Friday, May 11, 2012

The Old Lamppost

While walking back to my hotel room after work I came across this old broken lamppost. It is situated on McKay street, between Moore Street and Northbourne Ave in Canberra.



This image is best viewed on a large screen, click the image to load a larger version.

Brisbane After Nightfall

The Story Bridge (named after John Douglas Story) in Brisbane. Construction started in May 1935 and the bridge was opened for traffic on 6 July 1940.



One of the CityCat Ferries approaching the Eagle Street Pier. Brisbane operates 19 CityCat ferries, with the last one (The Spirit of Brisbane) launched on 4 October 2011. Dedicated to Brisbane's community spirit during one of its toughest periods, the Spirit of Brisbane is decorated in distinctive colours, blue for the sky and river; green for new growth after the floods; maroon for the Queensland spirit and yellow in recognition of the way the sun shone through the clouds to help dry up the flood waters. Inside the Spirit of Brisbane there is also a permanent display of photographs taken during the flood clean-up.



Spirit of Brisbane has improved fuel efficiency and reduced engine exhaust and noise emissions. This means a smaller carbon footprint which Council offsets fully.


Below is a view of the Eagle Street Pier and Riverside Centre.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Under Autumn Leaves

These two young people were enjoying each other's company, relaxing on the lawn against a backdrop of vibrant Autumn colours.


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Bad Hair Day

This is a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo that I photographed while in Canberra. He was happily feeding on some wild seeds until I came along and annoyed him with my camera. They are wonderful birds with great characters and very loud voices.




Sunday, May 6, 2012

Sunset on Mt Tambourine

  We drove up to Mount Tambourine today and saw the most spectacular sunset.






Saturday, April 28, 2012

Happiness

While I was taking photos of raindrops from my front porch (see previous blog entry) this happy chap came walking by and keenly posed for a photo, soaked to the bone but loving it. If you want a definition of exuberant joy and happiness, just look at this kid! Made my day.


Raindrops Keep Falling

It was raining outside and I didn't fancy getting wet while walking around to take photos, so instead I sat on the porch and took some pictures of the raindrops that were falling in front of me.




By recording video of water droplets at 10000 frames per second we are able to see what happens when a drop hits the water, and it is truly amazing. Watch the video clip below for some amazing footage and a quick explanation.


Friday, April 27, 2012

Dragonfly!

I came across a beautiful lily pond not far from where I live where I saw many different kinds of dragonflies. Interesting little creatures, boasting wildly coloured bodies and amazing agility. Of course I had to take a few photos. I saw a beautiful one at the Brisbane City Botanic gardens too, shown here.

The first two pictures are from a male Wandering Percher, known by the black markings on the red body and the distinctive red marks on their wing tips.



Here is a male Black-headed Skimmer, also with beautiful coloured spots in their wing tips.


Not a dragonfly, but a related cousin called a damselfly. Pictured here is the Blue Riverdamsel. When perched, damselflies generally keep their wings folded behind them, whereas dragonflies keep them spread open.


The Australian Emerald, taken as it flew over some very murky water.

 As kids we used to call these insects "helicopters", and this image clearly shows why. This one is coming in to land on lily pad #2 after being cleared by Air Traffic Control.


Lastly, a silhouette of a Black-headed Skimmer perched on a twig with a lily leaf in the background, shimmering in the sunlight.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Hastings Point

It was a cold and windy day when we visited Hastings Point. The flags were out but nobody had the courage to test the waters, with the volunteer life savers being the only people on the beach that day.



Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Secret



Have you heard the birds at dawn,
in their happy chatter song?
And have you thought and wondered why?
They’ve just heard of you and I!

For nature holds a secret tight,
lost only to the birds at night.
Somehow, sometime, in the shadows dark,
the secret of you and I, is passed to the lark,
and just before the sun does rise,
a sparrow hears, oh, what a joyful surprise!

It’s a good thing, some may say,
we cannot understand them in their way,
for if we heard them in their song,
the secret won’t be kept so long.

I will tell you how I know,
but promise not to tell a soul,
for a robin singing in a tree
passed the secret on to me.

The robin, being young at heart,
not skilful in this delicate art,
told of all that he had heard,
and asked me not to spread the word.

The message heard was clear and sound,
and in it deep our names abound.
The message, he said, spoke of love,
thereafter he passed it to the dove.

So next time you wake up with their song,
listen careful, listen long.
Sometime somewhere you will hear,
our names are sung, loud and clear.