Category Archives: Ocean

Whale Tail

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Why is it that when you see a whale, splashing, slapping its tail, breaching and generally having a whale of a time, it’s when you don’t have your camera ready? And when you do have your camera and tripod all set up, the whales stay miles offshore so all you see is a plume of white water on the horizon. A mother and calf came so close to our headland a few years ago I could have reached out and touched them. Didn’t have a camera then. Anyway, I sort of got this whale tail shot the other day – even from this distance it was exciting to watch. I think it’s time to invest in decent long lens.

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Visitors in town

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There were some big ships in Sydney last week for the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Review to mark 100 years since the navy first entered Sydney Harbour. Warships came from all over the world, including Britain, France, the USA, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Thailand.  Even Prince Harry turned up. It made quite a spectacle on the harbour. We even got a helicopter fly-past in Manly.

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Last day of summer Down Under

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I can’t believe it’s already the last day of summer and right on cue the weather’s gone south here in Sydney. Or rather it’s come from the south — a cool, wet change to usher in autumn. Here’s a few shots from my summer wanderings.

I did a road trip up to the northern NSW coast this summer. Scott's Head was one of my favourite places.

I did a road trip up to the north NSW coast and Scott’s Head was one of my favourite spots. They’ve got it good up there, although it’s taken a pounding from the weather recently.

Myall Lake tranquility

Myall Lake tranquility

I took this one afternoon on the first sunny day after the big storms earlier in February. Late afternoon sun at Manly Beach is magical.

I took this shot in Manly one afternoon when the sun finally came out after days of rain. You can’t beat late afternoon sun and a low tide for a lazy beach stroll.

Making tracks

I wonder how many times I've walked this stretch of sand?

I wonder how many times I’ve walked this stretch of sand?

Blowing a hoolie

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Wow. The wild weather that has caused so much devastation in Queensland arrived in Sydney today. Ex-tropical cyclone Oswald drenched the city and churned up the surf. I’ve battened down the hatches and hope that my ageing window frames survive the storm. The boys went for a sail on Sydney Harbour this morning before the weather turned really ugly.

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Safely anchored inside

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Gnarly waves, gnarly surfers

A summer sail on Sydney Harbour (before the wind set in)

A summer’s day on Sydney Harbour

Hello summer, where’s the sun?

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It was hot and humid in Sydney overnight so I woke up feeling murky and grey and nothing was in focus. A bit like these pictures from my morning swim. But it was beautiful none-the-less and I even got to say hello to a ray.

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I love how small waves look big when you get down low with a wide angle

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A nice face wash first thing

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Half in, half out

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See weed everywhere

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Hi Ray

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Ok that’s enough. Back to dry land for coffee.

iPhone photography

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There are times when you just can’t be bothered to lug your camera gear around. And you don’t always need to with most phone cameras these days. It’s hard to see what you’re shooting sometimes, but here’s a few shots, mostly taken around Sydney, that have somehow turned out okay.

(Clockwise from top left) Cliff near North Head, Sydney; Natimuk Lake (Wimmera, Victoria) wet for the first time in a decade; kite-surfer off Manly Beach; safely anchored in Pittwater, NSW; Sydney Opera House; anchored in Sugarloaf Bay, Sydney; Ropes on the Manly Ferry; Noah’s Ark at Biennale, Cockatoo Island, Sydney; (centre) Freshwater beach closed in rough surf.

Sculpture by the Sea 2012

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It’s that time of year again: Sculpture by the Sea along the Bondi Beach to Tamarama coastal walk. It’s a great opportunity for amateur photographers and we were out in force this morning. I’m working on taking shots that don’t need to be cropped or photoshopped. (Because that’s cheating, right?)