Witches Falls

The Witches Falls section of the Mount Tamborine National Park became Queensland's first national park in 1908. Although this walk is just 3 Km from my house I had never been down this track. Witches Falls only runs after rain and after the deluge yesterday I figured it would be worth looking at.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/160 sec

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Being a national park Hermione had to stay at home, this sign at the entrance to the tunnel like track . . .

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f8, 1/10 sec

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In the early morning of a sunny day, birds chirping all around as I look at the the mist from low clouds wafting across the path winding down the mountain side . . .

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/30 sec

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A dark and silent wet track punctuated now an again by piccabeen palm groves . . .

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f16, 1/10 sec

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The eerie mist creeps through the palms as the lower down I went it fell completely silent as any birds were very high up in the canopy now . . .

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/40 sec

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A sudden flutter close by in the shadows scares the living crap out of me as a Bush Turkey is disturbed by my foot fall . . .

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/40 sec

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Massive Strangler Figs tower up through the lower trees . . .

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/30 sec

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This photo does nothing to convey the enormous size, probably a once common sight . . .

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/50 sec

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Winding ever down with moss growing on anything that is not moving . . .

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/160 sec

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The sun shines rays down onto the rainforest floor and within seconds thick steam rises from the cool wet forest floor to join the cloudy mist . . .

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f16, 1/5 sec

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Fenwick Creek was running, here shown cascading under the foot bridge and several metres later falling some 40 metres over a sheer cliff. Unfortunately even from the viewing platform the thick undergrowth mostly hid the view of this narrow cascade. It would look more interesting from below but there was no obvious way to get down.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f16, 1/2 sec

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Looking upstream was more interesting with the mist falling down the mountainside behind . . .

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f8, 1/10 sec

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A very large rainforest hardwood tree, very rare in any location a timber getter could have easily extracted the tree . . .

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f2.8, 1/5 sec

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Cycads, palms, strangler figs and tall rainforest hardwoods line the path as it meanders along the ridge before winding upwards towards the plateau once again.

Queensland Bush Walk

Some random pics captured on a walk on Mount Tamborine Queensland.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 120mm f2.8, 1/500 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/500 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f4, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 86mm f2.8, 1/25000 sec

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Secret Garden

While walking Hermione today, we discovered a track that runs between the Parramatta River and some properties near Rivendell in Concord, Western Sydney. We had explored the track from the other direction when we visited Rivendell near the concord hospital but this was a couple of Km's to the East.

The path meandered along the river side for sometime . . .

until we came to a large lawn area and some introduced tree species, like this majestic pine shown above . . .

soon after we discovered a heavily planted cliff or embankment that looked at little strange . . .

there seemed to be paths leading into the embankment and we could see small caves in the undergrowth . . .

following one of these it snaked through archways and up small stone stairs towards the top . . .

finally through a brightly sunlight exit about 4 or 5 metres higher than where we began . . .

we found ourselves in a large flat grassed area with a grassed embankment and a grand stone staircase . . .

up the staircase ever further from the river bank . . .

at the top of the stairs was a working fountain, with demonic gargoyle like faces spitting water . . .

From the side you can see it leads to a large house that is actually the Dame Eadith Walker Convalescent Hospital (Yaralla) which was completed in 1864. That grotto complex we came up through apparently once had a large swimming pool at the bottom.

Random Images

Some images I've just processed through my standard work flow or what is sometimes called the 'digital darkroom'. After I have imported my images into my catalogue tool, Adobe Lightroom 2, where I sort and pick images for post processing in Adobe Photoshop CS4. This is where I crop, clone and enhance colour if required and finally sharpen with the CS4 NIK plugin Sharpener Pro 3.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f22, HDR, B&W conversion with NIK Silver Efex Pro Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/640 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f16, 1/250 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3, 1/3200 sec

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What is your dog thinking?

Give me time to understand what you want of me.

Place your trust in me. It's crucial to my well being.

Be aware that however you treat me I'll never forget.

Talk to me sometimes.

Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice.

If you feel like hitting me remember

I have teeth that could hurt you, but that I choose not to bite you.

You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I have only you.

Any separation from you will be painful for me.

My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years.

Take care of me when I get old.

And on that final difficult journey it will be easier for me if you are there.

The Bendigo Easter Fair

The first Bendigo Easter Fair was held in 1871 and is used to raise money for charitable causes. The first fair was considered such a success that it has been held every year since, making Australia's longest continuous running festival. The Festival is held every Easter.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f3.5, 1/6400 sec

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One tradition for this festival is the Bendigo Chinese Associations 'Awakening of the Dragon'. The ceremony is unique to Bendigo. A lot of noise is required with the explosion of of firecrackers to awaken Sun Loong who will slowly rouse himself from his year long slumber to walk in the Gala Parade.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 32mm f4.0, 1/1000 sec

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A gripple wire joiner on a fence

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3, 1/2000 sec

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Opuntia robusta, or Wheel Cactus or Camuesa Prickly Pear

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f16, 1/100 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f8, 1/400 sec

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