Byron Bay beach bike .....

Welcome,

I don't know where he was going, or why he was going there.

It doesn't matter really -  this sort of sight is common here.

Taken a couple of years ago on Ilford HP5 in an old Nikkormat.

(for those who think that sort of thing is important)

Stay safe

Byron Bay beach art .....

Welcome,

Sometimes art can be found on the sand, ephemeral, temporary, individual, waiting to be washed away with the next high tide.

Sand art being created

Sometimes art can be a little more permanent, found on the skin of those who watch.

Skin art

Stay safe.

Life, love and loss.....

Welcome,

I walked through Byron Bay again today.

As usual the streets were alive, vibrant, noisy, colourful.

All manner of individuals were there. 

I met Liza who was walking around proudly showing her belt buckle.  She said that she has been "pulled over more than once by the cops".

I wonder why.

Liza

I met Joseph who was sitting in a corner trying in vain to sell his home made jewellery. He told a quite amusing story of trying to buy cigarette papers with an old 1968 dollar note - the kind that are no longer in circulation.  As no-one would take the money, he ended up using the dollar as the cigarette paper.  "It's made of hemp" he said. 

I don't know if it was or not, but the story made me smile.

Joseph

In the main street I passed a young couple who obviously had deep affection for each other and were not afraid to show it.  

                               ".... Love, rising from the mists, 

                                     Promise me this and only this,

                                     Holy breath touching me, like a wind song, 

                                     Sweet communion of a kiss....." (Judee Sill, The Kiss)

The Kiss

I spent a few minutes on the beach.

Byron Bay, September 10, 2014

Normally the beach is crowded, especially on a day such as today.

Not today.  The beaches were closed. 

A few souls walked them, and most of those were not smiling or laughing the way that the beachgoers here usually do. 

No-one entered the water.

No-one other than the lifesavers patrolling on their jet skis.  Searching. Searching for the great white shark that killed a man just fifteen metres from this shore yesterday.

Byron Bay, September 10, 2014

Adjacent to the area where the attack occurred someone has planted some pieces of washed up trees.  I don't know if they are a memorial to the victim, but they weren't there last time I walked this way.  Knowing the folk of this area, one can be forgiven for thinking that it is a response to what happened yesterday.

A few individuals walked here today.  Some stopped at the spot and gazed toward the sea.  Who knows what their thoughts were? Who knows how the wife of the victim will find comfort in the coming days and years?

In time the make shift memorial will be gone, the warning signs will be gone and the people here will come and go; but that other world - the sea -  it will remain, and its waves will touch this shore as they have done for millennia.  The waves shall have their stories.  We shall touch them, and surely they will touch us.

Byron Bay, September 10, 2014

                               "..... While waters wimple to the sea,

                                       While day blinks in the lift sae hie ,

                                       Till clay-cauld death sall blin' my e'e ,

                                       Ye sall be my dearie..... "  (Robert Burns)

Stay safe.

Watching the waves .....

Welcome,

A stranger, watching the waves.

Sometimes in the ordinary can be found the awesome;

in the banal, the beauty;

in the mundane, the magnificent.

Sometimes all we need do is look and we shall see.

Stay safe.

Late afternoon beach shoot...

Welcome,

Recently I was asked by friend, model, fitness instructor and fellow photographer Mariya Mova to come along to a 'beach fitness shoot' that she had organised.

No need to ask twice.

We decided to use a fairly secluded beach at Davey's Bay in the South East region of Melbourne.

Several of the intended participants pulled out as the weather was a little threatening. Those who did come along were only too willing to get into the spirit of the occasion.

Here are a few of the images from the day.

Christian:

Trainer/Instructor Fitness and Kung Fu. Amiable, easy going (and downright scary - just kiddin' Chris).

Justine:

Personal trainer -director. Easy going with a great smile!
More info can be found here.








A 'behind the scene' shot, taken and copyright by Mariya: This was during shooting the sequence that resulted in the previous image.






Paulo:
Bodybuilder - a mountain of a man.






In this image I tried to convey the size of Paulo. He reminded me of an ancient monument.



All in all a great afternoon was had. Thanks for the invitation Mariya - and thanks to the models.


Stay safe.

Random Melbourne

Welcome.

It has been a while since I last posted.

Life gets busy. Sometimes putting stuff on a blog isn't as important as doing other things.

Just to get back into the swing of things, here are a few random images from Melbourne.

Whenever I leave the front door of my home I have a camera with me - always! As Jay Maisel says - "It's hard to photograph without a camera".

So here are a few from various recent wanderings. All found, none staged.

Saw this guy walking through the Tulip gardens at the famous Tesselaars Tulip Festival. Loved the contrast between him and the plants.

Walking down one of Melbourne's alleys my eye caught sight of this RedBull can perched on wood attached to a wall. I just loved the way the paint and the colours of the can were made for each other. An artistic litterer perhaps?



Down another alley is this amazing piece of wall art. 'nuff said.



At my local beach they have been re-constructing the jetty. Most folk just kind of walk by. I like to get an image or two.



Saw this scene this morning. What's a man to do but get the shot? (see my February post about getting the shot - 'you either do, or you don't').
While the young chaps were facing the wall, several police officers were searching their vehicle. It's times like these you have to stand on your conviction to get the shot. The rather large man in uniform did not like to have his picture taken. Tough luck for him I say.
No amount of overbearing approach or attempts at intimidation should put you off doing what you have to do. Funny how they back down when you stand up for your rights. Bottom line - if you're not causing an obstruction to their duties and you are not breaking any laws yourself, then you have every right to make the image.

Note to Victoria Police public relations department - a courteous manner of speaking to members of the public who are going about their lawful business is always appreciated. Bad manners and a surly disposition are not.


Hopefully it won't be such a long time until my next post.

Until then -

Stay safe.