Plane

Sometimes I look for a little too much in an image.

This is a shot from a recent trip to Sydney.
Just love the simplicity.
Bondi beach is just below.

The Harbour Bridge chair

If you go under the bridge on the city side you'll find a path that leads to the walking path that takes you over the bridge. Right under the bridge you'll find this chair that's been there since the bridge was built (1932).

The buildings

New home for an old photo.I was visiting Sydney one year and wandering around the city on my own. It looked like rain but I risked taking the camera out. A drop of water hit me and i looked up and saw this almost symmetrical view of these two buildings. By some miracle I got the exposure right.

Avalon

I tend to sit on photos for a long time before I decide if I like them or not. This, for me, is not one of them. I was just unlucky that day. Too much cloud and sun could not get up high enough to throw colour over the rocks as it rose. Every time I go to Australia I never seem to have enough time to really explore an area. Avalon has some great shots hidden away. It's just a shame I had no time to find them or see the potabilities.

Behind oxford street

Sydney back alley on a Saturday afternoon. Slightly different to the previous Sydney post but I like both. This one fir the lines and the person in the frame.

Sydney back street

Dark moody Sydney

Museum station tunnel

Lane 3

Lane 3 Narrabeen pool. Yet another taken in the same spot.

4am

The thing's you do for a shot.I've been inspired lately by Mike Stacey, flux and Teiko's photos and while on a trip to Australia I thought I'd have a shot at doing a sunrise. Woke at 4am, which was a bit early but once I was up I thought it best to stay awake. Ended up leaving a bit late and arrived at Monavale beach just in time to see some colour in the sky. I wasn't sure what I'd have to shoot at (ISO) so I brought everything. Hasselblad with the Distagon 50mm, Planar 80mm and Sonar 150mm, a load of Kodak epp, GP and a bit of Provia 400x, my Canon 1D mark 3 with a 35mm prime, the Horizon 35mm panoramic camera and my light meter. My bag was brimming with gear. Worried that I'd meter incorrectly, I used my Canon as a meter, which, in hindsight was a good idea.

The sky was amazing. Basically exactly like it is in the picture. After being away from Australia for so long I couldn't understand why the beach was not full of people. Instead, to my complete joy, there was almost no one there. One swimmer in the pool, a few joggers on the beach...the atmosphere was fantastic. Just the sound of crashing waves and this amazing sky that was changing by the minute.

Going out on the rocks (near where the pole in the photo is) was my biggest worry. I wore my shoes, worried that I'd slip with 2 camera's and a bag full of lenses which was a bit of a mistake. Ended up having to trash the shoes. During the shoot I discovered the tide coming in which made for some seriously wet jeans and a slightly wet camera bag but no real damage done.

Managed to take 11 rolls while I was out before it got too light.

And to finish off the morning I found a great cafe close by serving excellent lattes, muffins and fresh fruit and yogurt.

If you have a chance to go to Sydney I highly recommend shooting a beach sunrise. But do yourself a favor and make sure you know a great cafe near by for after. It's the only way to finish off a morning.

Interesting to note that none of my pictures turned out anything like those who inspired me. Credit though goes to Mike Stacey for the location. I use to live in Monavale for a time and after seeing his picture just thought it made sense to go back since I knew the area.

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