above; the waves form perfect, curling lines, creating mesmerizing swirls of white foam over the rocky seabed.
A shot looking straight down onto these patterns is like capturing a living, breathing abstract painting.
Hastings Point: The Serene Estuary
There’s a gentle, quiet magic to Hastings Point. Where Cudgera Creek patiently meets the sea, the landscape softens. The drone reveals what the eye can’t see from the shore: the intricate, braided channels of the estuary weaving through sandbanks like a delicate vascular system. The still waters become a perfect mirror for the sky, especially at sunrise or sunset.
Capturing that moment when the world above and below blend into a wash of pink and gold is a feeling of pure, uninterrupted peace.
Wooyung Beach: The Wild and Untamed
To truly appreciate the raw power of nature, I fly over Wooyung Beach. Part of a protected nature reserve, its beauty is untamed and expansive. From above, the endless stretch of untouched beach dunes and the powerful sweep of the coastline are humbling. There are no marks of human habitation, just the relentless and beautiful struggle between land and sea.
Photographing Wooyung is about capturing the essence of wild freedom.
Brunswick Heads: The Life of the River
My journey often concludes at the vibrant and charming Brunswick Heads. The mouth of the Brunswick River is a dynamic, ever-changing stage. I love tracing the serpentine paths of the river channels as they carve through the sandbars, meeting the ocean in a rush of white water. The historic timber crossing to the beach, the serene parklands, and the swimmers dotting the "Bruns" inlet all create a scene of joyful community life.
It’s a place of beautiful contrast, where calm estuary waters live just a stone’s throw from the ocean’s swell.
For me, drone photography is more than a hobby;
it’s a way to connect more deeply with this place I call home. It’s the thrill of perspective, the joy of discovery, and the privilege of sharing the breathtaking beauty of the Tweed Coast from a vantage point few get to experience.
Each flight is a new adventure, each shot a new memory made.
This coast is my sky-high canvas, and I never tire of painting its picture.
Ross Langdon, Drone Photographer/Videographer & Nature Enthusiast
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