Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Exploring

Last weekend decided to do something a little different and explore the mud flats and surrounds of the Port of Brisbane, Nudgee etc.  Left the hills at 12.30 am picked up a friend in Toowoomba and off we went to Brisvegas to take some photographs of an area I had never seen before and I guess a lot of people never will unless they are completely nuts like.

Arrived at a gloomy fog filled mangrove foreshore at low tide about 4am.  A mob of people were having a party and was not english they were speaking...immediately I think of conspiracy and only two of us seemingly in the middle of nowhere and in the dark would only be able to see I was blond, would not be able to see the "old" part.....soldiered on regardless with a contingency plan should the party get ugly.  The loud loud scitmar music seemed to be the go which I was getting a taste for out on the tidal flats, and we were ignored.   Arguably I may have been more worried if they spoke English sadly enough.  Needless to say I fell into a hole and was freezing and wet for a time but the climate is relatively warm compared to up on the hill where I live, so was not such a big problem.



Looking across the tidal flats to the mouth of the Brisbane River at the Port of Brisbane with the containers being unloaded on the container vessel.  While doing this a fellow came over in a boat to check that we were not crab pot bandits......crack pots maybe ........




Moving out a bit further the aerodrome, one jumbo touching down on the tarmac and one circling.  Because the shutter of the camera was open for some seconds the jumbo seems to be blurring on the left and in the middle of the photograph a line of lights which is another coming in for approach.




The sun was behind the cloud and a few rays penetrated for a few minutes turning the sky a strange lavender.  This image is saturated slightly to what came out of the camera.  I think the colours would be from the pollution in the air with the dense cloud cover not allowing the chemicals to disperse....the only thing going for pollution is the intense colours of the sky at times at sunrise and sunset.  We when coming from the hills notice the intensity of the colour comparatively.




It was hard to believe the tide came in so quickly and I was not paying particular attention and luckily my friend was waving me in....I had been out beyone the second line of breakers to the left and by the time I had made my way slowly back to the shoreline the water had come up  to the edge.  Mind you I was walking slowly and taking photographs as I walked.

Walked through the mangroves on a boardwalk which was covered in significant amounts of dog poop so had to tread warily.  A shame really that people do not clean up after the dogs on a boardwalk.  The haze was such that the horizons blended into the sky seamlessly.  Obviously from this little seat fish were caught as the white under the seat was fish scales and rather large scales at that...How good would that be to be able to sit here in peace and fish and catch.



This to me looked magical with the silvered water and the mangrove tree being surrounded by the rising water...did not seem earthly..of course I am somewhat fanciful.






The seagulls on the shore with good grace leaving the Saturday afternoon to the fisherfolk


Ah well there goes the missus.........more time for me to fish




Went further north up the coast to a little village may have been Donnybrook or the next one down and had a sign beware of kangaroos on streets...."Yeah right"  I thought and these must think they are beach bunnies...not him..casually as you please crosses the road and you have to wait as he may punch you out...

The intention had been to photograph the partial eclipse of the moon over the sea....so made our way back to Bribie...This was a lovely beach except it is a dog beach and you guessed it......so I chose to photograph the driftwood



Was quite tired so threw out the swag on the edge of quiet park at Bribie to have a snooze and that really upset some of the locals apparently....I was too busy getting in some zzzzz's.  A woman was pacing up and down looking daggers trying to decide whether or not to wake me up and tell me not to sleep in her park...My friend who knows a little of grumpiness when being judged was hovering about with the camera in the hope that she would wake me and tell me off as knew perhaps I would go off like Vesuvius......Makes me take a moment to pause and think about people who do not have much and give the person the benefit of the doubt and think perhaps she was going to extend a helpful hand to someone she thought worse off than herself...lets hope so...
The most glorious light show happened...so stunningly beautiful....the moon was behind cloud so decided to take off to Somerset for clearer skies for the eclipse......I really enjoyed exploring this area of Brisbane.  We are a fortunate mob of people living on this island down under.














The bridge connects the island with the mainland.




I would have liked more detail in the bright side of the moon but was so tired and sitting on the shores of Somerset in the dark was half asleep and did not concentrate on my settings enough......Looking at the moon with the black creeping across the surface I found quite eerie and spooky.

10 Comments:

Blogger K.H. Cho said...

Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures. I absolutely love the boardwalk photo.. you've inspired me to go fishing!

July 1, 2010 at 2:12 AM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

Thank you Jason...I like it also with the minimalist aspect....and I could wander along there and sit on that seat and fish also....

July 1, 2010 at 5:54 AM  
Blogger Artoholic said...

Elizabeth your images always ALWAYS takes my breath away. They are just so perfectly formed, with an etheral quality about them. Unworldly indeed.

Cold again tonight. We've had 3C for countless nights now. Better than sub zero I suppose. The boys have gone up to Cairns for a while, with Jeff only having got back from the Gold Coast.

"Hot & muggy" they tell me. Ms Gillard was up there today, specifically Yungaburra for the funeral of the soldier.

I drool over your lenses. I unfortunately only have the lenses the camera came with. I lust after a macro or wide angle, with Jez hankering for a fish eye. I eventually bought him a clip on fisheye for his camcorder. People tell me to order a cheapie lense off ebay from China, but I'm hesitant - what do you think? And what is your fave lense?

Love LOVE your composition with the reflections. Just perfect!

And people should just "sod off" hey? I would like to see the photo of you in your swag! You sure "sleep around". Sounds the ideal camera kinda day Elizabeth. Wishing you many many more.

July 1, 2010 at 11:34 PM  
Blogger Margaret D said...

Beautiful photos Lizzie, you sure do have a great 'eye' for composition.
Isn't it so wonderful that you can sleep in a park in a Swag without too much concern.
Good on you :)

July 2, 2010 at 9:56 PM  
Blogger diane b said...

Magic photography. Teach me! Teach me! Teach Me!
What settings do you use for night shots? You sure are a tough adventurous old stick and a crack pot but i love your posts. We went through Crows nest on our mystery tour and I thought of you.

July 2, 2010 at 10:15 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

Cindy,
Great to hear from you...my opinion the better the lens the better the photograph.....since upgrading from kit lens to the Canon L Lens.....if you buy a lens buy a top quality "L" Lens if Canon if Nikon the equivalent. They will set you back nearly a couple of thousand dollars but if looked after will last a long time....can replace the camera bodies as they only have so many photographs in them and the lens can go on...

I buy from a Digital Warehouse who import their Canon stuff directly from the manufacturers bypassing Canon Australia....They honour their warranties and I have found them first class to deal with...can order one day and delivered to my doorstep in the country the very next day if they have it in stock...I have found up to five hundred dollars difference in prices in the high end cameras..and lenses, will get the link and send you.

My favourite lens is a Canon L 100 mm prime which has a lot of limitations (focus with the feet as is prime) (Is used for portraiture and macro, in fact is called a macro) but it takes the most awesome shots...I would recommend you purchase a zoom all purpose depending on the shots you prefer to take..eg landscapes, portraits, macro....always a trade off in purchasing a lens.

Thank you for your kind comments and is wonderful to hear from you all....you guys are like old chums now...he he

Cheers,

Lizzie

July 4, 2010 at 1:59 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

Hey Diane,

I will get some info together and send you and thank you for your encouraging words...I am still and sore at the moment just finished walking yesterday in the wilderness area of the Border Ranges, the most magical primeval forests I have ever seen...got some great shots which will post later when I recover...ouch ouch ouch..

Cheers for now,

Elizabeth

July 4, 2010 at 2:02 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

Margaret,

Thanks for the words.....yes I sort am over myself these days to some extent and can sleep where I want without worrying too much about what others may think....lol....

I am turning my eyes towards capturing some snow shots in the near future and seem to recollect way back in the Puddle (Big) days you posted some great pics of snow so I will have to look into how to compensate for the glare etc......

Cheers for now,

Elizabeth....

July 4, 2010 at 2:05 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

Cindy, camera and lens....

http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/

July 5, 2010 at 10:03 AM  
Blogger Sabby John said...

Hi Jason,Elizabeth really your work is appericiated a lot in INDIA as i am an Indian. the quality, and clearity you have in your Pictures i am really found of you both, even i got some interest in clicking some good Pictures specially related to nature .

Regards.
Sabby John

September 23, 2010 at 6:41 AM  

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