Wine Dog and Opera

If you have collected a modest number of wines, that you have managed not to drink yet. You might find cellaring software useful. I use a program on an old PC notebook still because after investing some time into learning all the vagaries of the software, I can't fine a cellaring program for the Mac that is compelling enough to make me shift (go figure). I use Uncorked Cellar, its been around since 1996, and has an integrated wine guide providing winery details, wine ratings, value guide, winemaker's notes, cellaring guide, and a visual rack display for wines in your cellar. Currently it includes information about over 329,000 wines. There is a video getting started guide here if you are interested. There are few others out there and mostly databases developed from the old PC days of the 90's and they mostly look like it and all take you on quite a bit of a learning curve. See Google here for some.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/25 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f2.8, 3 Sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 800, 35mm f2, 1/40 sec

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Night Landscapes and VIVID 2010

Running from 27 May to 21 June 2010, Vivid Sydney brings together large scale light installations and projections, music performances, and creative ideas. I did a couple of posts last year for Vivid Sydney 2009 here and here and it returns in 2010. It once again featuring the lighting of the Sydney Opera House sails but not a bright or interesting as last years designs in my opinion, but worth seeing just the same. This event sees art and colour projected on to the iconic sails, transforming them into interesting harbourside artwork. This year they have also lit Macquarie Street from St Mary’s Cathedral down to the Hyde Park Barracks, Parliament House, the State Library and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. You can even follow this here on Twitter. You can walk from St Mary's towards circular quay past the Macquarie era buildings and the Royal Botanic Gardens to the Sydney Opera House.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/10 sec

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A street performer with LED lights paints a dance in a long exposure.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/4 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 400, 35mm f5.6, 3 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f2.8, 3 Sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 13mm f2.8, 3 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 0.8 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/5 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/8 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.7, 1 sec

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Just a few of the projections on St Mary's Catholic Church

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 3 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 0.6 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 14mm f2.8, 1.6 sec

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Three of the projections on the Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f5.6, 10 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/5 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/5 sec

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Vivid Festival Take III

More photographs of Vivid Sydney see next posts as well . . .

The Light Walk - Is a self guided walk where you can use your mobile phone to access information on the Light Walk sculptures via a internet site for smart phones and 8 Blue Zones through bluetooth.

There are also a number of performers wandering around the walk all with a 'light' theme.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (the MCA) showcases these beautiful and dynamic light art displays in Sydney’s iconic harbour front precinct.







Lighting the Sails - Luminous - this is a light projection of artwork by Brian Eno, on the Sydney Opera House sails. Like a freeform painting it is continuously changing configurations of colour.

Vivid Festival Take II - The Three Bees

While revisiting Sydney's Vivid Festival on Thursday night I happened to chance on a dress rehearsal of 'Fire and Water' a free public performance that is a stunning recreation of the famous historical incident when a fire devastated the 19th century convict ship the Three Bees.

It is being performed in the very spot it happened in

Campbells Cove opposite the Sydney Opera House, next to the southern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Three Bees arrived in Sydney Harbour on 6 May 1814 with a cargo of male convicts, it was one of the so called 'fever ships' that had a high mortality rate for the convicts transported upon them.

The Three Bees, commanded by a Captain John Wallis, arrived at Campbells Cove and after the 210 surviving convicts were disembarked and a fire was discovered on the ship. It was later thought that the fire was caused by candle snuff being dropped when an officer and boy that had entered the ships hold.

The Three Bees was cut loose from its moorings and pushed away from other ships in the cove because at that time the colony was apparently a little paranoid about being attacked by the French. As a consequence of this the Three Bees, other ships in the cove and in installations around it there were a lot of highly explosive munitions.

A recreation of the Three Bees rises out of the water accompanied by eerily beautiful and dramatic music.

The ship is approached by is boarded by characters in the play (recreation)

A singing performance from the bow of the Three Bees.

Not long after the fire took hold the Three Bees first gun exploded on board and a swivel ball smashed into the parlour of the house of a Captain Piper, luckily missing everything but a writing table but further explosions sent cannon balls blazing across the harbour.

It was reported that panic ensued and the Govenor and other colonists were quickly evacuating the settlement for fear that the whole town would explode and burn.

The ship drifted out to Bennelong Point and shortly afterwards its whole magazine exploded and it sank.

The Three Bees sinks till its appearance at the next performance.

Campbells Cove with the Sydney Opera House sails being lit in the background.

PERFORMANCES - 12–14 June 2009 at Campbells Cove, The Rocks 6.15pm, 7.15pm and 8.15pm

Created by a team of Australia's leading outdoor theatre makers features a rich musical score performed live by CODA, floating inflatables and various other installations from other artists.

View the making of the ship for Fire Water.

All photographs © Wayne Ryan 2009