Jewel in the Harbour

/ Robert / 10 Comments

These days I usually take pictures with an iPhone 6. The results are good enough for the finger swipe world we live in. The evening I took the above was a special occasion. We had just finished celebrating our friend’s 50th birthday over dinner in the Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney. Nestled near the south pylon of the Harbour Bridge, this hotel has one of the best views of the Sydney Opera House. 

Thankfully I took the trouble of fishing out my Sony Nex-5N digital SLR camera, ensuring the battery was charged. The clear Winter’s evening and water on top of a wall yielded the jewel of Sydney Harbour and it’s reflection. I used Snapseed app for iPad to sharpen and enhance the structure of the image. 

“Tut”outrageous behaviour

/ Robert / 6 Comments

One day I was waiting for the bus, in a world of my own. Slowly a few other people added to the number, haphazardly positioned around the stop. 

When the bus arrived I moved in line with the doors. Noticing a few passengers inside the bus who were making their way to the front, presumably to alight, I took one step back. As I did so a person rushed in front of me to get onboard. I would normally not react to this sort of occurrence. On this occasion I declared, “you’re supposed to wait until people have got off!”
Months, and many trips have passed since this experience. This morning while reenacting the scene, I was reminded of it. This was immediately followed by questions: who made the rule? And, even though I prefer not to queue, was I outraged that someone jumped in front of me?
The answer to the former and the latter is, while I can’t remember being formally trained in the niceties of polite travel on public transport, it is an ingrained, British thing to give way to others. 

Dove Tail

/ Robert / 2 Comments

Matthys Gerber, Dove Tail 2013, synthetic polymer paint on wall. 

I was wowed by this work on a recent visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia. 

Winter sails

/ Robert / 7 Comments

Albert Park Lake, Melbourne. This scene was more comfortable from inside the restaurant. I was lucky that a few weak rays of Winter sunshine illuminated the sails at just the right moment. 

I used Snapseed for iPad app to accentuate the dark water and bring out the malevolent blue sky. 

Winter warmth

/ Robert / 2 Comments

The trees in Sydney are catching on to the fact that it is Winter. 

Winter warmth of russet, orange, 

Red, and some brown ‘gainst sky of blue;

Sluggish words rolling off the tongue; 

Round sounds linger in the crisp air. 

Urban eclipse

/ Robert / 5 Comments

Contrasts:

  • dark and light,
  • unkempt and pristine, 
  • old and new, 
  • cluttered and neat. 

Corner of Higson Lane and Little Flinders Lane eclipsing the Chanel store, Melbourne, Australia. 

Wet weather project

/ Robert / 4 Comments

I’m a novice knitter. 

Last year, I learned garter stitch so that I could knit booties. This year, thanks to a post on The Free Spirit on creating a loose knit blanket I have added stockinette stitch to my repertoire. 

The above is a practise piece using leftover wool from the booty project. Perhaps a dark green cushion cover using chunky yarn will satisfy my yearning for a wet weather project.