Sunset

Another week has passed, it is getting closer to Spring, the birds are slowly starting to return and the sun is even managing to show it's face even if it is for a short time. The air is still cool but not as cool as it has been.

Life is beautiful and I'm feeling pretty good, you can't let things get you down, when I go out with my camera I realise how beautiful things are and sadly if I was sitting at home, I would not be able to capture what is around me.

I'm so trilled I took up the hobby of photography, it has taken me to places I never thought I'd go. I have seen things that I would not have seen and the best part is, it has all been shared with my beloved and that makes me smile.

I wasn't going to go out this weekend due to having a sore shoulder through arthritis and it causing pain in my neck then the dreaded headache started. I wasn't going to let this put a damper on what I wanted to do, a couple of painkillers and off I went, to try and get some great photos.

Camera, lenses all ready batteries charged and tripod of we went. We had no idea where we where going and then decided lets go to Altona beach it's not too far away.

I didn't think it was such and exciting choice to take photos there, when we arrived a few birds and ducks glided on the bay, the water was calm and a few rocks peeped over the top of the water, how un inspiring I thought, well that was until the sun began to set, Wow! the sunset was amazing. I never thught that I would see such a spectacular sunset this time of year.

I watched the sun go down over the city of Melbourne which I could see in the distance. I set up the tripod, whilst hubby took in what was becoming the most spectacular sunset I'd seen since we went to Chelsea beach months ago. It was the brightest yellow and orange colour.

So me thinking what a waste of time coming here turned out to be not such a waste of time at all.

I watched two birds dive bomb the water every so often looking to grab that fish that swam by. The breeze was beginning to get a bit cooler as I pulled my scarf up a bit higher and hubby sat with his hand snugly in the pockets of his jacket trying to stay warm.

I was very pleased with my photos this week. Not all come out perfect but I never expect 100% perfection. If i get a few good shots I'm happy.

 The city over looking the bay

 The sun beginning to set

 A spectacular sunset

Merri Creek

Winter is that time of year where you prefer to stay in doors with a nice warm cup of coffee and your hands wrapped around it.

I long for the warmer days with the sun brightly shinning through the nice blue sky, when you hear the birds singing loudly and the flowers bloom around you, but today it was another cold day with the wind chill of about 3 degrees.

I donned my coat and headed out, to once again set my navigation on my mobile, haha this stupid technology wanted to take us in a different direction to where we wanted to go.  I hope you don't experience the same problems we do. We did eventually end up at our destination, but not after going in the wrong direction and around in circles and after having a tour of this side of town, we made it.

We headed down to the Merri Creek. The creek was full to the brim and know where near as nice as last time when there, last time there were lots of rock pool heaps of flower and a lone frog could be heard in the distance this time very few flowers mainly weeds, but I did manage to get a couple of photos.

We didn't stay here too long as there wasn't all that much to photograph, that was different from one end to the next, so we packed up everything and headed back towards home.

On the way home we stopped to photograph a few Kangaroos which sat quietly on the side of the road.

A Bit of Fog

Another busy weekend has just passed. Saturday spent visiting in laws and then my dad, then helping out a good friend in her time of need sitting by her fire sipping coffee and eating pizza, made for a nice evening. Then Sunday a day I always look forward to going out with my camera and my beloved,

It was rather cold even though the sun tried to poke it's head through the tall gum trees, which looked down on us as we drove past them, and up the steep incline to the Dandenong Ranges, as rain fought hard to come down and dampen our day. I could feel the air around becoming much colder as I turned the heater up to a temperature that didn't make me feel like I was going to freeze. The warmth as it glided past me face was a welcoming relief.

 

The road to the Dandenongs

 Fog at the Dandenongs

 As we stepped out of the car with the smell of the gum trees and the sound of a loan bird squawking some where far off as the cold hit my face as it rushed past me.

The Dandenong Ranges is such a pretty place as the fog hung low over the road and the loan magpie flew past us. I could hear the rustling of the trees as a lone car sped and skidded on the dirt road beside us.

I surveyed what was around me as rain began to fall, I wanted to get a few photos as I tried to stop my camera from getting wet. I longed for a nice warm coffee to warm my insides, but if you know me I won't ever give up a chance to take a few photos, no matter what the weather is like.

Hubby had made me lunch which consisted of a nice wholemeal roll with ham and coleslaw and mayonnaise, although I didn't much feel like it as I was far too pre-occupied with taking photos. But that is me always pre-occupied with my camera and subject.
These are a couple of shots I took.

Raindrop on tree fern

 Waterfall on side of the road

A funny story, we passed a sign which said waterfall and I said to hubby lets find the waterfall, hopefully I will be able to take some great shots, his suggestion was use navigation on your phone. so I proceeded to set navigation as the ladies voice said turn left here, turn right here, go straight for 10 km. I laughed and said to hubby and  friend who was in the back seat laughing also. This is taking us into town, friend said might be a lovely waterfall somewhere. I looked at navigation and it did say waterfall here, we turned down the final street only to find that the stupid navigation had taken us to a company which supplies waterfalls for peoples gardens.not a flowing waterfall. I felt like a real dill as they both laughed at me. So I suggested as we were near the edge of town to cross the Westgate bridge and head to Williamstown.

We arrived in Williamstown as it was getting dark and I thought what a great opportunity to get tripod out and try some night shots.I got a few shots of the city of Melbourne and a few boats bobbing on the water in the cool night breeze. Now you tell me what you think.

City over looking Hobson Bay

Urban Decay

What a chilly Sunday morning it was, the rain had started as well, but what can you do when one is amidst the Winter season here, so on went the coats and scarf.

I made sure I had everything and was ready to head out, my belovered had to get onto my computer before we left. I had a virus pop up and was not happy with that, so the day was delayed slightly. Our friend was going to come with us for a lovely day out but she had to cancel as something came up at her home but that didn't stop us heading out once hubby had successfully removed the virus from my machine.  Phew I sigh with relief.

We had already decided where we wanted to go and what I wanted to photograph, hubby of late has been quite happy for me to get out and do my photography, he not so keen and I think that has been like I said in last blog, he had hurt his hand due to a fall which is almost better, but the cold I think is another factor.

We headed up the highway towards a place called Mt Macedon, it was so cold and there was a little bit of rain which threatened us above, the clouds of grey moved slowly above us and I hoped that they would go away and not come back till I was at home. The large trees welcomed us as they swayed back and forwards as we drove past them.

The countryside was very pretty, with Winter upon us it has made everything nice and green again. A few lone Magpies sat on the side of the road but quickly ran away as we approached them. Scattered here and there were a few Cockatoos, not caring who was near by.

We decided not to stop at Mt Macedon, we drove past the turn off and headed up towards Lancefield. It was a very old town not very big or over populated, just a nice quiet country town. I discovered  something which made me look. A junk yard which was full of many old rusty cars, trucks and farm machinery, wow this was great. I managed to get some really good photos. The lot went  for miles and I think I might just have to go back there and ask the owner if I can get in and take some shots. How cool would that be.

 Junk yard

More rusty trucks and cars

 

Two tractors

 

Galloping next to junk yard was this beautiful horse

We always go out with the eski filled with food and the thermos with hot coffee, it was such a welcome to be able to place my cold hands around the nice warm cup as I sat in the car in Lancefield. I surveyed my surroundings not a person in site, whoosh a young boy raced past on this bike, coat blowing in the wind. A lone car drove past, putt.putt. The trees moved slowly in the breeze as a group of Cockatoos flew past. I could feel the warmth of the hot coffee on my hands and it was a warm relief to my cold hands.

I decided to step out of the car and grab a few photos of what stood around me, an old building a statue and a few old shops and the local hotel. Brr it was cold as I stepped out of the car the cold air raced across my face causing a sudden chill as I pulled my scarf up a little higher.

Local Hall

Hotel Lancefield

Lancefield shops

It was a welcoming relief to step back into the solitude of the warm car, but do you think I'd miss out on a great photo opportunity? Never in your life time would I do that. I think this weekend was more a hot chocolate and fire weekend, but nothing stops me getting out with camera, wet, cold or even hot.

I was very keen to take photos of old things after seeing the old car yard.I was busy looking for as many old things as I could in our travells and I think I have also got my beloved interested as well, because he now has said he wants to go bush again to see what we can find. I quietly think he really wants to go bush so he can take his pick in one hand and his metal detector in the other. Shhh but we wont tell him I know this...

 An old bluestone church in Kyenton

 Two old farm houses