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November in Sydney and the temperatures soared to 36 degrees (and I am talking centigrade here) for almost a week. People flocked to the beaches to bake in the warmth of the sun.
Thank you WPC for giving me an excuse to post more photos from Australia, this time with a yellow theme 🙂
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The Botanic Gardens in Sydney are lovely with lots of native flora – but these delightful Gazanias are from Southern Africa. They are also known as the Treasure flower so I figured they were appropriate for the challenge.
This week I have had a delightful trip south to meet up with Meg from the blogosphere who very kindly took me all around the Eurobodalla region. This interesting mirror was in a perfectly preserved heritage village called Tilba in the south of New South Wales.
Interesting edges in this art installation at the National Gallery in Canberra. The installation is called “Skyspace” and is by American artist James Turrell.
Two Wallabies at Potato Point, south NSW. I would have liked to have got one with a baby in its pouch, but sadly not.
My triumph was actually making it to Potato Point this week to meet up with a fellow blogger who I became friends with over the year. A walk on the beach revealed these beautiful shells.
Finished up in Canberra where my eldest Granddaughter lives and it has been wonderful to spend time with her (and her boyfriend). Lovely to see her in her own environment.
It has been an exciting week and so lovely to be shown places that I don’t know about by a botanical expert and a friend. Once virtual now for real. Thanks Meg for a great week and for putting up with me 🙂
Whilst in the city last week I couldn’t help but be attracted to the angular shapes formed by the modern high-rise buildings in the CBD. Everywhere I looked, shapes and angles and colours and reflections beckoned. Not to mention the various angles I had to use to capture these images.
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Oh, and can you have curved angles?
As you travel around the suburbs of Sydney at this time of year your eye is drawn to the pop of colour amongst the greenery. The beautiful Jacaranda tree is full of fragrant purple flowers during the spring-time. I fell in love with this tree on first sight in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg 40 years ago.
Those who follow my blog will know that I am very keen on architecture. Old, new, entire buildings, small details – I love architectural images. So what to select from my week in Sydney? Something old? Something new? The challenge asks you consider shots that will translate well in black and white. I think these two shots do because a) the clock has such a striking pattern and b) the modern building is practically monotone anyway. See what you think.
A couple of unexpected moments occurred this week whilst out walking. Although asked to experiment with blur and movement I had no time to do that with the wren as it just literally flew in front of me – I am surprised that there isn’t more blur! As for the kookaburra he was so still that I thought at first he wasn’t real, until he turned his head to look at me. Anyway, these were such special moments I wanted to share them with you.
Today’s challenge is to look at things in a great number. As a rule I tend to avoid places where there are a lot of people, but the streets of Sydney’s CBD are pretty busy – pedestrians AND traffic! So far I haven’t been bothered by swarms of flies. The corks are working a treat 😉 So how about a swarm of little life-savers on the beach at Dee Why? Cute eh?
A year or two ago I would not have classed myself as a landscape photographer. My main focus then was close-up shots of flowers with the odd bit of architecture thrown in. But I have been seeing the beauty of landscapes from other photographers whom I admire, so now and again I’ll have ‘a go’ especially when visiting the US National Parks which is where I first started to consider landscape photography.
This is Palm Beach – the location for the Aussie soap ‘Home and Away’ and the furthest most northern beach suburb of Sydney (it takes about 2 hours to reach here by bus). To get this view I had to climb up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse, 350 feet above sea level, on a rather warm day! I hope you all appreciate the efforts I go to to get a photograph! On your left is the Pacific Ocean and Palm Beach, on the right is Pittwater and Barrenjoey beach. The ocean side was very windy, the right was like bathing in bath water – well the first few feet were anyway. I wouldn’t mind living here 🙂
Well, that’s it for another week. A very warm week here I have to say, and some of my explorations have been cut short because of the extreme heat. This poor English rose has wilted badly!
TRAVEL WORDS 