Surfing at Gunnamatta 20 April 2019

We’ve enjoyed the warmest Easter weekend in (almost) living memory. Except it turned normal again as I write this on Monday. But Friday, Saturday and Sunday were wonderful as is the true story of Easter.

On Saturday I took myself and a camera or few down to Gunnamatta Ocean Beach where, as it turned out, there was the occasional large wave and plenty of choppy / flat stuff in between. But the surfers persevered and I bumped in to someone there who ( not the first person to ) suggested I create an instagram page to make surfing photographs available for the surfers who are in them. I’m not sure the concept will work but as the pics were taken I put a few hours aside and set up a new insta account. I will post all sorts of seaside pics to it in time. And who knows, maybe some will sell. I like my Seascapes … so those will be available there too shortly.

Anyhow here’s some of those added to instagram today. Oh, and, the new account name is: @oceanlifepics

Actually I was quite pleased with myself to think of that and find it hadn’t already been taken :-)

So please go follow @oceanlifepics on instagram!

Starting with seagull pic which is appropriate because I rescued one trapped in a tangle of fishing line, hook, bait, sinker, the works. The poor bird had become completely mobilised on the sand at the water’s edge. It tried to nip me over and over until it settled in my hands. Turns out their bite isn’t nearly as bad as their squawk and gee can the squawk. Then a couple of other guys stopped to help which made it easier and, eventually one rounded up a fisherman with his snippers which were used to cut off the hook… then we were able to pull the line from the bird and release it. Amazingly it took off with no obvious injury to the wing and… never looked back to thank us. Seagulls are like that, aren’t they. Enjoy the pics.

A bird’s eye view of Gunnamatta beach

Taking it easy is fine

The lighthouse on the hill

Riding the lip

Making it look easy

Youthful precision

Carving it

See it’s easy and it’s fun

She heads toward the sunset

A man with several cautious admirers

Gone!

Surfers heading home as the sun goes down

Casting out the line at sunset. Oh, and the pure enjoy / chill mood on the beach as the sun set was wonderful.

Madagascar : Through the windscreen

Here are a selection of shots, mostly grab-shots through the windscreen, taken during my two weeks in Madagascar. Yes I got to sit in the front seat this time. Some taken with the special Sony; others with an amazing iPhone. Often one can't tell the difference!

The driver is at the back and he's standing on the brake. It's a crude system but it works. I reckon they've mastered the art of improvisation. At least when it comes to their vehicles!

These people seem to be pulling stuff ( I know not what ) from the water to their raft. It's a tight crop.. so I couldn't zoom in further. It's a different life!

I'd just told Kim I would no longer deliberately shoot into the sun when I had him stop the car so I could jump out and shoot this one. I was 'taken' by the extraordinary amount of smokey haze in the air. They burn stuff. And there are people everywhere. This place is not for those wishing to breath sweet mountain air!

Taken a few minutes before the previous one. You can just see the line of smoke above the ridge. I took this one to show how an ordinary suburban road cuts between a very rough embankment and a neat garden wall! 

A pastoral scene. In the distance kids play soccer.

A tighter crop of the shot above. What can I say. It's a different life. And they're carefree in the moment.

Roadside commerce. It's incredible to think those two tiny children (and thousands of others) play and somehow survive on the narrow edge so near the wheels of so many vehicles.

On his way to Hogwarts with a delivery.

Some roads are easier than others. This is not in a suburb. It's a main / national road threading its path through narrow 'gaps' in various villages. It took us 3.5hours to cover about 60km from Lake Mantasoa to Antananarivo!

Bamboo scaffolding systems were everywhere to see. And I don't remember seeing a single unnecessary bright yellow safety vest. Anywhere. Thanks goodness the yellow (high-vis) fever hasn't spread everywhere.

A road-side sofa store?

Going bananas

Two "Vazaha" buying bread rolls from tiny stall on roadside. Amazingly we were charged the normal price, not the inflated price sometimes charged to 'vazaha' (light-skinned tourists). Thanks, Andy, for sneaking this super shot!

Not an oxcart, but a zebu cart. See the humps. Zebu are thought to have originated in Asia (possibly India). But Madagascan Zebu are special: "Genetic analysis of African cattle has found higher concentrations of zebu genes all along the east coast of Africa, with especially pure cattle on the island of Madagascar, either implying that the method of dispersal was cattle transported by ship or alternatively, the zebu may have reached East Africa via the coastal route (Pakistan, Iran, Southern Arabian coast) much earlier and crossed over to Madagascar." (wikipedia)

An everyday scene. Every few hundred metres. People, bicycles, cars, wagons, anything / everything must share the same roads.

French cars of various ages. And a bicycle and one or two japanese vehicles.

Independence day lanterns for sale. Sue bought a bunch and we all had plenty of fun later that evening. Must still blog that.

Look at those beds!

Sunset from the road side. Near Antananarivo. Yes I broke my rule and shot into the sun here again. If you made it this far thanks heaps for having a look. Hope you enjoyed. Leave a comment or a like!

Returning to London Bridge

They say you should go back. And practice makes perfect. I don't know about perfection. But I'd like to think I get better... and it's fun. Once again I was alone on this beach. That's a surreal feeling. It's such an extraordinary place. And a mesmerising place to be alone. Tonight my favourite shots were taken a few minutes before and a few minutes after sunset. It's officially Autumn. The leaves are beginning to fall in my street. But it was warm enough on the beach. Even the water lapping around my feet was... lovely. Anyone want to dust off a camera and join me next time?

Five minutes after sunset. So calm. 16mm 6s F8 ISO64 & a 6-Stop ND64 Filter

Sunset at 19:57 21mm 0.5s F16 ISO 64

The light! 19:48 22mm 1/15th F11 ISO64

The sea is a savage! 19:36 21mm 0.5s F18 ISO64

Insane sunset at London Bridge, Portsea

Everyone says everything is insane these days. What's insane is that nobody else was out to photograph this evening. It felt surreal being the only person on such an isolated beach. It's an amazing place. But not insane. Some have suggested that it could be dangerous here because there are signs nearby warning of "Unexploded bombs!". However, I doubt it. Although I was alone tonight there remained many footprints on the beach and none ended abruptly. But I digress.

The sunset was beautiful. The sky wasn't super dramatic. But it was still a blessing to be close to the raging ocean clicking away on the shutter as the sun sank beneath the waves. Here are a few clicks.

A ten second shot at 20:08 (7 minutes to sunset)

A 0.8s shot at 19:50 (25 minutes before sunset)

Sunset (1/3s)

Through the looking glass (3s exposure at 19:47. Cropped, no other edits).