Paul Thomsen eyes off crocs and storms; Tim Bryan is racing to the finish line; and Jesse and La-Toya Nicolaou celebrate a wild wedding

This week in Cooee From The NT, we talk to remarkable nature photographer Paul Thomsen and catch Classic Ford Club members Gordon Jabour and Tim Bryan racing to the finish line

"I'm scared of them, but it's a good healthy fear" - Nature photographer Paul Thorsen captures the power of a predatory croc close to home.

The Top End’s storm season is just around the corner and nature photographer Paul Thomsen is looking forward to all the drama.

“I think this is probably one of the lightning capitals around the world, known for thunderstorms and tropical lighting storms,” Paul says.

“There’s all that raw power and it’s just so spectacular. There’s nothing like capturing a really good lightning bolt.”

Darwin wildlife photographer Paul Thomsen has spent decades capturing the beauty and drama of the Territory.

The Darwin-born man, who calls Marrakai home, is keen to share his love of the storm season, so he’s hosting storm photography workshops in Palmerston Friday morning and in Casuarina, the following Saturday.

Paul’s been taking photos for decades and has captured many spectacular storm images. With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a drier wet season this year, he’s expecting dry electrical storms will serve up plenty of lightning opportunities for keen photographers.

“The actual camera setting is important – you’ve got to know the basics – but it’s easier than people think,” Paul says, adding that the Top End is full of fantastic locations to capture storm activity, from Darwin’s city skyline to flood plains and billabongs.

The photographer’s favourite time to capture a storm is sunset.

A recent Territory storm captured in all its glory by nature photographer Paul Thomsen.

“You get these mountainous clouds, purple and gold hues and bolts coming out of them,” he explains.

“Amazing colours and raw nature – just so beautiful.”

Corroboree Billabong, near Paul’s home, is one of his favourite photographic spots and he regularly shares it with visitors on his nature photography tours.

“Sometimes there might be a dead buffalo in the water or a croc has grabbed a wallaby drinking on the bank and they’ll be fighting over the meat,” he says.

“I’m quite scared of them, but it’s a good healthy fear.”

Whether he’s taking photos of an old twisty-horned bull buffalo at sunset, waterbirds taking flight or a croc guarding its prey, the award-winning photographer continues to be amazed by his unique surroundings.

Paul Thomsen captured this captivating shot of an old bull buffalo at Corroboree Billabong, one of his favourite spots.

“As a photographer I see beauty everywhere,” he says simply.

“Even in what people see as mundane nature, I see miracles happening all the time.”

You can see more of Paul’s photography at wildfoto.au or contact him at [e-mail] to book a spot in one of his storm photography workshops.

The NT teams on the Aussie Muscle Car Rally: Gordon Jabour president of the NT Classic Ford Club, Alan and Julie Stalker from the Classic Holden Car Club and Tim Bryan, vice-president of the NT Classic Ford Club.

NT’s classic car drivers on their way home

As he races towards Bathurst in his 1973 XA GT Ford Falcon Tim Bryan is feeling super proud.

An entrant in the Aussie Muscle Car Run, Tim is proud of his local business community for helping raise thousands of dollars for Variety, a charity that supports kids in need across Australia.

He and co-driver Gordon Jabour – the vice-president and president respectively of the NT Classic Ford Club – are part of a 60-strong field of vehicles that set off from South Australia’s Murray Bridge last Saturday as part of the annual car rally. The event will end at Bathurst’s iconic Mount Panorama on Saturday.

Gordon’s Falcon XA GT is right at home among the cohort of muscle cars from Bathurst’s golden era in ‘60s and ‘70s.

But they’re not the only Northern Territory participants, four local car clubs – the NT Classic Holden Car Club, NT Gassers Car Club and the Alice Springs Aces and Eights Car Club – have each entered a classic car. Holden car club members Alan and Julie Stalker driving their Torana XU-1.

Darwin car club presidents Gordon Jabour and Alan Stalker have their classic cars are on the road this week as part of the Aussie Muscle Car Rally from Murray Bridge to Bathurst's Mount Panorama.

The Darwin community raised more than $26,000 before seeing the car club enthusiasts on their way. It was a valuable contribution to Variety’s efforts to improve the lives of kids who are sick, living with a disability or disadvantaged.

“The Variety Club will donate more than half a million dollars during the run to community groups and organisations and it’s all for the kids – 91 cents in every dollar we raise and donate goes directly to the kids,” Tim, the owner of Darwin’s Lock and Key business, told the NT News.

A Ford man through and through, he says the multi-day event packs a punch, in horsepower and emotion. He’s loving the experience and reckons he’ll be back fundraising next year to enter his own car.

“Without a doubt I’ll be there next year,” says Tim. “They’re all a tremendous bunch of people and I’ve actually had tears a couple of times at these presentations along the way.

“It just makes you feel like you’re doing the right thing. I can’t be thankful enough for the Darwin business community that’s helped out.”

A wedding snap with a difference – Jessie and Latoya pose with a baby croc during their wedding shoot at Crocosaurus Cove. Photograph David Artisan Photography

Jesse and La-Toya’s wild wedding day

Jesse Nicolaou and La-Toya Taylor wanted a unique Top End wedding reception – so they added crocodiles.

And snakes and lizards.

“And everyone loved it,” Jesse laughs.

When Jesse first suggested popular Darwin tourist attraction Crocosaurus Cove as the reception venue, La-Toya was quick to get on-board.

“Everyone has receptions at pubs or yacht clubs and we thought we’d do something out of the ordinary,” Jesse says.

“We got to feed the big crocs – we fed Bert, the big crocodile in Crocodile Dundee – while the guests watched, and the guests got exclusive access to the park.”

From holding baby crocs to handling lizards, their memorable reception makes the newlywed smile. He says s the whole day was wonderful – from their ceremony on Cullen Bay beach foreshore with their family of five kids participating, to the evening celebration at Crocosaurus Cove.

Palmerston couple Jesse and Latoya Nicolaou wanted a Territory touch to their wedding, so along with their five children, family and friends they celebrated their union at wildlife tourism hotspot Crocosaurus Cove. Photograph: David Artisan Photography

“Seeing our kids walk down as flower girl and bridesmaids brought a bit of a tear to my eye,” Jesse says. “It was a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Well, I hope so anyway. Or I’ll be in trouble if I don’t!”

The couple, who live in Palmerston, met in Darwin in 2017. Jesse proposed to La-Toya at Seafood on Cullen the following year. He calls her bright and bubbly, she calls him kind and caring. And while the Covid pandemic delayed their wedding plans, they couldn’t be happier with their recent big day, with lasting memories captured by photographer David Cook.

La-Toya says the event with about 50 guests was stress free, beautiful and different.

“His family is from WA and mine is from Queensland, and it turned out to be a perfect experience for everyone that came, to remember what it’s like in the Territory,” she says.