FOOD & WINE LOVERS
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Monday 30 April 2018
Little Malop Street in Geelong has become a wonderful destination for food and wine lovers. A number of fantastic restaurants and wine bars have sprung up over the last few years, and the City Council has put considerable resources into repaving and rejuvenating the precinct. This is certainly worth a visit if you find yourself in the centre of Geelong late in the afternoon, or on a night out. (2398)
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THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia
Sunday 29 April 2018
Wondering whether or not to sit down on this bench, I noticed the approaching bad weather and thought better of it. The lovely river, full of boats was very calm, except when a fishing boat passed by. There wasn't a breath of wind either, the proverbial calm before the storm. I dream of owning one of the houses overlooking the river, perhaps even owning a boat to tie up out front. It's nice to dream. (2397)
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SHOOT FAST AND MOVE OFTEN
Boat Harbour Beach, Tasmania, Australia
Saturday 28 April 2018
There is a small township on the north-west coast of Tasmania, called Boat Harbour Beach. A small spit of land juts out into the ocean. It provided me with two completely different photographic opportunities, with a lovely sandy beach on one side, and a stone covered shoreline on the other. This is one of the reasons that I have a 'shoot fast and move often' philosophy to photography. There are so many scenes that can be captured at most locations, and if you are just travelling through an area, as I was in Tasmania, it would be a shame not to shoot as many as you can. (2396)
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STILL GLOWING
Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia
Friday 27 April 2018
Last weekend, I was fortunate to be able to visit Port Fairy, on Victoria's west coast. My accommodation overlooked the scene in today's photo and as I left the warmth of my home, the sun was just beginning to rise. Port Fairy has a river, just inside the beach, that is home to a fishing fleet and numerous pleasure crafts. As I walked along the waterfront, the street lamps were still glowing and the sky was beginning to display lovely colours, so I began to take some shots of this beautiful part of the world. (2395)
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A LITTLE BIT OF COLOUR
Griffiths Island, Victoria, Australia
Thursday 26 April 2018
There is a lovely little lighthouse on Griffiths Island. It is a comfortable twenty-minute walk from the carpark, across the land bridge and along a small winding path to reach the lighthouse. Along the way, I saw many of the island's wallaby population, and numerous variations of its birds. The sunrise I expected didn't eventuate, because of the thick cloud cover, but there was a little bit of colour in the sky that I managed to capture. (2394)
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LEST WE FORGET
The Crags, Victoria, Australia
Wednesday 25 April 2018
During the Second World War, there was a plane crash near southwest Victoria that was never solved. Just off Lady Julia Percy Island, Avro Anson AW-878 met its end. Scraps of the aircraft were found near Yambuk, but no survivors were found in the area. It is known that there were two pilots as well as two other crew members aboard, all of whom were presumed dead.' [warhistoryonline.com] As we commemorate ANZAC Day 2018, I thought that this WW2 memorial near The Crags might be a fitting way to pay tribute to those brave men and women who selflessly served our country, some of whom never came home. Lest we forget. (2393)
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MUCH DIFFERENT
Derwent Bridge, Tasmania, Australia
Tuesday 24 April 2018
Halfway across the highway to the west coast of Tasmania, there are a number of areas that are sparsely covered in trees. This is much different to the other areas of the wilderness where you can't see the forest for the trees! The open areas are covered in a carpet of native grasses that are quite beautiful, and allow the visitor to easily see the mountains in the background. I actually enjoyed this part of the trip, I guess because of the view, which was non-existent in the heavily treed areas. (2392)
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THE SHEARWATERS
Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia
Monday 23 April 2018
Just out of the township of Port Fairy, next to the walkway from the mainland to Griffiths Island, is this wonderful sculpture of Shearwater or Mutton Birds. There is a colony on the island of these lovely little birds, who arrive towards the end of September and leave again in April, after raising their young. (2391)
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CRAGGY ROCKS
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Sunday 22 April 2018
Mother nature is unbelievably amazing, and never ceases to amaze me. A recent trip to The Crags, just west of Port Fairy resulted in me finding these amazing rock structures overlooking the sea. The sharp pieces of rock were aptly named and jutted out into the open air above the water and almost looked man-made, although they weren't. There will definitely be more images of this trip appearing on my website in the coming weeks! (2390)
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PERFECT FOR REFLECTIONS
Sisters Beach, Tasmania, Australia
Saturday 21 April 2018
Although the location of this photograph is on the outskirts of Sisters Beach, it is however an image of a small lake. The water is dark brown from the tannins from the surrounding trees and vegetation and there are lots of reeds that grow around the edge of the lake. On the morning I visited this spot, there wasn't a breath of wind, so the water was perfect for capturing reflections of the blue sky. (2389)
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A LOVELY FEATURE
Boat Harbour Beach, Tasmania, Australia
Friday 20 April 2018
At every turn of the road, along the north west coast of Tasmania, there was a beach. Each one was very unique, including this beautiful one at Boat Harbour Beach. The sand was very white and this outcrop of rocks at the end of the beach was a lovely feature. The cafe at the lifesaving club provided a great breakfast, right on the beach. I could have stayed here for hours. (2388)
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JUST RISEN
Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Thursday 19 April 2018
Emergency areas markers are used in open space locations with no set address, like here on the Torquay Surf Beach. In the event of an accident they can be used by emergency services to quickly locate a person in distress, and hopefully save lives. When I took this photograph the sun had just risen above the horizon and I was heading back up the path to my car. (2387)
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MIRRORED SURFACE
Smiths Beach, Victoria, Australia
Wednesday 18 April 2018
One of my favourite shots is taken when I walk out onto wet sand and catch the reflections of a spectacular sunrise. Conditions have to be just right, a very flat beach, usually a receding tide and a calm sea. Even with these conditions, the sea still manages to catch me unaware and I can find my feet in the water, sometimes up to my knees. I don't like this feeling, but I do love the images I can get, like this one on Smiths Beach on Phillip Island. The ripples in the sand add a fantastic effect to the mirrored surface of the beach. (2386)
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A SPLASH OF COLOUR
Table Cape, Tasmania, Australia
Tuesday 17 April 2018
Just west of Wynyard, on the Tasmanian north coast, is a small lighthouse on the top of Table Cape. Previously manned, the old lighthouse keepers house has long gone, but the lighthouse is still in immaculate condition, with its automated light. There is a gravel road leading to this spot that wanders past a tulip farm that has become a tourist attraction in recent years. As with most of Tasmania, this is a beautiful place to visit, and although the tulips were not flowering this time, I plan to go back when they are, so that I can add a splash of colour to my photos. (2385)
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HISTORIC HIGHFIELD
Stanley, Tasmania, Australia
Monday 16 April 2018
Historic Highfield overlooks Stanley, on the north coast of Tasmania. This lovely old home was built by the Van Diemen's Land Company in 1832 and was part of the 350,000 acres of land granted under Royal Charter by George IV. It is now owned by the Tasmanian Government and is slowly being restored back to its former glory. In the background you can see 'The Nut' which is an old volcanic plug that rises 143 metres from Circular Head. (2384)
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NOT REALLY FLAT!
Edge of the World, Tasmania, Australia
Sunday 15 April 2018
Spoiler alert for all of the Flat Earth believers. I stood at the Edge of the World three days ago, on a cold, wet and very stormy morning. I looked out to sea and I noticed that there wasn't really an edge, but that it kept on going! The aptly named Edge of the World beach is just south of Arthur River, on Tasmania's west coast and if you were to travel even further west, you would miss the coast of South Africa and reach South Africa. The beach was very rocky and covered with lots of debris, but it had a wonderful and rugged beauty, which I really loved. (2383)
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FAIRY-TALE APPEARANCE
Nelson Falls, Tasmania, Australia
Saturday 14 April 2018
I've just returned from a wonderful trip to Tasmania. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world, so I will be sharing lots of these photos with you over the next few months. The Nelson Falls are located on the drive across to the western side of the state, and although this isn't an image of the falls, it is of the river just below. The moss on the trees and the very red water prompted me to take the photo. The scene was almost fairy-tale in appearance, and I'm not sure if my photo fully does it justice. (2382)
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MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Point Impossible, Victoria, Australia
Friday 13 April 2018
The beach at Point Impossible isn't all that spectacular, as beaches go, but a lovely sunrise with great clouds and wonderful colours can make all the difference. Such was the case when I visited this part of the coast, just south of Geelong. Thompson Creek spills out into the ocean at this spot, with the beach being very flat and creating great reflections in the wet sand. (2381)
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SOFT PASTEL TONES
Lake Connewarre, Victoria, Australia
Thursday 12 April 2018
Close by my home is Lake Connewarre, a nature reserve near the mouth of the Barwon River. It is a little seen waterway because of its remoteness and access. But making the effort to drive into the lake at the right time of day results in some stunning scenes, including this one which has lovely soft pastel tones. (2380)
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APTLY NAMED
Red Rocks Beach, Victoria, Australia
Wednesday 11 April 2018
You need to be a bit determined to capture an image at Red Rocks Beach, on the Great Ocean Road. It is a long walk from the car park at Point Addis, along a beach that has incredibly soft sand, the type that makes walking considerably harder for a photographer that lacks a little fitness. I nonetheless made it to the lovely rocks that are aptly named, just in time to witness a lovely sunrise. (2379)
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A COLOURFUL GLOW
Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Tuesday 10 April 2018
As I walked along the track from the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club to the beach at Jan Juc, I stopped at the lookout that overlooks the beach. I was a little early for the sunrise which was at least 15 minutes away, but the sky was starting to lighten and there was a colourful glow on the horizon. I quickly took this photo before continuing to scurry along the path and down the steps to the beach. (2378)
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I CAN'T WAIT
Rocky Point, Victoria, Australia
Monday 9 April 2018
Very occasionally, when I'm out on my early morning photography expeditions, I come across a fellow photographer with similar intent to myself. On this particular morning, at Rocky Point near Torquay, another photographer joined me to witness the sunrise. I've noted over the years that there are two types of photographer, the 'sit and prop' ones, and the 'shoot and move' ones. I'm the later and my fellow photographer for the morning was the former. I managed to capture twenty or more unique scenes in the time my colleague capture two of three of the exact same scene. Obviously, waiting for the right moment and taking a single quality shot is a purist view on the subject, but I like to think there are so many more beautiful scenes waiting for me, that I can't wait to quickly move on and find them. (2377)
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ROWING UPSTREAM
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Sunday 8 April 2018
The Barwon River that flows through Geelong has long been a venue for rowing competitions. On most early mornings you can find rowers lifting their hulls into the water at one of the five clubhouses located along the river. These sturdy people brave the freezing cold of the winter mornings to row upstream towards Highton and then power back down towards the Moorabool Street bridge, shown here in this photo. The only other person game enough to venture down to the river on this brisk morning was the even braver photographer! (2376)
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HOW LUCKY
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Saturday 7 April 2018
In the late 1990's the redevelopment of Geelong's waterfront saw the construction of Steampacket Quay. It is located at the end of Moorabool Street and was formed by the excavation of 15,000 cubic metres of land with the construction of new boardwalks. One of the major attractions is the art piece by Mark Stoner called 'North'. The sculpture represents seven randomly placed pieces that resemble ships sails, and they have created a wonderful focus for the new precinct. I love wandering along the waterfront, and when the light is right, I have been known to also take a photo or two, just to show the world how lucky we are to have such a beautiful city. (2375)
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TAKING YOUR TIME
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Friday 6 April 2018
Walking past the Sydney Myer Music Bowl recently, I noticed this lovely little garden, with a small bridge, a tiny waterfall with a round pond at the bottom. It is one of those scenes that you would normally not even notice when walking to a concert at the bowl, but taking your time wandering around the gardens, it struck me as being worth taking a photograph of. (2374)
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TINY ICE CRYSTALS
Kennett River, Victoria, Australia
Thursday 5 April 2018
A dreamy shot today, of the sun rising above the Kennett River beach. The warm sun catches the tops of the crashing waves and turns them red, while the rocks glow in the morning light. The sky lights up with an amazing orange, and you can just see a halo around the sun caused by tiny ice crystals in the Earth's atmosphere. You can clearly see why I love this time of the day! (2373)
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A LUCKY MORNING
Cowes, Victoria, Australia
Wednesday 4 April 2018
Standing on this small sandy cliff, just off the side of the Cowes beach, I watched as the storm that had blown across the western part of the state approached the east. It was very still and the grasses in the sand cooperated with me and kept still long enough to take this photo. It is very rare for me to be able to capture grass without a little bit of movement to ruin the shot. It was a lucky morning for me, because I was able to get back to the car before the rain began to fall. (2372)
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DISHEVELLED
Churchill Island, Victoria, Australia
Tuesday 3 April 2018
It's not often that I have animals in my photographs, let alone 'chooks'. But when I saw this chicken walking across the yard of the historic farm at Churchill Island, it seemed too good an opportunity not to take a snapshot. I particularly liked the dishevelled appearance of this bird. It looked like it had survived a huge storm, but it might be just the breed of chicken. Either way, I like the appearance of this untidy little bird. (2371)
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AN AMAZING ISLAND
Pyramid Rock, Victoria, Australia
Monday 2 April 2018
After a short walk along a path, then up and down a number of steps, I made it out to the viewing platform at Pyramid Rock. Although relatively small, the intriguing looking rock was clearly in a pyramid shape. The waters off the southern side of Phillip Island are incredibly clear and it was easy to see the bottom of the small bay in front of me. This is an amazing island which I recommend to anyone coming to this part of the world. (2370)
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EDWARD VII
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sunday 1 April 2018
A statue erected to King Edward VII, Queen Victoria’s successor. The desire to create a monument to Edward in Melbourne took hold immediately following his death in 1910. Mackennal was commissioned to undertake the work on a tender of £1867, but the statue eventually cost three times that price. The outbreak of World War One delayed the statue’s production, but casting in London commenced at the war’s end.' [monumentaustralia.org.au] (2369)
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