Surfing at Gunnamatta 20 April 2019

April 22, 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.

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.

Returning to London Bridge

March 2, 2018

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

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

Insane sunset at London Bridge, Portsea

February 16, 2018

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)

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

SUNSET AT MORDIALLOC

January 8, 2018

We've been blessed with a few beautiful sunsets recently. So at the last minute I decided to have a go at getting one in a new location. Not necessarily a good idea.

It takes 27 minutes to drive from my house to Mordialloc Pier. That's what Apple Maps said. But then I needed to track further along the bay to locate an ideal vantage point to capture the sun setting behind the Pier. Once I'd found said spot I had about 2 minutes to whip the camera from the bag and land it on the tripod. The first shot was my favourite because of how the water/waves 'fell'. But it's hard to choose. Anyone who's tried photographing water knows every shot is different and unique and you may need to take quite a few to get one that feels just right. Ideal shutter speeds range from, maybe, 1/5 to 2/3 of a second. So here are 3 shots taken within seconds of each other around 20:41pm just as the sun reached the horizon. And one or two taken a little later.

Sunset behind Mordialloc Pier 28mm F16 1/5s ISO64

Seagull makes a cross (top left), Sunset behind Mordialloc Pier 35mm F16 1/8s ISO64

Sunset behind Mordialloc Pier, 35mm F16 1/6s ISO64

Sunset behind Mordialloc Pier, 24mm F16 0.4s ISO64

Gulls swimming at Mordialloc Pier, 24mm F16 1/6s ISO64

Dreams begin, Mordialloc Pier, 24mm F16 1.6s ISO64 GND3Stops

Darkness falls, Mordialloc, 17mm F9 2.5s ISO64

Exploring Flinders Blowhole

January 6, 2018

I've been on holiday for two weeks. But this, second, week was destroyed by a nasty infection that would have ended me if not for the discovery of antibiotics on Friday 28 September 1928. That must have been a very good Friday with so many millions of lives saved.

Friday 5 January 2018 was a beautiful sunny 27c day with hardly any wind and the first day I felt strong enough to head to the beach and explore. Well, to be precise, Flinders Blowhole, at which there is a small sandy beach, but, mostly rocks, some spectacular boulders, and some pretty rock pools.

Here, then, are some of the photographs. Taken in the middle of the day. Not the ideal time of day for photography. But, whatever, here they are.

Reflections in a super tranquil rock pool

I loved these colours. And there's a fisherman down there!

Brighton Beach - 18 November 2017

November 18, 2017

So I went back to Brighton Beach this evening because we'd enjoyed a repeat of the previous afternoon's thunderstorm. Except today's was borderline epic. And I had a hunch the evening sky would be too. So I returned to the beach, arriving about half an hour before sundown.

I was rewarded with a marvellous sky that kept transforming from tone to tone as the sun worked its way first out and then back behind various clouds before eventually setting beneath the horizon shortly after 8pm. But the magic continued. They always say you shouldn't give up on a sunset too soon. Just like you shouldn't be late for the sky.

"Schoolies" week officially began yesterday (Friday 17th) with the year 12 exams all finishing by now. It seems I'd chosen the best vantage point (just in front of a fence behind the bathing boxes) to enjoy the sunset and the colourful bathing boxes because a small group of youngsters gathered behind me. I hadn't even noticed them until one said "excuse me, would you like an ice cream .. we've got one or two too many!". I politely refused. Would feel like taking candy from... oh, well. Still their simple generosity surprised me and they were genuinely interested in seeing some of the pics of the sunset because they'd arrived (no doubt train) too late. One even asked what the square (graduated) filter was for and quickly understood when I told him it's to help balance the sky vs the darker land below. Wow, there's hope for the future after all!

Anyway, back to the pics. I was blessed to get some of the best beach pics I could have hoped for. I've put two in the "Beach" gallery. And i'll put an abstract and one of silhouetted photo-taking strangers enjoying the atmosphere without realising what great silhouetted subjects they were for my point-and-shoot.