Tuesday, November 29, 2011

A day with Terese



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A day out on my friend's boat, Terese in Sydney Harbour.

Sometimes I wonder whether I will spend my whole life in Sydney, or whether I will return to South Australia some day.

When I have a Saturday afternoon like this, 27 degrees, no wind, surrounded by my friends, drinking off the back of a boat... It makes my decision a little easier.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Bamboo trees




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Tamarama




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Tamarama beach, NSW.

Tamarama sits South of Bondi Beach. It is a small cove enclosed by rocks which has a permanent rip. It will take you out to sea over the reef and beyond the breakers in 20 seconds.

It is generally regarded as the most dangerous beach in NSW and also one of the most beautiful. It is famously unpredictable, and can change from being toddler friendly to a no-go for even the most accomplished swimmer in 10 minutes.

Perhaps that's what makes it so attractive to me, and why I chose it as the beach I will be volunteering on as a Life Saver this summer.

On this day, we had swum out past the breakers as part of our training, and whilst we were out there a sea fog rolled in. We couldn't see 20 metres ahead of us. We waited it out and swam back in. The first photo is of the cove before the fog, the second of the emergency evacuation bell, and the third of the fog retreating after our swim with a lone surfer who waited out the fog now enjoying the spoils of his decision, to wait it out.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Stripes


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You're only playing yourself


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Faded roses


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Meet, up & shimmer



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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Little Sister


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This is my little sister.

It's strange for me seeing her as an adult now. We spent the first 9 years of our lives sharing the same room. To me, she still looks like a 3 year old with a runny nose and asthma.

When we were younger I cut her hair off with a pair of scissors, and so that I didn't get in trouble, she told Mum that she did it. Luckily, Mum knew better...

Four trees


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This was on the way home from a weekend with some friends in Berri, NSW. This winter I spent quite a few weekends away. Sydney is no place to be in winter. As soon as it starts to rain, everyone goes inside and waits for summer. But then they miss out on experiencing moments like this.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Rock & shadow





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I took these on the way home from a skiing trip in Thredbo, NSW with all of my friends. I was driving by myself, so it gave me a little more time to stop and take photos where I wanted to without feeling pressured by time.

It was an overcast day, but the sun kept bursting through and lighting areas of the fields like spotlights, whilst the clouds kept other areas in the shadows. I thought that the same thing was happening on the ground. The grassy areas being in the light and the rocky outcrops being the shadows.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Blue mountain blooming





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My friends and I went hiking at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains over the weekend. We go to the same place every spring. It's amazing up there, and the walk is great. It takes only a day, all of the wildflowers are blooming, and depending on how much rain there has been there are several waterfalls around.

On the way back we pass by some small properties owned by Blue Mountains locals. We stopped and talked to an older man in his early 70's named Les who was doing some gardening. He offered us tea. He said that he was new to the area, as he had only been there with his wife for 15 years.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Pieces


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My friend Tom finding some time on a rainy winter Saturday afternoon to make a puzzle.

There was a house full of my mates that day. We all busied ourself out of boredom with games or newspapers until dinner.

At the moment, I am living for the weekends, which I would really like to change. I read about people who love what they do as work, and I can only imagine how it must feel to wake up everyday and be excited to get to it. At the moment though, that feels like a myth.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Faded


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The bonsai tree that sits out on my balcony.

It was given to me by my old housemate who moved to London. I fear that it was dead when I took ownership, however, I can't let it go. It still has all of its tiny leaves, and I hope that one day I will go outside and notice a tinge of green...

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Washed In, Washed Out







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Bondi Icebergs on a Sunday morning.

The water was 14 degrees that day. But it didn't stop any of the Icebergs from taking a swim. They swim all year round, and must attend 3 out of 4 winter Sunday race carnivals to maintain their membership. Some of the old men have been members for over 50 years.

Young kids play in the cool water too. The water meant something different to everyone there. To the old men, it was constance, routine, and social interaction. To the young kids, it was weightlessness, a licence to yell, and a chance to impress your parents with your new found skills. 

If you come to Sydney, or even live in Sydney, Icebergs on a Sunday morning is about as Sydney as you can get.

June


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Another rainy day in Sydney...

Not feeling guilty at all staying inside. It's late June and the sweaters and jackets are starting to emerge.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The right to quiet enjoyment






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Hiking the Six Foot Track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, NSW.

My friend Chow and I hiked it in 2 days, although in hindsight 3 would have been better (32km on the second day with backpacks was challenging).

Autumn/Winter hiking in Australia is totally doable. The change of seasons really only happens twice in Australia, and we went just in the right time to capture it. The colours become washed out and waking up early you get the morning fog.

Taking it back to something simple, with a backpack which includes everything that you need to live, and a best friend is the best way to appreciate what you have. A hot shower takes on a whole new meaning after a few days getting dirt under your fingernails.

Friday, June 3, 2011

May sun






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When you get a sunny day such as this in May, you take it!

My friend Angela and I went to Neilsons Park and ran in to two other friends. We spent the afternoon drinking cider and playing music from an iphone in a wine glass (try it).

It's these days that make you happy to be living where you are surrounded by good people. I'll live off this one for a few weeks...

Three favourite places




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My three favourite places in Sydney.

Look


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Do you think that the architect did it on purpose?

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Finding one's limits



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An attempt at still life on my medium format camera.

I like this shot because I can feel the objects when I look at them. The worn leather ottomon, the prayer bowl that I bought in India and the succulent that I pulled from a pot on my balcony. The smoothness of the leather, the heavy coldness of the bowl, and the crunchiness of the leaves on the stem of the succulent.

Not sure still life is my thing, but perhaps I will try again in the future.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

It was easy feeling like I did





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An afternoon spent at Centennial Park, Sydney.

I had to complete this as part of a project I was working on which involved placing object in a landscape.

Whilst I was there some kids around 6 or 7 years old were playing in the trees. They built a small fort out of sticks and branches. I asked one of them what it was called. He said it was called "The Everlasting Fort of Knowledge". What an incredible imagination young kids have. Imagine if parents fostered it in to adulthood and children didn't have to lose it? I suppose that's what happened to Bjork.