The seasons on the move…

Well, Spring arrives on September 1. Winter hasn’t been cold…so much so that I am still in my summer clothes.  I live in Queensland, the sunshine state of Australia, where the temps are never as low as those of our southern cousins. Since I arrived back home 13 years ago, I’ve never felt cold — because the 10 years I had living in the USA in a cold climate made an Aussie winter feel quite tame. I wonder sometimes if I should have been born in the USA as I prefer the cold weather to the scorching summers we get here. My preferred time here is Sept – Nov (spring).  Though I would say that spring seems to be shorter every year, with summer temperatures coming mid-way through the time.

I took this photo a while back, on the protected side of the island, in the Pumicestone Passage – which runs between the island and the Australian mainland. I loved the pattern on the crest of the incoming swell. Also the delicate bubbles.  Their more powerful cousins are on the other side of the island, at Woorim Beach, where I live.

We haven’t seen rain for most of this year, and very little in 2018. There’s a storm blowing in from the ocean right now, but it seems to be all lights, sound and no action.  Best I shut down in case of a power outage.

Capturing life…

On Bribie Island where I live, I’ve come to discover that there are a lot of photographers, of varying degrees of skill. The island is well-known for its sunrises and sunsets.  But there are other photo opportunities here as well.  So I came to know of a woman, originally from Germany, but now an Aussie citizen, with an amazing vision when it comes to capturing the environment around her. Not surprisingly, Kathrin Dierich was announced as the July Artist of the month at the local arts centre.  At the launch of her exhibition, she gave a short insight of her work as a photographer and artist (she has had a great year as an artist as well).

Here she is during that talk.  Her photos held my attention for some time. Her discussion and photos have inspired me to improve my own skills.

Caring about our wildlife…

Well, it has taken some frustration with human beings to get me to post again. It’s been a while and hopefully I can get back into a better routine.

So you probably don’t know (unless you’re a Facebook friend) that about a year ago, I moved to live on a small island off the Queensland coast, called Bribie Island.  It’s connected to the mainland by bridge.  It was once a sleepy little spot where alternative life-stylers flocked to. These days it’s a mixture of young families and retirees, and those in between. I’m a member of the in between group.

So….the island has been a buzz of excitement for a couple of weeks, as a lone seal has adopted our waterways.  Unusual, because they tend to hang out in colder climates, but the water apparently is cold enough to keep it close by.  What has annoyed me (and many others) is the utter lack of common sense of so many who think it’s OK to get near this wild animal, for photos, to feed it, and, probably worst of all, allowing their dogs to get way too close.

Thankfully, some of our local photographers have been out and used their zoom lens to achieve fabulous shots.  One, Sharon Holt, had her photos picked up by a couple of newspapers.  The Brisbane Times was one that used her photos.

An update from Sea World is that they think that there are now 2 seals. Double cuteness.  Let’s hope they both survive being superstars.  🙂

Tuesday Challenge: the Path

I haven’t posted in a few weeks (life has become challenging in other areas and lack of time has made posting scarce).  But I do have some time for a post for the Tuesday challenge from Frank at Dutch goes the Photo!

This week it is: the Path.

I’d like you to photograph whichever path(s) appeal to you.  In the theme of path, I’d like you to think about where the path might lead you; is this a place that you want to get to, or is it one that you want to avoid?  Is this a path that everyone is going to take, or is it just your path?

I thought about the various meanings of the word.  The obvious meaning of a physical thing that leads you somewhere. A footpath, a road, country lane, a grassy path….and so many others in this category. I also thought of the way that certain elements in photos can draw our eyes in a certain direction –> like a path. So my photos are a mix of both ideas.  The last one is from many years ago when I was living in the USA — and whilst not such a good photo, you can clearly see me trying to dig a path out.  🙂

A favourite road…adorned with beautiful jacaranda trees.

Alpacas heading down a long grassy path to who knows where.

Country road.

A favourite path — at Picnic Point, Toowoomba — the path affords brilliant views of the valley below.

Wander along the path and under the archway to a farmhouse.

I love how this road winds through the countryside. It’s a pleasure to drive on.

A road to nowhere it seems.

A road takes you further into the outback; this one from the mining town of Mt Isa in Queensland.

The light across the water acts like a path for the eyes.

The light across the water acts like a path for the eyes.

The light across the water acts like a path for the eyes, to a point behind the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

This path skirts the foreshore of a sleepy little seaside town in Queensland.

From 2003, yours truly trying to dig down to the path, buried under feet of snow. A great memory from my years in the USA.