Mostly Melbourne Photo

Anzac Day in Melbourne

2008-04-25T13:13:00.001+10:00

A beautifuly sunny day in Melbourne for the Anzac day parade. Here is an old digger riding his horse to the shrine for the service

Underneath the boardwalk

2008-04-23T21:10:00.001+10:00

The water keeps flowing

Lucy in the light

2008-04-21T15:54:00.000+10:00

Sometimes the light is just right....

Lonely Seat

2008-04-17T16:04:00.002+10:00

This is in Royal Park on the edge of the city. Turn around a few meters and the view is of tall buildings and madness.

Rest area

2008-03-27T10:08:00.002+11:00

This is a rest area on the side of the road between Melbourne and Warnambool.

It's a bit out of the way and certainly forgotten, but I love the old concrete tables and chairs with the peeling paint.

Waiting for the train

2008-03-26T09:26:00.002+11:00

Cyclists wait for a freight train to pass under the gaze of Melbourne's new (still under construction) ferris wheel

No parking

2008-03-25T10:32:00.003+11:00

Lane way in Footscray

Groyne at Port Fairy

2008-03-24T14:40:00.001+11:00

Detail of a groyne at Port Fairy beach

F18 at the F1

2008-03-16T15:54:00.002+11:00

Harder than you'd think to get a decent shot

Hamilton at the F1

2008-03-15T16:22:00.002+11:00

Lewis Hamilton will be in pole position for the F1 Grand Prix at Melbourne tomorrow, here he is during his final qualifying lap.

The back of Alonso

2008-03-14T10:46:00.002+11:00

It seems that a lot of drivers might be seeing the back of Fernando Alonso this year.
Here he is being interviewed by the international media at Albert Park.

Moomba Parade

2008-03-10T12:41:00.002+11:00

All lenses are aimed at the parade. Except mine, which is aimed at someone's viewfinder.

Climbing the spire

2008-03-07T15:59:00.002+11:00

Workmen on the arts centre spire

Wall

2008-03-05T12:56:00.001+11:00

Yes it's a wall. In B/W.

But I happen to like it.

Anyone else just love texture?

Little Bourke Street

2008-03-04T15:08:00.001+11:00

A lion guards the entrance to the Chinese museum in Melbourne's Chinatown

Mountain Stream

2008-03-03T12:51:00.002+11:00

The Ovens river at Harrietville in North Eastern Victoria.

A long exposure and very cold feet from standing in the freezing water.

The fastest man in the word

2008-02-22T14:43:00.002+11:00

ever...

Asafa Powell

Sun Shield

2008-01-17T21:27:00.000+11:00

Using a map to protect from the sun under the gaze of the MCG

Stringing

2008-01-16T12:40:00.000+11:00

The stringers at the Australian Open will string over three thousand racquet's over the tournament.

This is one of the stringers working on one of Nadia Petrova's racquets.

Rod Looks Over

2008-01-14T13:43:00.001+11:00

The statue of Rod Laver looks the over crowds as the Australian Open starts in Melbourne.

Hot day in Melbourne

2008-01-11T15:44:00.000+11:00

I captured these guys jumping off middle park pier into the bay.

An energetic way to cool down

Road to somewhere

2008-01-03T15:17:00.000+11:00

High on the ridge of Mount Abrupt I saw the road to Dunkeld passing below me.

Back from hols, hope everyone else has a lovely safe time

Bushfire Damage

2007-12-23T18:40:00.000+11:00

A couple of days ago I was commenting on this picture on Mt Hood to Portland OR Daily Photoblog. It was intresting to see another view of an area ravaged by fire.

This snap is from Pomonal in the Grampians, it suffered from devastating fires a couple of years back.

This is a study of a house that burnt down, there was not much left apart from a few charred timbers and this bath.

The bushland though showing signs of the fire is re-growing fast.

Queen Vic Market - Pre Christmas Rush

2007-12-22T13:43:00.001+11:00

I was trying to capture the rush, the colour the atmosphere of the market as people shopped for christmas food.

It didn't work out quite as planned, I was hoping to blur the movement a lot more and pick up some of the warm colours.

I was getting jostled a lot by trollies and shopping bags so this is the best I got.

I do like the guy in the middle of the frame thinking "now was there anything else I needed?"

Summer Rain

2007-12-21T12:19:00.000+11:00

The drought might not be broken but boy did it rain!

It was quite literally coming sideways across the city.

This was shot in the middle of the afternoon as day turned to night and people ran for cover.

Government House

2007-12-20T15:12:00.000+11:00

I was at Government House in Melbourne today for the COAG conference (where the Prime Minister and the heads of the states and territories get together) It was really really boring, but the building is a beauty.

Church at Robe

2007-12-19T10:11:00.000+11:00

This blog has departed off to Robe In South Australia today. Here is a church with some Lavendula in the foreground

Hibiscus

2007-12-18T21:34:00.000+11:00

Such a summer flower, and a great Christmas flower

Robe

2007-12-17T16:08:00.001+11:00

Well after two weeks away I'm back at a computer.

My main news is I got married, and it feels great.

Here is my wonderful wife looking out to sea at Robe in South Australia whilst on our honeymoon.

Badgers Creek Bridge

2007-12-01T13:23:00.000+11:00

Well it's not really a bridge is it, but you could cross the creek using it if you needed to.

This log crosses Badgers creek in the heart of the Dandenong's in Melbourne's East.

My submission for the Bridge theme day, here are the others .......

Boston (MA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Inverness (IL), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Stockholm, Sweden - Setúbal, Portugal - Brussels, Belgium - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Hyde, UK - Manila, Philippines - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - London, England - Austin (TX), USA - Toulouse, France - Weston (FL), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Selma (AL), USA - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - North Bay (ON), Canada - Arradon, France - Paderborn, Germany - Durban, South Africa - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Portland (OR), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Wichita (Ks), USA - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Grenoble, France - New York City (NY), USA - Nottingham, UK - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Arlington (VA), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Cheltenham, UK - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Saratoga Spgs. (NY), USA - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Nashville (TN), USA - Toruń, Poland - New Orleans (LA), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Melbourne, Australia - Moscow, Russia - Trujillo, Peru - Château-Gontier, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Joplin (MO), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Baziège, France - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Detroit (MI), USA - Riga, Latvia - Nelson, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Cape Town, South Africa - Sydney, Australia - Dunedin (FL), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Radonvilliers, France - Turin, Italy - Montpellier, France - Kansas City (MO), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Wailea (HI), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Terrell (TX), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Budapest, Hungary - Montréal (QC), Canada - Sharon (CT), USA - Le Guilvinec, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - London, UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Orlando (FL), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Paris, France - Mainz, Germany - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Darmstadt, Germany - Naples (FL), USA - Torino, Italy - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - The Hague, Netherlands - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Melbourne (VIC), Australia

Above a brolga

2007-11-30T20:25:00.000+11:00

At the Healsville sanctuary. It didn't approve of being photographed, shortly after this it attacked my foot and tried to steal my camera bag.

Look Up!

2007-11-29T20:32:00.000+11:00

I don't regularly go into the the center of the city, I more than often skirt round to the edges.

But today I found myself in a small city square looking up, whilst all around me kept their heads down.

Boating Beneath The Bridge

2007-11-28T20:55:00.000+11:00

Summers day, blue sky and a yacht, peaceful except for the traffic on the bridge overhead.

Pacific Black Duck ( Anas superciliosa )

2007-11-27T12:00:00.001+11:00

I live quite near one of these ghastly new housing estates full of of massive houses with double garages and air conditioners. There is little beauty here.

However the developers were good enough (or obliged) to build some natural wetlands next to the houses. I quite often walk past with the dogs and watch the water life.

Here is a duck I caught looking back at me in the evening light.

From the botanic gardens

2007-11-26T15:31:00.001+11:00

Melbourne is lucky in that our founding fathers were quick to establish a botanic garden.

It's a great place to hide from the sun on hot day, snoozing in the shade of a tree.

You can look up and think of the poor people slaving away in the offices of the the city high-rises.

Melbourne moon

2007-11-25T20:39:00.000+11:00

Well the view from Melbourne.

A clear night, a 500mm lens and a full moon, I didn't need many more excuses to take a snap.

Newport Lakes

2007-11-24T17:26:00.000+11:00

I'm ignoring the election today. After voting we took a walk to Newport Lakes, some flooded old blue stone quarries.

Amazing to think that such peace and bushland can be found 8k from the CBD

Tiger Tower

2007-11-23T12:47:00.001+11:00

Tiger Airlines started domestic flights in Australia this morning.

I was up before five in the morning to witness the flight on a cold and windy Melbourne spring day.

Still I got to finish work early and got this shot of the water tower at Melbourne Airport in the morning sun.

The Drip

2007-11-22T12:19:00.001+11:00

Thank you for the kind words from yesterday. I am very touched.

Those of you who read this blog will no my obsession with rain and garden closeups.

Today I combine the two with a shot of rain falling off a fig leaf in the garden.

I got soaked and shot lots of frames before getting the moment I wanted to capture.

Wet day in melbourne

2007-11-21T15:26:00.001+11:00

This blog took an enforced day off yesterday. My parents got stuck in Dubai on the way over from London. My dad was taken to hospital there and lots of frantic international phone calls took place.

All is now well and both mum and dad are now asleep at home.

They missed yesterday and the 36 degree weather and were instead greeted by rain.

Don't complain I told them!

Returned

2007-11-19T22:54:00.000+11:00

So I have returned from my Bucks weekend at the cricket. Eyebrows and dignity are intact.

Of course we did consume a few refreshing beers on the hill (it was hot).

Lovely Lucy

2007-11-16T15:00:00.001+11:00

I'm off on my bucks weekend tonight, so there will be no posts until Monday.

I'm sure there will be some pictures taken over the weekend but as they say "what goes on tour stays on tour"

Here is a picture of Lu whilst we were out on the Maribyrnong river.

Docklands light

2007-11-15T18:29:00.000+11:00

I have run out of art at docklands, so to continue my theme I have attempted some art of my own.

This is a bollard (at an angle) and the water in the background.

More sculpture

2007-11-14T18:42:00.000+11:00

Ok I have managed to draw out the delights of docklands for three days.

Today was a strange day, foggy for most of it and then clearing to the most wonderful blue skies.

More docklands sculpture

2007-11-13T20:48:00.000+11:00

Can I draw this out to docklands sculpture week? Let's see.

This anchor hangs from steel lines from one of the apartment buildings.

I guess it's there to remind us all of the nautical history of the area.

Cow up a tree

2007-11-12T19:15:00.001+11:00

I find Docklands bland, modern and soul less, but it does have some cool sculpture.

This 'cow up a tree' opposite the docklands stadium looking out onto the water.

I'm not sure what it 'means' but it makes me smile as I ride past it each day.

Orange

2007-11-11T19:37:00.000+11:00

Today we were hard at work in the garden, when I looked inside and saw an orange caught in the sun on the kitchen bench.

It made me smile, so I decided to share it with you.

Wood fired pizza

2007-11-10T19:19:00.001+11:00

Scott taught us about home made pizza in a wood fired oven today at the local community centre.

Here he is in the face of the heat and smoke.

Rose barbs

2007-11-09T18:02:00.000+11:00

One of the good things about a project like a photo-blog is that it does force you to constantly look for things to snap.

Today I was cycling home and stopped off by a railway bridge where I knew there was some good graffiti. I didn't really have much of an idea on what I was going to snap until I saw this, some old barbed wire and the graffiti-ed rose in the background.

The John Howard Ladies Auxiliary Fan Club

2007-11-08T15:08:00.000+11:00

Resplendent in twin-sets, pearls and floral hats the John Howard Ladies Auxiliary Fan Club is following little johnny (our PM) around the country during the election.

Here is one member of the fan club outside the Sofitel hotel in Melbourne.

A policeman (wearing riot glasses) is in the background

Melbourne From the West

2007-11-07T17:14:00.000+11:00

This is a view from Quarry Hill (an old blue stone quarry)
looking down the Maribyrnong to the city.

Great sky today!

The Finish

2007-11-06T15:47:00.001+11:00

So it's all over for another year.

Efficient won, I didn't back it and thats about it.

A beautiful day though, sunny and warm but not too hot.

Now for a beer and some sleep.

Look Up

2007-11-05T15:16:00.001+11:00

I guess you know the feeling, you're out taking a snap and everyone looks at you like you're a loony.

I found this fern growing out of a drain coming out of building in the CBD.

It's in a really narrow lane way just off Bourke Street (Melbourne's main shopping street)

It was difficult to expose right because of looking up straight into the light from a dark place, but you get the idea.

Time for Dolly

2007-11-04T19:02:00.001+11:00

I posted a picture of my puppy Frank last week, I thought it was time for one of Dolly as well.
Here she is in the garden

Time with Xanthe

2007-11-03T17:38:00.000+11:00

Mostly Melbourne took a holiday yesterday.
Well actually I had a nightmare day at work, and didn't get round to anything fun.

Today I moved some furniture for some friends and then spent some time in their garden with them and their daughter.

Far nicer than work

New Tunnel

2007-11-01T12:43:00.000+11:00

The race that stops a nation is almost upon us.

Yes Melbourne cup fever is building.

Flemington racecourse has had some rebuilding since last year. This is the new parade ring with a tunnel that leads to the race course.

Another view of the Constellation

2007-10-31T14:34:00.000+11:00

Hmmm, the back end of a sculpture.

This is one of a series of ships' figureheads looking out onto the Yarra. I climbed on the back to get a different view.

Constellation 1997
Geoffrey Bartlett and Bruce Armstrong
timber, copper, stainless steel

Hard hat

2007-10-30T15:59:00.001+11:00

Well I'm back from the country.

Not much to say today, I found all these safety hats lined up at a shipbuilders in Williamstown.

Bochara Winery

2007-10-29T11:10:00.001+11:00

My county sojourn continues for another day. It's so lovely not only having a long weekend, but also spending it away from th city (and work)

Victoria has so many wineries, many large but some like this, small and modest.

We were here picking up some wine for the wedding, it's great to provide local produce, especially as it's such high quality.

Wannon Falls

2007-10-28T14:04:00.001+11:00

I don't often take landscape pictures, mainly because I'm not very good at them but also 'cos they are not really 'my thing'.

But practice, practice, practice they say.

Here are the Wannon falls about 10k outside of Hamilton in Western Victoria.

There really should be a lot more water around at this time of year.

Frank in the garden

2007-10-27T17:44:00.001+10:00

This is not posted from Melbourne, but rather from Hamilton in Western Victoria, home of my (future) parents in-law.

It's so peaceful and calm in the country, and surprisingly green despite the lack of rain.

This is Frank, my puppy enjoying some county living with me in the garden.

The hammer

2007-10-26T10:42:00.000+10:00

Melbourne hosted the Olympics in 1956 (way before Sydney!)
There aren't many mentions of it around the city, but this is one.

It's a sculpture of a hammer thrower (sans hammer) that sits in Melbourne's Botanical gardens.

It's a grey old day here in Melbourne, but as you will hear us all say. We need the rain.

Relief

2007-10-25T17:01:00.001+10:00

I will try not to post images from when I'm at work, but I had nothing else today, and this tells a story from Melbourne

This is the union boss Lisa Fitzpatrick being congratulated and mobbed, in her own words she had barely slept or seen her family in seven days.

Another Garden Shot

2007-10-24T16:07:00.000+10:00

I admit I'm a sucker for city gardens with dappled sunlight and strong shadows.

This is a Clivia I found in Carlton Gardens

Early Morning Gallop

2007-10-23T10:17:00.000+10:00

6 AM at Mooney Valley race course and the thoroughbreds are in training for this weeks Cox Plate.

This is Jesatune coming up the home straight.

Emerald Hill

2007-10-22T15:13:00.000+10:00

In 1883 Emerald Hill became a city and changed its name to South Melbourne. It's one of those hidden suburbs of Melbourne, largely forgotten except for mention of its Market.

Which is fine by me, it has some great pubs some lovely buildings and it's close to work.

This is outside the Post Office.

Horse Flu

2007-10-21T21:18:00.000+10:00

This time last year I was walking on to Flemington race course looking at the roses and examining the track.

With the arrival of horse flu to Australia, the race course is in a state of 'lock down'. Guards man all the entrances, and there is not a horse to be seen.

Philyis in the garden

2007-10-20T17:38:00.001+10:00

Today was so bright and warm, the first hint of the harshness of the Australian summer.

Here is Phylis planting chives at the Maidstone community garden.

Leaving Home

2007-10-19T14:23:00.001+10:00

Not me, but some are.

Stencil Capital

2007-10-18T14:53:00.001+10:00

Apparently Melbourne is the worlds stencil graffiti capital.

There is certainly a quality to the street art of Melbourne. Most of it is found in the predictable areas of city alley-ways and station walls.

But occasionally you notice a piece perfectly positioned, somewhere else.

This is on a parking bollard by the World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition buildings in Carlton

Iris in the city

2007-10-17T10:37:00.001+10:00

In times, years ago the caption under Victorian number plates read Victoria Garden State.

Now of course it has been replaced by politicians messages, On The Move and The Place To Be.

But Victoria still has many beautiful gardens and Melbourne is lucky to have kept some beautiful spaces.

This iris is in Fitzroy Gardens right on the edge of the CBD.

Under the Light

2007-10-16T15:41:00.001+10:00

There is always something going on at Federation Square.

From protests to music to endless product launches.

This lamp is sitting outside the entrance to ACMI advertising the PIXAR exhibition.

Batman's Pigeon Loft

2007-10-15T12:57:00.000+10:00

Detail of the Pigeon Loft at Batman Park, built by Melbourne City Council to encourage the cities pigeons to roost away from popular tourist areas.

As a humane measure to curb their breeding, the pigeons eggs are removed from the roost and replace with plastic dummy eggs.