Golden Sunset

This photo was taken from our balcony yesterday evening. I increased the shutterspeed to about the highest I've consciously used. The chimney is our next door neighbor's.

Golden Sunset Details

The above photo is on a higher zoom. The one beneath is both on high zoom and had noise reduction applied.

Mishka

Mishka is a nearly-three-month-old 'Ragdoll' cat.

November balcony dusk

My first application of noise reduction software (see post below the one below).

Balcony moon at dusk

Totally unprocessed.

Neatimage

The above dusk photos show up what is probably the major fault of our Panasonic Lumix fz30 - visual 'noise' under low light / high ISO settings (speckled and grainy image). The fact that this hasn't been a problem in the half year we've had the camera shows that we probably got the camera suited to our needs.

Anyway, now that I've taken some shots that had a lot of noise, I've downloaded a noise reduction program called Neatimage, and applied it to the photo. I've applied it to the dusk photo above, but not the one of the moon. I've added a link under a renamed 'my stuff' [technical section] of links on the side bar.

Jacaranda I

This is the view from our front 'lawn' patch, over the courtyard's ivy covered wall, to the next door neighbors' jacaranda. They are the trees the council used as street trees in our street. Different streets around here feature patches of different types of tree. It's kind of nice to have jacarandas around, although none are as impressive as the one that loomed over the fence at our last place (click here to see a winter view of it).

Jacaranda II

This is the view from our balcony looking out to the neighbors' place across the street. The Jacaranda is 'our' street tree. The neighbors have beans in the front yard and solar panels on the roof. Makes you think they're aging hippies.

World Pool I

Both this and the following images are majorly modified shots of the sky reflected on the pool surface early on Saturday afternoon. I used the Arcsoft Photoimpression software to alter the hue and then applied the 'firelight' effect in the 'create' menu (first time I've used effects). It would probably be a bit boring if you saw it all the time, but these images are quite striking...

World Pool II

Poolside Marigold

Libby

Our mate Libby.

... Libby is going on six years old, and is Lucy's constant companion. She was supposedly a Belgium German Shepard cross, but we think she's beautiful. She has had one litter of pups, of whom 'Monty' was one (click here to see Lucy and Monty).

Libby Dude

Libby has had this ball for maybe four years. We used to always hear its 'squeak', but it takes a fair bit of effort for her to get it going these days. She is always inventing new games to play with her ball.

Afterall, there's nothing more satisfying than a good game with your ball!

Night Study View

This shot was taken through the study window at home. Max Aperture (F11), ISO 100 (!), 1 min exposure on the tripod. I like the photo, but think I've a lot to learn about night photography.

New England Honeyeater

One of these beauties hunting amongst the dates on the palm tree next to our balcony.

These guys seem to have become more common in the last ten or so years. Our yard is regularly graced by the presence of several. Despite the frequency of their visits, I rarely am near my camera when they call. These shots were taken one morning at the time I should have been racing for the bus to get to work (hence, a little blurry). But who could resist such a nice shot,with the dates as a backdrop?

Contrails

We not only live under one of Adelaide Airport's two main flightpaths (much to the grandkids' delight), but also beneath the Perth - Melbourne route, where the planes pass by at altitude. The above photo is on normal resolution, the one beneath is at 3 megapix (19x zoom).

Poolside Hibiscus

Poolside Purple

Poolside Flowerpot

Poolside Pansies

Rosey Main Drag

This is the main street of my local municipality, photo taken during the middle of the day on a weekday. You can see that it's not a major highway, even though this is only (maybe) four kilometres from the city centre. Note the busses.

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The above photo is taken from a roundabout in the middle of the road. Off to the side was this rose garden. Adelaide is a great place for roses, and even sponsors a major 'Rose Festival' each year. Given the opportunity, and the drought permitting, I hope to feature some of our rosey vistas in future on this site.

Aussie Icon.

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Artist at work...

Starling Fledgling

This little bugger hatched and grew its first few weeks under the eaves by our front window. Initially, the predawn song for food was irritating. That feeling soon changed to one of familiarity and even fondness. Although I don't like starlings (feral pests), I liked these ones. And then one day this one fell out of the eaves. It found its way into the enclosure which is our front yard. I was surprised to find it there still alive the next day. I was even more surprised to see that there were actually two of them (the other hid in the bush very well and I didn't get a photo of it).

The bird's mother(?) found them shortly after this picture was taken. They are pretty birds. For a picture of an adult starling, click here. She immediately started the feeding routines. Amazing.

The night after this picture was taken, there was a cat trawling nearby.

The next day we couldn't see the fledglings anywhere.

The following morning, I found a baby starling dead in the pool. I don't know if it was this one or not. Very sad, to see the lust for life the little bugger had snuffed out by The World.

And all of that turned this from a photo of a starling into a photo of this starling.

Birds of Paradise

Our Birds of Paradise look really cool...

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...looking, as they do, over our pool.

Collective Birds

As a collective, the curiosity of these adolescent Birds of Paradise takes on a slightly more sinister aspect.

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This picture was taken three weeks earlier, and shows them about to bloom.

Plane Citizen

Globalisation?

Airport Dawn

View from Adelaide International Airport (Domestic) terminal towards the hills.

Bottlebrush

Many of Adelaide's suburban streets feature Bottlebrush trees. They have amazing red flowers. This closeup was taken on the next street, one block from home.

Hakea

These beautiful Hakea (?) flowers catch my eye every time I walk past them, in a frontyard about two blocks downhill from our home. They've been in bloom for nearly two months. Past their peak now, this photo was taken in their glory days.

Big Botanic Brook

This image seems to be refusing to show itself on the 'regular' view of this blog. To see it, you will need to click on the [blank] square below.

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This is from my walk through the Botanic Gardens, a view down into the creek from the bridge immediately downstream from the waterfall (see below).

And yep, I've gone upto the biggest size photo which Blogger will allow. Let me know (in the comments) if this causes you problems.

Intrepid Explorer

Here's a snap of me in the Botanic Gardens recently. I've put it here on the web so that you I can use the URL created by the posting to use it in my 'profile' on these blogs.

Site Update

You'll notice I've updated my blog a bit. Took a few days, and will no doubt take a few days more to get it the way I like it. For your info, I have added a photo to, and updated the text of, my 'profile'. I have put a few significant links to other sites up on the side bar, changed the format of my archives, and added a few selected links to photos from this site.

If you're thinking of getting a photoblog of your own, I'd advise you to first check out the photoblogging site in the links. It is packed with useful stuff!