Inhospitable Location

Kurnell is always a treasure trove of photographic opportunities, a good vantage point for observing the city skyline.

 My return to Kurnell on a personal quest was compromised by the unwanted attention of some persistent inhabitants. I think they were March flies and they carry quite a punch. Fortunately they are quite sluggish and easy to put out of action but not before they have inflicted a sharp sting.

The Council has done a commendable job of creating a memorial to not only the early days of colonisation, but to the acknowledgement of Aboriginal history. "The Meeting Place" , one of the memorials, has been erected on the site of an original Aboriginal meeting place and the signage does a commendable job of documenting the ongoing respect for Kurnell as an area of great historical significance for both indigenous and early European inhabitants.  Visitors can follow some walking trails and read  many interesting facts about the history of the region. A variety of beautiful trees dot the peninsula, amongst them my personal favourites, the majestic figs. 

 The memorials blend in tastefully with the environment.

Washed Out At Homebush

Ignoring warning weather signs, I made a return trip to the shipwrecks at Homebush with my cousin. They're situated in a difficult position so I'm never particularly enthusiastic about comps at this location. 

 As usual, Mother Nature always delivers a gift. Uncertain of the motivation, we were able to observe some Willy Wagtails zealously launching an attack on a much larger raven. Perhaps they had a nest nearby. Unfortunately I was unable to capture a decent image but nevertheless the experience was intriguing.

On a previous trip I'd discovered a bird sanctuary close by and we were excited by the prospect of having the opportunity to observe a wide variety of birdlife. Unfortunately the sabotage attempts by local mossies and a sudden downpour cut the experience short. However we were lucky enough to see some stilt chicks interacting with their protective parents before we were forced to surrender and head for the shelter of the car.

Where The Jacarandas Bloom

The cycles of Nature create endless photo opportunities. Jacarandas are a most popular subject for photographers and it can be challenging to locate a beautiful tree in a picturesque location. Most of the well publicized locations are a substantial distance from Sydney so my only option so far this Season had been the occasional tree which soars above its brothers and sisters in suburbia.

 As always my eye is drawn to the detail.

 

Alerted to the existence of a large jacarandah situated in the quadrangle at Sydney University I was motivated to make a special trip into the city with a friend and return via Callan Park where I had previously seen some other lovely specimens. 

Continuing our journey we explored the extensive grounds at Callan Park . There were quite a few trees but the difficulty was excluding unattractive rooftops or vehicles.

On The Boardwalk

Having enjoyed the walk along the beach to Wanda the other day I chose the opposite direction this morning. Once again I'd left it a little late and the light was harsh but the cooler temperatures didnt make it too arduous and its approximately 450 steps from the top of the hill to the cafe on the beach and back. A high tide or reflections always makes this walk worthwhile and the joggers can be avoided by walking along the beach. Unfortunately the sand seems to be a lot softer this end of the beach so it's less relaxing, but there are always great photo opps.

Portrait photography doesn't currently hold any attraction for me because it requires too much setting up and fiddling with equipment. Spontaneous shots seem so much more exciting and they lend themselves to an unlimited range of processing formats.  I never know what opportunities will present themselves when I'm out and about .

 

A beach 'sharer' enjoying some action.

One of the instructors at the Surf Club - it seems as though once surfing is in the blood, it becomes a lifetime addiction.

  Family fun in the surf

 Safe In Dads Care

Sandhill Explorations

Keen to source a new location for my 10000 steps daily routine, exploring the sandhills at Greenhills Estate was a task I'd been planning for some time. Unfortunately the strong wind made standing atop the hills unpleasant and created a challenge for scoring any decent shots. I doubt I'll return because the scenery is too repetitive and therefore doesn't create varied photo opportunities. Chatted with a variety of dog walkers. Intriguing that the dog walkers are generally a sociable engaging group while many other joggers, particularly young women and the yummy mummys seem to have an aversion to any sort of eye contact let alone a cheery 'good morning'.

The track through Greenhills provides occasional glimpses of Cronulla and secondary tracks leading down to the beach.

But apart from the myriad of tiny flowers, seagrasses and the occasional insect,  I don't think I would find a daily walk in this location enough to distract me from the boredom of walking 10000 steps.

Flannel Flower Haven

I was thrilled to hear flannel flowers were blooming at Potter Point, one of my very favourite locations. The mood at Potter varies with not only the Seasons but with the time of day and each mood holds its attraction for me. Rainfall creates reflective rockpools, the golden sunlight just after dawn and just prior to dusk showcases the glistening crystals in the rocks, and overcast skies  accentuate the undulations and textures of the cliffs. The laden bushes of flannel flowers made such a difference dotted over the flat landscape leading towards the hills. I have many images to play around with and love experimenting with the processing. 

 
This alien like landscape is currently also dotted with strange little spinifex seed heads which look magnificent bathed by the golden glow of the newly risen sun, particularly when the light is filtered by cloud cover. It will be worth a trip back just to capture some images of these little treasures.