Exploring Melbourne City

In May 2014, I traveled to Melbourne, Victoria for my Mum's 80th birthday. We stayed in the city for a night and I took the opportunity to do a little exploring. I have previously shared my night photography from this trip here.
Here are some of my images from a photo walk in the city...

Flinders Street Railway Station is the oldest station in Australia (1910), although the first station on this site opened in 1854.
Flinders street is the busiest suburban railway station in the southern hemisphere and its 700 metre main platform is the longest in the country.
Flinders Street Station is 'the' meeting place for 'Melbournians', expressed simply as "meet me under the clocks", a reference to the clocks above the main entrance. (source: Only Melbourne website)

Flinders Street Station

Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s most iconic Street Art lane way and is one of the main tourist attractions in Melbourne.
Melbourne is known as one of the world's great street art capitals for its unique expressions of art on approved outdoor locations. Street art includes stencils, paste-ups and murals and does not include graffiti or tagging which is illegal.
To see some of the city's best street art, head to Hosier and Rutledge Lane, opposite Federation Square.

The Shrine of Remembrance is Melbourne's most iconic landmark, where Victorians have been coming since 1934 to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian men and women in war and peacekeeping.
It is a site of annual observances of ANZAC Day (25 April) and Remembrance Day (11 November) and is one of the largest war memorials in Australia.

Victoria Barracks was the administrative headquarters for the Australian Army but to ensure the close coordination of the three services necessary to the war effort, the Barracks also became the administrative headquarters of the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force.
Located on St Kilda Road in Melbourne, Australia, Victoria Barracks Melbourne is of architectural and historical significance as one of the most impressive 19th century government buildings in Victoria, Australia.

The Arts Centre is the flagship of the performing arts in Victoria, and the focal point of Melbourne's cultural precinct, owned by the people of Victoria.

Although Melbourne is situated on the shores of one of the largest bays on the Australian coast, the city's main water feature is the Yarra River. That's because the city grew from the banks of the Yarra and even today the focus for the city is still very much on a one-kilometre section of the river. Within that one kilometre are some of the great sights and attractions of Melbourne.

The Coop's Shot Tower, built in 1888; 327 steps to the top, 9 stories & 50m high. It was saved from demolition in 1973 and was incorporated into the Melbourne Central complex in 1991 under and 84m high glass roof. When you visit the Melbourne CBD, this is one of the essential spots to visit... And photograph!

Princes Pier is a 580 metre longhistoric pier on Port Phillip, in Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was known as the New Railway Pier until renamed Prince's Pier after the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) who visited Melbourne in May 1920.

There are a lot more famous sights in Melbourne, which I hope to be able to photograph and share later in the year when I head "home" for Christmas and my parent's 60th wedding Anniversary.

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Seeking Him, Seeking Life

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 
 - Matthew 6:33, NIV

How beautiful are these mountain layers at sunset??!!
Looking towards The Blackall Ranges from Kondalilla National Park, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, QLD.

Sunset looking across the Blackall Ranges from Kondalilla National Park, QLD

Over the last few weeks I have had a number of new scans with a couple of unpleasant diagnosis. It has served as a reminder that I need to:
- Continue to seek God more,
- Rely on my own strength less,
- Continue to focus on the things I am grateful for and,
- Allow Him to take care of the rest.

Sunset & mountain layers of the Blackall Ranges, QLD

Continuing to count my gratitudes...

301.  The beginnings of restoring relationship with my youngest step-daughter, and her return home.

302.  Summer days at the beach.

303. Summer sunsets on the Coast with family and friends.

304.  The privilege of being selected to attend a photography meet with Gold Coast Tourism.

305.  My youngest son Ben's University Graduation.

306.  A new Pain Specialist to add to my current medical team; new treatments, new pathways, new hope.

307.  An early diagnosis of a chronic heart condition thanks to my Cardiologist.

308.  The unfailing love and support of my husband, Michael.

309.  Celebrating my 50th birthday over the next few days with family.

310.  Embarking on a wonderful trip to Los Angeles, Seattle & an Alaskan Cruise; thanks to my wonderful parents. Leaving Australia on my birthday (Thursday 30th April).

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Skywatch Friday: Currumbin Slow Shutter

Moody skies mean a little bit of "slow shutter" fun on the rocks...

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Wild Bird Wednesday: Superb Fairy-wren

Earlier this year while visiting Werribee Open Range Zoo, I captured some Superb Fairy-wrens flitting around the place. They are very flighty little birds and quite difficult to capture at the best of times.

Below are two young males. The one on the left is a immature male in non-breeding plumage, between 1-2 years old. The one on the right is an immature male molting out of breeding plumage, between 2-4 years old. This is the first time I have photographed immature male Superb Fairy-wrens so I was quite excited.

This adult male was quite elusive and difficult to capture very clearly.

This adult male was much more agreeable. I was able to get a few shots of him posing nicely in the sunlight.

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Sydney Harbour by Night

Last year, I visited Sydney for my brothers 50th. I caught up with a couple of photographer friends one afternoon to shoot the harbour by night. We met up at Circular Quay during the afternoon, had a bite to eat at one of the hotels before shooting from a couple of vantage points.

We didn't have a lot of time after dark as they had to get home to their children, who are still teenagers, so I didn't get to as many spots as I would have liked. However, I truly appreciated their company and them making sure I was safely on the ferry back to where I was staying.

Sydney city skyline from Mrs Macquarie's Chair...

Sydney Harbour Bridge from the same location...

Circular Quay taken from the same location as my first shot...

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Reflections & Textures at Snapper

I've been taking a little time out to do an image clean up on my hard drive over the last few weeks. I need to free up some space before my upcoming holiday to LA, Seattle and Alaska, a gift from my wonderful parents for my *cringe* 50th birthday at the very end of the month.

The digital age has meant that too many images are taken each time I am out with my camera (I know I am not alone in that!). I find the process of going through my many thousands of images, every now and then, means that I often discover a set of images that I have never edited at all or I choose to re-edit some images, based on my continually changing and developing post processing skills.

Here are some images that fall into both categories, taken last year during a Tourism Queensland 'Instameet' at Snapper Rocks on Queensland's Gold Coast.

This particular beach is a fabulous spot for both sunrise and sunset due to its position. The expanses of sand provide wonderful reflections and the rocks provide a great variety of textures.

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SS Dicky

On February 4, 1893 an iron steamboat, the SS Dicky, ran aground on a beach near Caloundra during ferocious weather. It was refloated, but again, heavy seas turned the ship about and back onto the sand where it remains to this day.
The surrounding area was named Dicky Beach and is the only recreational beach in the world to be named after a shipwreck.
Since then, the wreck has become one of the most popular photography subjects on the Sunshine Coast.
Over the last year or so there have been reports that the SS Dicky is to be removed from the beach due to the exposed "ribs" being deemed a public safety risk.

These are not the greatest images as the conditions weren't ideal, but so far they are the only images I have of this rapidly declining piece of history.

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