Watson's Bay

The opportunity to return to Watson's Bay presented itself as I was re uniting with a school friend I've known since Kindergarten.  I've visited Watson's Bay on numerous occasions but decided to leave home early and fit in a quick photoshoot before we were due to lunch together. The two lighthouses of course were on the agenda, as were the military bunkers. A tiny bit of research on the lighthouses of Australia site uncovered some interesting facts.

 "..............The Macquarie Lighthouse at South Head is Australia's first and longest operating navigational light with a flagstaff erected as a navigational aid in 1791, within one year of the First Fleet arriving to settle New South Wales. A wood and coal fired beacon, a basket on a tripod, was established in 1793 and was the only guiding light for the next 25 years.The construction of the current Macquarie Lighthouse was begun in 1881 and the light was first exhibited in 1883. It was designed by James Barnet and is a replica of the original tower completed in 1818 at the command of Governor Macquarie and designed in sandstone by the renowned convict architect Francis Greenway. Greenway emancipation for  his efforts and true to Greenway’s prediction the tower deteriorated due to the poor quality of the sandstone.  The existing tower was therefore built stronger in both materials and design. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1976 and the keepers were eventually withdrawn in 1989. Australia's first lighthouse keeper was Robert Watson. He was with the First Fleet as the Quartermaster on HMS Sirius and later Harbour Master at Sydney. Watson was already an old man and died within a year of his appointment. Nearby Watsons Bay was named to honour his memory............."

Hornby Lighthouse stands at South Head, near Watsons Bay in Sydney Harbour National Park. 

The iconic red and white striped tower is surrounded by views in three directions.  Sydney Harbour is to the west, Middle Head and North Head to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the east. This lighthouse was built in 1858 following the wrecking of the Dunbar at the foot of South Head. Designed by colonial architect Alexander Dawson, Hornby Lighthouse was the third lighthouse to be built in NSW. An Irish seaman, James Johnson, the sole survivor of the 122 on board was found that morning clinging to a ledge. His family was to go on and play a significant role in the manning of New South Wales lighthouses. Seventy years after the arrival of the First Fleet it was the third lighthouse to be built, after Macquarie and Nobbys Head. It was known as the Lower Light to distinguish it from the nearby Macquarie Lighthouse and designed by colonial architect, Alexander Dawson. There is a great guide by Lewis Fogarty for Hornby at Free Photo Guides.  I arrived too late for sunrise, the light was already too harsh and the sky a flat blue, not the best photographic conditions.   

Sculptures By The Sea - Or Not !

This is my fourth year visiting the annual "Bondi Sculptures By The Sea" display and my response has been the same each time. As far as sculpture is concerned, it appears to me that "anything suffices".
I'm pretty sure the peoples' choice this year will be a water filled sphere which won a scholarship. Once again, as pretty as it may have been, many people have used spheres before and I think it's a shame that something so unoriginal won a scholarship. I'm not sure how locations are allocated but this one was certainly in pride of place.

 Lucy Humphrey's "Horizon"

It's imperative to commence the day early, and that means before sunrise otherwise the entire day is spent negotiating people, dogs and challenging lighting conditions. Alternately, stay late, real late, and go for long exposures.  It never ceases to amaze me how many people elect to do their daily stretches or take a rest break right alongside one of the sculptures, so either go early or be prepared to develop RSI from using the clone tool on the images you shoot. The event could easily be renamed "People By The Sea". Sometimes locating the sculpture is akin to finding Wally.

I have two indelible impressions about this event, reinforced on a yearly basis :
1. Many of the local joggers should be ashamed of their rudeness and selfishness when displaying their obvious contempt for all the visitors who dare to walk along the route. Grow up and accept the fact that for a few weeks each year you may find it advantageous to change your normal route and do a large favour to yourselves and visitors who have come to support this event.
2. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Now I've got that off my chest !
Another positive spin on the Sculptures scenario is that irrespective of the quality of the sculptures, there is usually an opportunity to capture some great surfing action at the same time.

I think it is important to be well prepared for the long viewing walk and to that end each year my first visit is to  purchase a program to obtain an overview; decide which sculptures I'm really keen on viewing including their locations,  and the most efficient method of navigating the route. Another factor which has a major bearing on the impact of the sculptures is their location and how the different light situations impact on their digital capture. Many people commence the walk at Mark's Park and by the time they reach Tamarama, many of the sculptures are in partial shadow. Therefore an initial visit allows me to decide on the best time to view each sculpture to its advantage.

Sculpture is defined in The Oxford Dictionary as:

the art of making two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster.  

The British Arts Council extends the definition :

The current dictionary definition of sculpture as 'the art or process of creating representational or abstract forms, either in the round or in relief', does not tell the whole story.  This notion was first challenged over forty years ago when new practices and a greater diversity in the range and use of materials extended the vocabulary.  The term can now be said to encompass installation, land art, body art, performance art, text-based work, photography and video, as well as the three-dimensional art object.

I would still challenge some of the entries given that broad criteria. Perhaps I'm too much of a purist, but I would expect to see that some effort has gone into the creation of an artwork rather than simply using an existing object and giving it a title. e.g a porta-loo, a caravan and a stop sign with the letters rearranged. A red blog running down the hillside is not even worthy of consideration.

Looking back over previous year's images it's interesting to compare the 'van' sculptures from this year and 2005. I don't think it's difficult to see which sculpture required the greater effort and creativity.

 

Chris Bennie, grace, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2013. Photo Clyde Yee

 Ben Resch, the great aussie surf trip, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2005. Photo Clyde Yee
 So it's not that I'm against the sculptor's medium of choice, but how he or she decides to utilise it.

Judging creative pursuits is always a contentious issue because it is so very subjective so I apply my personal criteria when evaluating them. I figure if I could create it, then it's not great sculpture. I like to see evidence of 3D craftsmanship.  Not willing to be too much of a killjoy I still believe S.B.T.S is still a great experience, particularly for photographers, as many of the exhibits, due to their locations along the rocky foreshores  are notoriously difficult to photograph effectively. It's a great exercise in exploring Composition and battling the vagaries of light.
The following three photographs were taken of David Hashimoto's  Moment of Clarity at three different time slots.

VIEW.1

VIEW.2

 VIEW 3

If I'm able to visit next year, I aim to go at least once during the night and shoot some long exposures to ensure I have some people/torchlight free shots.

You Can Bank On It - Cape Banks Was Worth The Visit

Visited a few scenic locations with my cousin. Weather was perfect, just the hint of a breeze and a gentle sun.

 We began our tour at The old fort at La Perouse and then made our way as far as the tip of Cape Banks which I've previously only seen from across the water at Cape Solander. The waves were spectacular and unfortunately stills do nothing to demonstrate their majesty. We drove around from Bare Island and along Cape Banks Rd. parking near the firing range. At Fort Banks (opposite the helicopter base) we ventured inside what I believe was the old bunker and fortification complex that was used to protect the approaches to Botany Bay built during World War II. This bunker consists of sheltered concrete ammunition storage rooms below and a circular gun base above, with surrounding coastal views.We completely missed the larger one ( labelled F on the map) and seen below.

image courtesy of  J.W.C Adam

 

We didn't make it around to the Henry Head battery on the other side of the peninsular either so that's a location I would like to visit in future. Constructed between 1892 - 1895 with 2 BL 6-inch Mk V disappearing guns, the fort operated until 1910 when the fort became obsolete.

We did walk down to the furthermost tip of Cape Banks to where the wreckage of the SS Minmi can be seen rusting silently and uncomplainingly in the sun with gigantic waves crashing over its decayed bows.

A great summary of the locations and some detailed information about the batteries.
There is also a description of the walk and major signposts on Wildwalks.

Tall Ships In The Mist

Over 50 nations will be sending a warship and/or tall ship to participate in an International Fleet Review to be held in Sydney from 3 - 11 October,  held to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet into Sydney. It is planned for the Review to begin with the entry of the tall ships into Sydney Harbour and conclude with a laser light show on the Saturday evening.

I went with some members from our Photography Society to position ourselves at Bradley's Head in order to grab some shots of the tall ships as they sailed towards their berth at Darling Harbour. I'm always most uncomfortable in crowds, and not keen on attending when the crowds would be in force so this was to be my one opportunity to witness this spectacle.  Alas ............ after a great start to the morning, with sun shining and fluffy white clouds, weatherwise it was all downhill from there.

 After a long walk from the ferry to the Head, almost as soon as we'd positioned ourselves down on the shoreline with a pretty good view and great lead in lines of golden sand and moss covered rocks, the winds picked up, the sun disappeared and mist caused by falling rain rolled in. The fisheye lens has made our rocky retreat look a lot sheltered than it actually was.

The reality was a long way from the anticipated experience as there were few billowing sails due to the weather and a mishmash of spectator boats littered the scene and interfered with what should have been some good compositions.

  Although I ended up cold and wet, as always, we had some great laughs and shared some photographic tips and strategies.

My first sighting of a tall ship was certainly not what I'd looked forward to, as it was barely visible.

We were lucky that there was some protection from the overhanging cliff face so it was with garbage bag over the torso I was only able to intermittently snap the occasional shot of a tall ship barely visible for rain.

I didn't come away with many stellar images I must say, so amused myself by playing around with the one passable image I captured. I used an online gif maker and some multiple processed copies of the image to create an efficient method of viewing them. Unfortunately there is a white band on the side but I cant be bothered to go back and edit it out :-(

Fine weather is forecast for tomorrow  but I doubt I have the energy or desire to battle the travel and crowds in order to participate in another train and ferry trip. This little black duck will watch it from the comfort of her lounge room, tissues in hand, as my legacy from today is sneezes and sniffs.

Back To Bombo

The first week of my holidays is over already so I'm feeling somewhat deflated, however I should be grateful that at least it was spent relaxing and enjoying the freedom. My trip down South to see my cousin enables me to not only catch up with her, but to revisit many of my most loved locations and for good measure, toss in a few new ones.

The decision to stay overnight at Greenwell Point on the way down turned out well.

View Greenwell Point in a larger map
As luck would have it, there were some fishing boats returning and of course a group of pelicans gathered to try their luck at the ritual ' cleaning of the fish'. The fishermen were most obliging and angled their throws to create some great photo opportunities and I was able to catch some action shots different from any I'd taken before.

One of the greatest disadvantages of continually photographing a subject is the challenge of capturing a different perspective, but it's definitely great for professional development. Observing the expressions and personalities of the pelicans always cheers me up and its entertaining to hear the fishermen recounting their experiences. Unfortunately the anticipated Milky Way shoot didn't eventuate as the cloud cover was too thick but it was a good start to the holidays nonetheless.

Rising early for a sunrise shoot was another plan thwarted by those same clouds, however we were able to get a few shots from the beachfront which was accessible as the tide was out. Unfortunately, long exposures and boats dont seem to marry well.

Ponderings

When 'out and about' I often spend a substantial time pondering life's quirks, tragedies and gifts. Sometimes I feel part of general humanity with the same experiences occurring in my life as well as the lives of others. Occasionally I feel like a lone voice in the wilderness, prey to each and every vagary of Nature and circumstance. I've discovered that generally one can't make adequate preparations for any life event, as the reality is at the whimsy of the gods, particularly with respect to photographic opportunities. Some of my greatest disappointments have been experienced when expectations were high, and yet, some of my greatest joys have been realised through serendipitous occurrences. I think it is important to remain positive and give thanks for the joys rather than regret the disappointments.

Some questions I have pondered which fall under the exaggeration banner and have generally surfaced when on longer roadtrips:

1. Am I the only human in NSW who doesn't have access to a 4WD ? - I'm sick of having these riding on my bumper.

2. Are black Toyotas utility magnets ? - I can guarantee that as soon as I pull over to take a shot, even when the location is a thousand acre property with neither animal or human in sight, someone in a ute or tractor appears out of thin air and makes me feel like a voyeur.

3. Do butterflies only alight on foliage positioned in the airflow of passing semi trailers ?

4. Why do horses always walk towards you once your finger is about to press the shutter button ?

5. Does anybody else adhere to the speed limit ?

6. Why are most creek beds dry ?

7. Why are outback country roads as busy as Pitt St. in the city, only when it is impossible to pull over to the side of the road?

8. Why do people turn into their driveways  when I have pulled up to take a photograph ?

9. Why are hay bales always wrapped in ugly green plastic ?

10. Why is the sun always setting on the opposite side of the highway with no room to pull over ?

 And finally, for the moment at least, and this is expressed most uncharitably:
Why is it that when someone walks into the frame of a great shot I've just set up, is it someone who is most unphotogenic ?

The Moon Hunt

After many thwarted attempts I'm still going to endeavour to capture a full moon due in 6 days. I've been scouting for different locations which will provide some foreground interest. While Yena Gap is one of my favourite spots the shadows really overpower the foreground rocks at sunset while the rocks at Cape Solander seem to take on a ghostly hue and also provide some amazing formations. Solander is also more easily accessible in the failing light. Tonight I took some preparatory shots and although the high ISO caused lots of noise I'm quite liking the effect. This particular POV was one I discovered but after seeing Mike Hobbert's fantastic shot from the same vantage point I'll always think of it as 'Mike's Gap'.

The Absence Of Colour

 Me watching Dex watching Sean

Kathy,  Sean and I visited the city to take shots in black and white under the capable leadership of Dex ( and here) who is the Iphone guru in our Focus Group, and by preference shoots without colour. I decided as this was a completely new experience for me that I'd set my camera to the B/W setting and therefore be shooting in auto. It was a liberating experience to have a light easy to manage camera, to view life through monotone eyes and to not have to worry about settings.

The first thing I noticed was a shift in the significance of individual subjects within a possible composition. It was replaced by a more global perspective, somewat akin  to the placement of characters in a stage play. Each unit became important only due to its relationship to the whole. After speaking at greater length with Dex I can only say that I competely agree with him that colour can be the greatest distraction. Colours leap out of a setting and compete with each other, frequently being so jarring that some dynamic compositional shots are bypassed. In the absence of colour, lines, light, curves and angles become dominant,  and for cityscapes I think this persepective is particularly illuminating.

 Playing Chess in Hyde Park

 Dex Playing Model

The Beauty Of Bombo

Visited Bombo for a sunrise shoot with some of the Focus crew on election day. It's interesting to see the different perspectives on the same location. Sean walked to the other end of the quarry. This is a quick upload just so I'd have something to show for the visit. Still so many to go through but I've decided from now on I'll just upload one image as a record of the location and worry about finding a favourite later.

Although the sunrise wasn't particularly impressive, Bombo itself always is. I could spend days down there and although I didn't manage to make it to my targeted location, I was pretty satisfied with the shots I captured. Next on the bucket list is a visit during a big swell and high tide. I've visited so many times now I'm pretty familiar with the safe and accessible anchor points.
The light did intensify somewhat as the sun rose and luckily I was able to use the cloud formations as a foil in the absence of filters. The two options at Bombo are rocks or water action as I see it and depending on where you stand, there are countless opportunities for POVs.

Bombo is such a dark, brooding location and is perfectly suited to dark, broody processing in my opinion.  Loved playing around with different options. Some of the shots had less than interesting skies so I thought adding some textures may help to camouflage the problem.

At Last - A Decent Sunrise

I've been trying for so long to have the energy to make it to a sunrise shoot with the Focus Group. It seems every time I attend one of them the clouds are a no show and every time I decide I'm not going to bother waking at 4.00 a.m I miss out on a doozy. So I recently decided I'd attend every one and I'd eventually be rewarded with something other than a single bright golden orb.
I didn't have much time to set up and I wasn't keen on negotiating the rocks in the dark, even with my head torch. The guys all clambered over the rocks in an endeavour to find their preferred location for a good comp but I was quite happy where I could capture some wave action and a few rocks. Unfortunately I was unable to alter the comp to have a better sky/foreground ratio as the tripod was on a small uneven rock shelf so I had to be happy with what I got.

The base of Sea Cliff bridge is accessible from Coalcliffe at low tide and there are lots of opportunities for reflection shots. Definitely would take a while to milk this location. I was playing around with some processing techniques and the image reminds me of the tonal variations in the work of El Greco which I've always loved. The sky resembles an HDR nightmare but I think I'll definitely revisit the technique.

A sample of El Greco's work below