Wayne Ryan's blog

Sunday, 11 July 2010

The Hungry Mile

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f8, 1/160 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

This area what was known as Millers Point is now named Barangaroo, the name being officially gazetted in 2007. This newly named suburb contains the "Hungry Mile" an area of the docks that was also officially renamed in 2006 after strong lobbying from the Maritime Union of Australia. The name "Hungry Mile" is an acknowledgement of the site's historical significance to waterside workers. The Hungry Mile in the early 1930's and 40's was a place where the notorious ‘bull’ system prevailed, where employers pitted worker against worker, at times violently. For many labourers it was a despised, humiliating, demeaning experience. As historian Margot Beasley explains in her book Wharfies (1996): Under this system, men assembled in a public place to be chosen for the day’s work by foremen or stevedoring agents of the shipping companies. Favourites for work were the “bulls”, men of such physical strength they work longer or harder than others. Such a system also favoured compliant and docile workers and facilitated discrimination against militant or troublesome men who might agitate for improved conditions, ironically, that would benefit them all.

The Not So Hungry Mile

A stark contrast to the plight of struggling workers of yesterday is the 11 story building of today that was built as part of the redevelopment of the King Street district, at the darling Harbour end of the Hungry Mile. The Macquarie Bank building is encased in a steel structural support, known as a diagrid, which sits outside its glass walls. Macquarie Bank is the sole occupant of the $350M building and the bank's headquarters remain in Martin Place.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f8, 1/320 sec
Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f7.1, 1/100 sec
Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f8, 1/80 sec
Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 400, 11mm f8, 1/200 sec
Click on photo for larger image view

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Wisemans Ferry

85 km from the centre of Sydney is Wisemans Ferry, a cable ferry named after its founder, Solomon Wiseman, a former convict. It crosses the Hawkesbury River connecting the old Great North Road. The ferry crossing has been in use since 1829, making it the oldest ferry crossing still in operation in Australia. Until the opening of the Peats Ferry Bridge across the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn, Wisemans Ferry was one of the main road routes north out of Sydney.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 70mm f22, 1/30 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/1250 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Wisemans Ferry Park is located on the banks of the Hawkesbury River adjacent to the Ferry, it has walking tracks, electric and wood barbecues, picnic areas, children’s playground, public toilets and there is also a Kiosk on site. Dogs are permitted on leash in the park.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 70mm f22, 1/15 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 70mm f8, 1/60 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/2500 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f8, 1/60 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

A 'Laughing Kookaburra' (Dacelo novaeguineae)

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/2000 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/320 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Saturday, 3 July 2010

Winter Sun

Walking in the sun on a winters day means dressing appropriately and hot coffee in the sun. Of course if you are a dog it's more about sniffing around, checking out the other dogs and exploring.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 90mm f2.8, 1/125 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/640 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/400 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Sunday, 27 June 2010

Water Birds, Patterns and Party Animals

Interesting patterns form in the reflection of a wire fence in the water, also these I discovered when processing these images the cormorants had bright emerald green eyes.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-f5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm, f3.5, 1/125

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-f5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm, f5.6, 1/200

Click on photo for larger image view

Don't know where this bloke came from but was obviously left behind and in a no parking zone :-)

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-f5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm, f3.5, 1/100

Click on photo for larger image view

Saturday, 26 June 2010

Blackwattle Bay

Blackwattle Bay was named in 1788 from the mistaken identification of a yellow flowered tree which grew on the slopes of the bay at that time.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/250 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Monday, 14 June 2010

The Chinese Garden in Darling Harbour

The Chinese Garden in Darling Harbour Sydney was designed and built by Chinese landscape architects and gardeners and the local Chinese community to share their rich cultural heritage and celebrate Australia's 1988 Bicentenary, the Chinese Garden is the result of a close bond of friendship and cooperation between the sister cities of Sydney and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, China.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/60 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/13 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

The garden scenes are all constructed to be best viewed from a pavilion but on paths windows are used to frame garden views which provide multiple layers of scenery and create a sense of the infinite in the finite, artfully distant views are incorporated into the whole scene. Screen walls often have moon shaped (round) doorways and small windows in the shapes of vases and apples.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/60 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f2.8, 1/80 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/20 sec

Click on photo for larger image view

Chinese Classical Gardens are a place for the contemplation of nature and the design should provide a place for to connect with nature. Chinese gardens are built not planted. The essential elements in a Chinese garden are a wall surrounding a pavilion, a pool, and a mountain with a tree.