Australia Day Hero

This kid was one of many enjoying yesterday's public holiday at his local skate park. It was interesting to me that, having a camera with me labeled me as paedophile or potential in the eyes of many - in joking reference but the connection was there. Such a shame that our ability to participate freely with others in our world has (had to (?)) have been overtaken by security conscious insularity. Without interaction (limited by the habitual fear), how are we to learn otherwise?

The Regency Park Skate Park is an almost surreal collection of concrete shapes which takes up only a small section of this large public space. It forms part of the boundary of the 'park' area, the rest of the space being filled with golf course and a pub (where we had lunch). The central feature of the park is this artificial lake, behind it you might be able to make about about six separate games of cricket happening as maybe a couple of hundred people had their Australia Day lunch under the shade of the trees in the park.

Christmas street light display

I went into the city to check out the Brewery Light display, hoping to get some pics to post. Sadly, there were a lot of spotlights pointing at the viewing area, so it was more trouble than it was worth working out how to get a half decent photo - besides, the river stank there as it had reduced to a bunch of rancid pools in the drought.

Disappointed, I drove home. On the way, I came across this light display a couple streets from our place. There's a steadily growing number of such displays in Adelaide's suburbs over recent years. Even at 11pm, there's still a semi-regular flow of viewers which passed by. All part of the new age christmas culture I suppose.

This is another view through 'our' jacaranda of the house across the road, this time at dusk in late November. It took two weeks on the market to sell.

The photo is a lengthyish time exposure, can't remember the apeture. It appeared much darker at the time (couldn't make out the purple in the tree, or the line between hill and sky).

Red Tree

I first noticed this tree, hidden behind Adelaide's ubiquitous powerlines and cable TV eyesores, in the early eve early last week. Vowing to return with the camera before it lost all of its magnificent red finery, I did.

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.

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.

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.

Nearby Frontyard

There are some beautiful gardens in our neighborhood. This one, which we pass on the way to the river, is more 'formal' than most but, unusual for me given this fact, one of my favorites in the present season.

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Bus Stop

I've almost always relied upon public transport for my regular commuting. Over the years I've caught a lot of busses, travelled on a lot of routes, waited at a lot of stops. This is the one down the road where I catch a bus every morning to get to work. It is about the most pleasant bus stop I have ever had the pleasure of waiting at, and perhaps one of the nicest stops I've even seen. The fact it is only a couple minutes walk away from the front door only adds to the pleasure.

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Trees and Rainbow - Walkerville

Not far from where I live is the Torrens River. It's actually more a year-round creek with a series of weirs across it than it is a river, but it's the closest thing we've got this side of the Murray River. Near the old highways building (now apartments) is easy access. About an hour before sunset I caught this tree spotlit against looming rainclouds.

F5.6 - 1/160 - ISO 80 - reduced EV

The conditions were spot on and a rainbow made itself known. You can just catch a hint of the 'second ring rainbow' in the top left quarter of this photo:

F5.5 - 1/200 - ISO 80 - Reduced EV

Same rainbow, diving behind the tree towards the Earth:

F5.6 - 1/250 - ISO 80 - regular EV

Tree up the Road

This tree on Derlanger Ave is the biggest in the neighborhood. In summer it forms an oasis of shade beneath its cool green foilage.

I caught it with the end of its autumn finery, just before sunset on the third day of winter.

P-ISO 80-F4.0-1/100

P-ISO 80-F3.2-1/50-+2/3 EV