Woolorama Wagin!

Of course we had to check out our winning photographs and how they looked hung on the walls. We were quite impressed with every club's work. The sad thing was that the Open competition left us disappointed. Since the category change plus other reasons the participation in this competition has dropped dramatically. Perhaps next year will be different.
So our friends suggested a visit to the Historical Society buildings across the other side of the showgrounds. And what a surprise! Well worth a visit we thought. See what you think.
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'Do you trust her?' This friendly volunteer gave his time to the Historical Society and allowed me to take his photograph.. However his cute 'lapdog' lay shivering in fright. And as soon as she heard the camera click she withdrew her head and gave her back to me, head out of sight and shaking in fright.

These beautiful Clydesdale horses are there each year ferrying the visitors around the show grounds.

And this photogenic horse I couldn't ignore. I handed him something to chew while he stood patiently waiting.
Then I noticed the rider-less horse across the way. The insignia of the WA Light Horse Brigade complete with rifle, the horse quite still, giving me time for reflection.   

Suddenly my mind could glimpse an even earlier description of how our first settlers created their first home. The most bare essentials, a bed, an over-head cover, a table, iron pots, pans, iron tea-pot and probably a metal spoon to stir, were shown to be the valuables described as the those of most necessity in the lives of farmers, explorers, diggers and miners. Of course, not to forget, the valuable horse remained as favourite.   

But then came the bicycle and the attempts at communication.

But the UTE remains the favourite!

And we were proud to see our club in photography (Westside) represented twice as the winners (2012 and 2014)  on the cup. And next year?

What If and so what!

I'm chuffed that so many people liked my 'home' photographs. The more I thought about it the more I realised that 'HOME' is just that...home is where the heart is...and what courage it takes to change the place one has called 'HOME' for many years. I'm thinking of my neighbour (EX) now. She and her family have left a huge vacuum in place where her growing family used to be. And I see photos of her eldest son in a dinner suit...he was only 2 yrs old when we first moved in next door??!! You make me feel so Old!!! And it seems our new neighbours just can't bring themselves to move in and start the new cycle. Oh well I am patient...or can be...or must be! The average Australian moves house every 4 years...I always knew I wasn't average...and this proves it...we've been here 14yrs. this month exactly and certainly don't look like moving. We have holidays instead...and plenty of them...the more the merrier...while we can still pant up those hills...or walk the miles on the flats...or climb the volcanoes...oh no not more volcanoes...please!!!

 Years ago I left the big smoke to come to this isolated city...so they told me...Sydney-siders never considered then that there could be another city on the other side of Australia worth visiting let alone living there. But the 'isolation' hasn't worried me in the least!! And it is very much a thing of the past.


Equador offered us Giant Turtles and not
so large tortoises.

  Of course we could have carried our homes on our backs like these creatures...thank God we didn't have to...instead we have been able to roam the world to see how others live at 'home'.

Grass Islands in Peru where the only transport is by grass canoe to the mainland. But through a hole and netting we watched as our lunch was claimed from the waters below...fresh trout!

Or, wonderful Switzerland with Swiss mountain retreats and Mediaeval castles.

 Or even Turkey...where home is home but don't be fooled...Istanbul has much history, homes of all kinds and styles. Don't forget to click on to enlarge the photos!

We Won!! Again!!

Yes thanks to our underwater photographer and some others...all with points scored 14 plus out of twenty we came first as the winning photography club. Westside wins by 8 points...WOW! What a score! Four of mine were chosen to be entered but only one succeeded with 15/20. Oh well at least one helped us to win. I'll put my entries up and you can decide. The theme was 'HOME' I can't recall the fourth entry however only the one in the center was accepted with 15/20 points. The others all scored 13/20...Boo Hoo! You can see all entries accepted at the WAGIN Photography Exhibition...WAGIN Wooloorama March7 and 8.

Hillarious Hillaries!

And what could be so funny about Hillary's Boat Harbour on a very very hot Perth day? Nothing except the place was sooo crowded with HOT! HOT! people I couldn't wait to leave them all behind and rush home to the cool, much cooler house. Crowds have never affected me like that walking around London or the underground in New York or anywhere really. But Hillary's took the cake on that day.
Once again the photo club had chosen the site and one expected by 6pm most people would have wandered home...but no not on a hot day like that day. And there was the added attraction of the visit of the Bull seal at Sorrento. So why not cool off amongst the masses. At least the visitor at Sorrento had been cordened off from human interference, not so at Hillary's Boat Harbour.
I was into trying out my full frame camera and looking out for interesting characters. But...refusals to be photographed seemed to be the order of the day. But then after wandering around for hours my luck changed. Some willing subjects appeared but the music maker from Beijing still wouldn't shift on his refusal of a picture. Had he outstayed his VISA? He was certainly earning lots of money just sitting around and whining musically...Chinese Opera style. Pity!! Obviously he appeared to be safe perched on the concrete floor, his cap on the ground full of money.
Anyhow I used Dale Neill's technique of making friends and came away with a couple of kisses on my neck...a BIG thank you for photos...copies promised to be sent via e-mail!

  These photos show how willing I was...interested in all characters...their history ranging from Africa to City Beach...and the Aussies getting HIGH on water! Or was it their natural enthusiasm for friendship showing?

Where have I been?

Yes you could well ask yourself the same question. Unless you happen to work in the city you could be like myself and have to belong to a photographic club the management of which do a lot of research before they choose a site for their members to come and photograph.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! But is this the city of Perth? The city I have lived in since the seventies? yes I am THAT old! BUT it doesn't mean I don't recognise positive change when I see it. And I thought the Architectural schools were forever stuck in the fifties with their box-like houses and fascination with triangular constructions. But you decide! I think it is all fantastic and it makes me proud to belong here...at last! I can encourage visitors to come here and not have to hang my head in shame. We are progressing! OH YES we are!!!
Maybe a few triangles here and there but what fantastic structures. I loved it! And what a way to run in a new camera. But, the bad news is that I still am not using my new tripod. One day, one day, soon, I know it will be soon.

The idea was to photograph an abstract idea and this I did and I have given nothing away. My competition picture is still a secret.

More of the same? A visit to Busselton, almost!.

Actually the number of times we have visited this site now can be counted in double figures. But this was the first experience in climbing up endless stairs to reach the top of the Photo Tower. An extensive view (360*) was ours. And before this we could admire some Art Works and listen and watch a nature video...all for a miserable $2.00. Very Generous I thought!

A new face surprised us. We hadn't seen her before this but we thought her looks and presentation were just 'IT'.










Then the camera was drawn to the usual and all this before the cup of tiger water.

 But what I really wanted to write about was the couple of photos which didn't win any rewards last night but at least the members once again showed that they had a sense of humour. The judge was kind enough in his words...these images would win prizes in any competition...but he forgot to add...Not in this one!
So see what you think!

The competition was ...the use of words...!













But this last one, the OPEN entry, really worried him...perhaps the author should have focused only on the top of the image...the solid trees...or perhaps the movement of water in the center...or on the reflections on the bottom of the image...BUT on all three at once? NO,no,no!!!
You can only please some people some of the time certainly never all of the time! I must stop entering my favourites.

How much courage does one need?

I thought this is it! A competition of photographs taken in Pemberton. And, we had spent 4 days there in late December. So, surely I could find some suitable snaps. And I thought I could.
For instance this one...nature's bell! Great in this size but try and blow it up to be printed then maybe it is not of competition value.

Then again this one...the threatening weather taken from the sand dune aspect.

I tried to register it but it wasn't wide enough! never mind I told myself, it
remains a favourite of mine.
The picnic table below you've seen before, no matter, it exudes peace in my mind so it won't attract a judge's opinion.

 This next one just might be too busy but it shows me that life and growth will go on no matter who or what tries to call a halt to it. There must be life where
you never expect to find it.

Another favourite of mine! Blackboys and cloud formations.











And of course, sand dunes. Not out of Africa but right here amongst the trees of Pemberton.

 And that is exactly one of the three themes of the Pemberton Photographic Competition. So why aren't I rushing to enter? Simple! The one time I have endless choices for the competition I won't be around when the dates for the competition begin and finish. Oh well I still love my photos so much that I will probably find a spot for them on my own walls. That is the least I can do. Maybe I'll enter some of them in the clubs' competitions too.
This one of the grasses is called 'In the Wild'. I liked the angles. Guess where it was taken.....