Easter Monday at Ascot Waters!

Boy was the traffic heavy! As you will see the pelicans had a long meeting...about their disappearing island I think...or was it the heavy numbers of canoes and their occupants...some even had dogs on a leash on their boats. But they weren't too happy about having their picture taken so I deleted them!

These two at the front were trying to forget the Force's loss in Rugby Union in Africa the night before....or were the other canoes catching up? Who knows! But the good wife did wear the FORCE jumper!
Can't show you the 7 year old fisher'man' didn't ask his dad if I could...you know the rest!
But can show you a bit of the surrounds...checking out my partner's 300mm lens together with the extender of 4.1...got it? Simple isn't it?

No all the pictures were taken with the longer lens and most...yes most were...using the tripod!!

Getting used to it!!

Easter Sunday and Bush walking around the hills of Perth.

Yes Easter Sunday and avoiding the intermittant showers forecast we managed to photograph the Gondwanan Connection. But we weren't the only ones there. Many other families and their dogs chose to exercise there by bushwalking along the many paths. I wondered had they ever stopped long enough to read the signs. Of course they had. However the water levels weren't rushing about as we had hoped. Of course, my tripod safely tucked under my arm, I failed to use it and happily photographed the beautiful surroundings. Click on the images to enlarge.

Nevertheless the Darling Scarp and Fault, visible from space, demarcate the separation 135 million years ago of Western Australia and India. They were once fused together as part of the Super Continent of Gondwana around 430 million years ago.

 During the last 2 million years ago the polar ice caps have expanded and contracted several times causing global sea levels to rise and fall.
About 200,000 years ago this Darling Scarp was a line of cliffs with the sea, beaches and bays where we stood to take the photos.
Amazing? Yes almost unbelievable!







Tame wild animals cleared the bush floor always looking for leftover food particles near the picnic tables.

Still at Ascot Waters...6am!

Yes thought I'd practise with my tripod and 16-35mm lens before we go on the photographic tour at Karinji national Park in northern WA.
What I have forgotten since taking photography seriously is just astounding. I couldn't even secure my camera onto the tripod whilst fighting off mosquitos and sniffing dogs and their owners. I thought I was early...before sunrise...and I was but so were the sunrise mossies and the dog owners.
Anyway I think I have learnt a fair bit but don't think my 16-35 lens is much use if I want to include just about everything...and that is the problem...with me not the lens...I need to focus my mind more and keep it simple (KIS) as the books tell me.
Look at these photos and you make up your mind! The cut down ones I have cropped on lightroom...and I think it has improved them...don't you?

 They look a bit dark but I am amazed at how much cutting out the greenery (on the side)

improves the picture. Of course if the clouds are interesting and changing colour then they are worth including. Don't forget to click on the image to enlarge them.

Not far to go this time!

Yes but the temperature outside was much cooler than usual. And people still ask me why do you live in Ascot Waters? Why? See for yourself I think. Why on earth not? No I am not a dog owner...not anymore...am much too busy to have to worry about a dog. But I need to take my camera and lenses for a walk. Sometimes before it is too late. I am forgetting all about using my several lenses when possible. I am stuck on my favourite and this has made me very lazy...I don't like changing lenses. And nor do I like using a tripod! But...but...we are going on a Landscape tour of Karijini National Park...One of Australia's last frontiers. Or so Tom Putt...Master of photography...describes it. So...all my best efforts have to be seen by him considering the last time we saw him was Tasmania...and I was only a beginner photographer. Oh my? What to do? I'll have to use a tripod...I know I will.
So off I went and changed lenses a few times but no...I didn't use a tripod!
The first image below was with my favourite lens 24 to 105mm...now why would I want to change that? But...

 I jumped at this chance to use my shorter lens 16-35mm but,as you can see,came back to my usual lens 24 to 105mm.



But I do like the photos of a close up Stresleckia...right? Not sure of the spelling.

 On! On! to the bird life and using  the lens that has been unused for years...the 70 to 300mm. This lens had been too heavy for me to keep still or so I thought...when using it with the 40D and 50D Cameras. But now that I have bought myself a 6D ...much lighter...I seem to be able to manage it...without a tripod I might add!

 The top image with the pelican was against the light hence a picture so dark. Why stand there and dry your wings...the pelican seems to be saying and off he goes!I was intending to use it as a black and white image but...

Next came the ducks followed by the black swans and I must say I am quite pleased with the photos.
Of course I didn't bother to change back to my usual lens and moved along to the other end of the river hoping to find a few more challenges. And I did. No light in this gum tree and no I wasn't at Kings Park...

Then it was synchronised ducking further up the river but my 70-300mm lens didn't let me down.

The Gem of Switzerland- from Middle Age to a sight we face no matter where in the world!

Yes we travel and wonder at the amazing remnants of societies gone by. And Nations feel proud to be able to entice tourists to these destinations. Yes Switzerland is more than snow and skiing...isn't it? It sure is but there the boring artist lurks and leaves his/her mark assuming notoriety and appreciation... even for a short while.

Australia can't boast about middle age societies as found in the city of Solothurn... but we also have the scourge of vandalism and plenty of evidence of graffity.

 Click on the images to enlarge!




This amazing clock has four arms which not only show the hours of the day, the date, the seasons but also the first signs of an appreciation of Astronomy.

And then the graffity artist strikes to leave his/her mark only this time no one in this city appreciates the efforts made.

 Perhaps with Easter on the way these pictures on the walls will be considered more appropriate. But I suspect the Astronomische Uhr will attract more visitors.