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. 

The Secret Life Of Trees

Initially I was going to post this image in the Paulownia post but decided I'd prefer to showcase it because trees are one of my favourite subjects. I frequently see faces in the trunks of trees and I regard them as guardians of the Earth. One of the aspects I love most about trees is their anthropomorphic natures. When I was a schoolgirl the school choir sang a song at the yearly concert, based on a poem titled "Trees" written by American author Joyce Kilmer.  Although quite simplistically stated, I think it is one of the most beautiful poems due to the sentiments it contains and although I disliked singing, the words of that song frequently pass across my mind when I observe trees as I'm out and about. This one really does seem to be raising its arm towards the Heavens.

I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed .... against the Earth's sweet flowing breast.

A tree which looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray.

A tree that may in summer wear, a nest of robins in her hair.
Upon whose bosom snow has lain...... who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.

 Many of the single blossoms once freed from their groups were strewn on the forest floor and to me, they resemble a cross between a hibiscus and an iris. It is fascinating to see the trees at all stages of growth.
A fallen tree  resembled a fallen warrior amongst the ranks.  The markings on the bark of the Paulownia trees look like eyes, which provides a somewhat sinister atmosphere for some, however I think it emphasises the fact that trees are living organisms, possessing an almost spiritual demeanour, ever watchful guardians of the earth.

Only a few of the trees had been harvested on this occasion. Paulownia timber is used for a variety of purposes.

The leaves are large and resemble elephant ear palms.
 
 Wandering through the plantation wafts of perfume drifted in the early morning air accompanied by the buzzing of bees. Apparently Paulownia blossoms can also be used to produce honey.

Some of the fallen trees seem like they're reclining nonchalantly on the forest floor.
 
 Others provide shade which protects the burgeoning life reaching from  the undergrowth, dandelions, poppies and a myriad of other delicate plants

 The trunks of trees are scarred, gnarled and etched with a variety of indentations

 Others given witness to new life.

Paulownia In Bloom

Several trips to the Paulownia Plantation at Richmond have done nothing to dampen my enthusiasm for this location. Returned with the Focus crew to observe the trees adorned with their Spring finery. The blossoms were far larger than I'd imagined and although cloud cover prevented any rays from shining through the trees and creating the type of atmosphere I'd imagined, the experience was no less enjoyable.

Nature never fails to deliver. My gift on this occasion was the discovery of an unfamiliar type of dandelion and a felled tree which provided a different perspective on these magnificent trees. I was also able to spend some quiet time alone wandering amongst the trees as everyone else went to breakfast and I encountered a man who had come to harvest some turf and kindly allowed me access. 

For anyone who doubts the power of post processing I offer the following before and after examples of one of my countless shots from the day.  Irrespective of tastes, the profound difference is undeniable. 

SOOC

Post Processing

Post Processing Plus Oil Paint Filter using Topaz Impression

  A contrasting view of a different avenue, created using "Impressions",  the new Topaz software plugin for Photoshop.

Mooning Over Bombo

I've been chasing full moons for some years and have never been able to co ordinate the required conditions to come close to capturing what I want. I choose to have a break from the practicalities of realism and create an image which requires no help from Nature but provides a substantial amount of enjoyment for me, combining my love of the colour blue, Bombo Quarry, reflections, the Blue Hour, digital manipulation, oil painting effects and mirror images. Completely liberating. It all began with Bombo.

Revisiting Solander

Always a personal drawcard, the weather at Cape Solander was far more welcoming on a return trip. I was keen to re photograph the locations I'd sabotaged on my previous visit while the cloud cover was still impressive. Sydney has been held hostage by a succession of rainy days for the last few weeks so it was encouraging to be able to spend a couple of rain free hours wandering around the cliffs.

Greasy Morning At Cape Solander

A shoot at Solander was looking most promising with two completely new perspectives. The sky had developed into a beauty with luscious, threatening clouds, the seas were up, the wind had dropped and the rain was light and intermittent. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of my cleaning cloths was questionable to say the least and it wasnt until I arrived home and uploaded my images that I realised almost every shot was blurred or marred with water streaks. At the time I thought it was simply that clarity was compromised by sea spray. I have tried to resurrect a couple of shots, in order to have some type of visual record of the morning. Although the sky changed from overcast to blue or degrees thereof the density of the clouds remained unaltered.

 
An opportunity squandered but hopefully a valuable lesson learnt.

The problem was identified when I attempted to video some footage of rainbow lorikeets at Kurnell.  There was no seaspray, but the image was cloudy. After some effective cleaning it was back to normal again.
 

Only had a chance to capture birds doing what birds do before they flew off to greener opportunities.

As always, there were compensations. Driving home my attention was captured by what I initially thought was an egret. I've lost my enthusiasm for capturing shots of these birds as I've taken so many in the past, more recently some rather pleasing closeups at Long Jetty.  However, on closer inspection it proved to be a spoonbill, a bird I've wanted to capture for many months. Generally they are easily spooked and it's difficult to get close but I was able to move in, due to some accommodating foliage.

 The texture of their bills looks like polished leather and their entire face is very similar to that of the ibis, a much maligned bird common in many areas. Apparently they both belong to the family Threskiornithidae, a group of large, long-legged wading birds.

After spending some time with a friend at Green Hills, Shelly Beach was the next destination via Cronulla. I'd never previously noticed the National Surfing Reserve sign, so of course that had to snapped.

Shelly Beach is a southern beach in Cronulla . Shelly Park sits behind the beach and Shelly Pavilion is located between the beach and the park. The pool is popular with the locals and visitors alike and protected from many of the vagaries which afflict seaside pools, such as gigantic waves and backwash.

 
Watching others exercising is always therapeutic.

The Nuns' Pool is not only a local cafe, but a sandstone swimming hole a few hundred metres towards Cronulla Beach from Shelly, where Nuns once used to bathe. Unfortunately, information about this natural swimming hole is most elusive.

Steps cut into the rock are evident.

A view from the cliff above reveals a sleeping guardian hidden in the rocks.

There are many vantage points from the walking track which winds along the route of the rockface towards Cronulla. Thanks to the clearing activities undertaken by volunteers, the view are unhindered by rampant shrubs and trees, whilst at the same time preserving local vegetation.