Hawaiian Times

Two weeks in Hawaii. Too much lava, not enough surfing, great time.
Some snaps from our time there. Black and White, there is colour elsewhere...

Man's Best Friend

Again a couple of snaps of some of the puppies I have met on my travels. These guys are hanging about protecting their homes. One cranky lil' snapper and these other two sad looking fellows locked in with the deception that they own the place.

Continued Walking (because Still Walking doesn't really make sense)

Have embarked on a quest to walk the walks of the many walking books I have in my possession. With great luck and perseverance I will attain my goal and achieve happiness, fitness and enlightenment etc. (or at least a hearty appetite)

It's an honourable quest, well within my abilities, and so rich with rewards. Some of the beautiful landscapes I have so far encountered.

Walking

This morning I walked Moonee and Ghosties Beaches. It's been a while, and though things are beginning to change it was a lovely walk. The air is fresh and clear, the only sound the waves pushing the sand back and forth. As usual the beach, for a time belongs to only me. It's a fine feeling knowing there is somewhere so natural and unaffected so close by. I am surely spoiled here and aim to make the most of this amazing place while it lasts.

Looking to the East not much has changed, though further up off the sand the ugly signs of the upcoming development are in full bloom. Most of the bush has been cleared. Areas that were meant to have been remediated after the mining operations (but never were) have now been pushed around into a series of hills and dales reminiscent of every other development site you've ever seen. Mulch from the minced up native bush borders the site to prevent the loss of sand erosion with the runoff, with large mounds of 'mulch' sit at regular intervals around the perimeter.

Saving the bush walking community a good deal of effort Rosecorp has conveniently relocated the native bush into easy to access mounds which walkers are free to circumnavigate at their leisure. The experience is exhilarating.

Could this be a sign of things to come? Sadly, I think it's inevitable.

Everyones Best Friend

I have a friend who loves dogs. She fosters neglected dogs at her home and when a new owner comes along, with a tear in her eye she farewells her four legged friend. She does this selflessly and totally out of love for an often forgotten minority.

Spending more and more time making images on the coast, particularly around the ocean baths of Newcastle I started to pick up on the number of dogs that were out taking people for a walk. Starting to watch the dogs as they passed I realised that they were already sussing me.

I began to note that there was a fearless eye contact being made by almost every dog I passed. Whereas it's often difficult to engage a fellow human eye to eye, the humble K9 is totally up for it. As the human cruises coolly by, trailing haplessly behind and sticking to the correct side of the path, the dog is making full eye contact as it passes by. It's almost a staring contest, and they never blink first.

I decided to start responding to their gaze and snap some images. They are truly the perfect subject. Completely relaxed under the stare of the lens. Humble and unselfconscious. Full of emotional responses and comfortable with the display of any emotion they happen to be feeling from moment to moment, love or rage, joy or sorrow.

More than a Day at the Beach

More than a day, more than a beach. This has been brewing like the churning ocean from the day I picked up my fathers old Yashica twin lens. I'm back here again and here I will stay.

Carved in Stone and Stuff

There was no limit to the beautiful things we found during our travels in Japan. I think that everything of beauty had the intent at it's heart to be something of beauty.
It was not necessary to go to a gallery to find art. Is it ever?

(Hey and please don't get me wrong and think I am comparing a Japanese art gallery to a toire, I'm just saying that art is where you find it)

Unburied Treasure

Some treasures I found on the way to the beach today. Beautiful day, blue sky, shining sun, glistening water, pair of underpants, crushed can, burnt out car, general household rubbish.

Thanks for providing me with a surplus of interesting things to photograph with new camera, new lens (though not really mine) and new attitude to the whole photography thing.

Digging in for the long haul now...