Blast From The Past

These images captured in August 2006 with my younger brother while on a snapper fishing and camping trip on the west coast (mainland) side of Fraser Island Qld. Just off Wathumba Creek in 9 metres of water and a perfectly still 25 degrees c day. The water was so clear you could see the sandy bottom 9 metres below. We encountered many whales but this one gee us a close up and personal visit. Every year humpback whales travel from Antarctica along the east coast of Australia to give birth in the warm waters of Northern Queensland. You are not allowed to approach within 500 metres of Humpback whales and I had cut the motor and was drifting when 'blubber boy' approached. The whale circled the boat three times and breached vertically twice. You could plainly see its cow like eye looking at us. Then it just slowly swam away. Priceless.

KODAK DX6490 ZOOM

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KODAK DX6490 ZOOM

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 KODAK DX6490 ZOOM

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KODAK DX6490 ZOOM

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Robe to Beachport 4x4 Challenge

Little Dip Conservation Park, located on the outskirts of Robe, South Australia, and is the gateway to the famous Robe to Beachport 4x4 run. This is the place many Victorians head to for beach driving, as its not legal in that state. As we know South Australia is a strange and quaint place but maybe they got this right, what great fun. I came across the park Ranger while preparing the D-Max for the run, letting the tyres down to 15 psi, fitting the sand flag and putting the UHF radio on scan to pick up any broadcasting traffic on the track. He was about to do his weekend daily run to patrol the park repair fences and check the tracks. "The first beach" he said "is so soft and fluffy that if you get through that without getting bogged the rest isn't so bad". The 50 or 60 Km, if you keep heading south and don't divert onto any of the many tracks leading into the dunes, took me 5 hours. Just got bogged once when I got a little ambitious on a pointy soft fluffy dune just off the track. I was belly deep in it and sideways on a 45 degree angle and the Max Trax and my shovel were very handy. Or else that would have been camp for the night. The track is rated as Moderate to Easy but hearing the horror stories from the locals I think its moderate to challenging, even if you are properly prepared. I think plenty of those soccer mum 4x4's would come to grief pretty quickly. Anyway I got to the destination on dusk and snapped the sunset below. Spent the night in 3 Mile Bend camp ground on lake George near Beachport where I caught a great sunrise and explored the jetty.

iPhone 4

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iPhone 4

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 48mm f11, 1/400 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f11, 1/250 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f11, 1/250 sec

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

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*Sunset*

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/640 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 1600, 16mm f2.8, 1/20 sec

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*Sunrise*

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f5.6, 1/1000 sec

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 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/500 sec

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 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f5.6, 1/250 sec

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Early Sunday Dog Walk

While on a cold morning walk along a local reserve pathway with Hermione I took the opportunity to give the Nikkor 105mm Macro a run. Winter rains on grass in the 5 degree c morning and the first forming of Wattle flowers waiting for spring to bloom. Then I tested the focus pull from a lemon tree through a fence and gradually pulled back until the wire fence was in focus. Some interesting effects. Lastly a couple of shots of a dead gum tree denuded of bark and showing the grub trails that were beneath making some very interesting patterns.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 220, 105mm f2.8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3.2, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 320, 105mm f3.2, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/125 sec

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

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 220, 105mm f3, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 400, 105mm f3, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 800, 105mm f5.6, 1/80 sec

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Over Mt Hotham

This weekend we went on a road trip to Mount Hotham to see the snow. We had to hire snow chains at Harrietville as you are not allowed in Alpine Parks in winter without at least carrying them. 4WD vehicles are exempt from the compulsory fitting and the D-Max didn't need them. At one stage between Hotham village and Dinner Plain the snow storm and depth of the snow over the road made it impossible to distinguish sky, ground, road, anything it was a white out. Except for the orange poles that designate the left hand side of the road. After it stopped snowing the sun even peeped through. Going South to Cobungra and Omeo it was crystal clear blue sky and great views.

iPhone 4 Video Edited in iMovie

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Altitude 900 Metres

 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 250, 11mm f8, 1/80 sec

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

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Altitude 1200 Metres

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

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Altitude 1600 Metres

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/800 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/1600 sec

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 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/640 sec

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4x4 Rig Project

I have just installed drawers in my Isuzu D-Max ute. I heard my wife mumble something about removing the balls from someone if any more money was spent on this ute . . . not sure? I didn't get it all as I was busy. This is a much more efficient and convenient way to store things in the tub and when I have the roof top tent on (see post here) it gives me easy access to stuff from lockable drawers. I have a kitchen drawer that has all I need and a tool drawer that has recovery gear and  tools etc. I also made a wooden table / chopping board that slots into the top of the kitchen tray and slides away with the drawer. In the wings of the drawers I have a large storage area each side with a fishing rod, waders, a PFD, torch, spotlights, sand flag and odds and sods. At the back is my dual battery, air compressor, water and other stuff. Of course from the carpeted floor to the hard lid there is about 30 cm of space for more stuff, like camp chairs fishing rods etc. Oh and the Engel fridge sits in the middle of the back seat :-) Now if anyone wants to donate 5 Maxxis Offroad 4WD MT-753 265/75R16 tyres my kit would be complete.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 1100, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/125 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 800, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 000, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 220, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 320, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 1100, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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