Tag: Photography

Life In The Villages

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If you were asked to spend a year living in a different location, where would you choose and why?

Back in the late 1980’s I had had enough of life in Australia. I wanted a change. The answer—I booked a flight to London and planned to work in mental health in England for at least 12 months. I needed something new in my life and I was going to get it. No staying in a rut for me. Then it happened. One night when I least expected it—I met my now husband and everything changed. After careful consideration I cancelled my trip and decided we would do it together some day—his job wasn’t as easy to come and go from as mine. Nursing is versatile.

This year we are coming up to our 25th wedding anniversary and are starting to dream of retirement. Besides living in St John’s, Newfoundland see Pacific to Atlantic post here, my husband and I would still like to live in the villages and more remote parts of England, Scotland and Wales.  The types of places where everyone knows everyone and life involves the town—similar to the television shows of Heartbeat and Hamish Macbeth. This would greatly contrast with our life in Sydney Australia and teach us a lot about our ancestors ways of life.

 

https://youtu.be/v9zWX43pFdI

Sometimes dreams do need to be put on hold.  However, I believe it is never to late to get back to them. This goal may be a long way off but you’re never to old to try something new, enjoy different experiences and change your life.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/study-abroad/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Rule of Thirds

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 This week, compose your subject off-center, obeying the Rule of Thirds.

For this weeks photo challenge I have chosen photos taken last winter when kookaburras decided to visit our yard on separate occasions. Taking the photos was a challenge as I didn’t want to scare them off, but wanted to get up close enough to use the rule of thirds. For a beginner photographer I was happy with the results.

Kookaburra sits on our back fence

 

Kookaburra sits on our house trim

 

 

Two visiting Kookaburras

 

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/rule-of-thirds/

https://mutafariqkhayalat.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/my-best-of-feb15/

Blue Mountains – Australia

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What’s your dream tourist destination — either a place you’ve been and loved, or a place you’d love to visit? What about it speaks to you?

The beautiful Blue Mountains are located 60 kilometres from my home in Sydney. For this reason I don’t take my annual holidays there but like to visit for a weekend getaway with my husband. I love the peace and ruggedness of the area that includes rare and endangered flora and fauna. Blue Mountains are also home to some of Australia’s greatest writers and photographers due to the serenity and beauty of the area. People find it truly inspiring.

The mountains get their name from the colour they appear to be when the sunlight mixes with the oil from the eucalyptus trees that cover the area. There are 91 species of eucalyptus trees here—13% of the global total. This is one of the many reasons that in 2000 UNESCO appointed the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site—14th in Australia. This area encompasses 7 amazing and individual National Parks some of which I have not yet explored—Blue Mountains National Park, Wollemi National Park, Yengo National Park, Nattai National Park, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, Gardens of Stone National Park and Thirlmere Lakes National Park.

The above photos are from our last visit and are from the Mt Wilson area—six weeks after devastating bush fires had raged through. We were excited to see that new life was emerging.  Internationally Australia is known for its beautiful beaches but just as important is its natural bush land very different to other parts of the world. If you ever get the chance come and spend a few days exploring any part of our beautiful Blue Mountains—they are so large you won’t be able to cover it all—do so as you will be greatly rewarded.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/tourist-trap/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Symmetry

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This week, share an image of symmetry.

I was attracted to this sculpture close to my house first by the striking red colour and secondly by its symmetry. It stood out from a distance along the path.

 

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/symmetry/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Scale

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This week, share an image that highlights a size relationship — make us pause and take a second look to understand the scale of the elements in your photo.

For more information on Canton Tower one of the world’s tallest building see my earlier post. It dwarfs people and is difficult to photograph due to its size.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/scale/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Depth

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Whether visually or emotionally, this week let’s dig (or dive) deep.

This amazing old dead tree has been turned into a work of art. It’s home is the Australian Botanical Garden Mount Annan and it adds depth and character to an otherwise ordinary field. Painting the tree bright blue allows it to be special and blend into the skyline at the same time. The animals and birds can still use it for shelter also helping to sustain the environment.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/depth/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement

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Have you just run 26.2 miles, finished a long-term project, or met a personal goal? This week, show us an achievement.

New Inspiring Hope picture

I have recently completed writing my first book, which I will be self-publishing by March next year. It is an achievement I am very proud of. Recently I have began looking into cover design and am currently investigating transforming Inspiring Max’s double rainbow. What do you think?

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/achievement/

Water

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Springboard, platform and show diving has been part of our world for a decade. Supporting our daughter, diving has directed our holidays for many years including taking us overseas on four occasions. I took the above photo at Luna Park in Sydney, before her performance in the dive show—Sky Pirates.

The above see-through dive tank is one of only two in the world. The other is square also owned by Aqua World. It was a different experience seeing the lower half of a dive—the part that is usually covered by the sides of the pool.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/photography-101-water/

Favourite Holiday Memory

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Two years ago my husband and I travelled to Wuhu, China. It was our first experience in China and we loved it. Wuhu, part of Anhui province is in regional China and has a population of only 2 million people—small by Chinese standards.

Few white people travel to Wuhu as it is a little difficult to get to. So, as the Chinese believe white people bring them luck—we became instant celebrities. Everywhere we went, we had Chinese people coming up to us and communicating any way they could that they wanted to take a photograph with us. We loved it. Because many were students, they also wanted to practise English, so we learnt from them about the area whilst extending their English skills.

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While I was waiting at this temple gate for the sun to set, a Chinese mother was attempting to have her three year old daughter take a photo with me.  The child however had other plans, screamed and wouldn’t let her. After a while the girl realised I wouldn’t hurt her, so she would run up to me, point at my camera, laugh and run away again—as if she was reminding me I didn’t win. She was very cute.

Another interesting part of our holiday was no access to Facebook and limited Google access. Both are regulated by the government. I actually found it a relief to not have to focus on anything from our usual world and just be present—in the here and now absorbing another culture.

Wuhu was easy to get ourselves around by taxis and walking, which gave us confidence. The city itself was old, full of history, culture and beauty. Our visit opened our eyes to many aspects of life in China that as Australians we had never considered. Travel definitely broadens your world.

http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo