Port Macquarie's Historical Churches

Awoke this morning, quite disorientated from daylight savings time and some overcast weather.

An east coast low had arrived sometime during the night.

Click on images for a larger view.

I walked down the beach hoping for some of those brilliant colours that occur with the right cloud formations. I waited and finally the sun broke through for a few brief minutes.

I went into Port Macquarie early. With about an hour to spare, I thought the historical churches in the town centre would make good subjects in the available light.

The Anglican Church (above) and Catholic Churches are opposite each other, sitting high on the hill overlooking the town.

Both churches have a long history in Port Macquarie, having to undergo major restorations and maintenance during recent decades.

The skyline looking west over the Catholic Church showing the crosses visible from many areas of the town centre.

Twenty five minutes past eight, an accurate account of the time I was there. The clocks feature on the Anglican Church.

Looking along the northern wall of the Anglican Church to the Catholic Church opposite.

Another view of the western skyline from the Anglican Church.

A plaque commerorates a period of restoration work from the twentieth century.

The front entry to the Catholic Church.

A street view of the Anglican Church. When I first arrived a kind looking man, a minister of the Anglican Church, exchanged good mornings with me as he walked on to the town centre below.

It was such a peaceful time of the day, reinforced by the location, the buildings and the history. 

Down on the main street below the prominent churches, is the Wesley Church built in 1857. Great early architecture from a period of Australian History!

Back home and the drizzly weather was settling in. Could be the lull before the storm!!

My SLR Camera tip for today is to never discount the photographic opportunities of a dull day.

Fair Dinkum!! 

A Week of Thoughts

Without a doubt, the best time of the day here at Lake Cathie is the first couple of hours of daylight.

This last week has been an interesting one on many fronts, and perhaps I have drawn a few conclusions in a number of areas.

The advantage of free speech does have limitations, as can be seen in the feedback Alan Jones is now receiving for his vile comments, and his continuing broadcasts of his own personal agendas (Not that I have listened).

It is more important to be an individual in your own creative work. To copy or imitate someone else's work will not achieve the fullfillment and satisfaction of being creative yourself.  

Global warming denialists in the media, are generally a mouthpiece for the fossil fuel industry and other corporations that stand to lose financially by the truth.

We stand to extinct many more animal species if we do not make some radical changes in the very near future. Adaptation is not the answer, we must instigate change from our politicians and energy providers, who seem to be adapting quite well financially to climate change.

So why are we not hearing much about global warming of late. I'm afraid climate change may be interfering with balancing the books in the current world economic climate. Maybe if we all go and cut down more of or native forests, we will benefit from the carbon credits given for the regrowth.

Our wildlife does not have a say in how we treat the environment, but some animals like the Eastern Water Dragon can adapt quite well alongside humans. Just got to look a little intimidating, and give a mean bite if necessary.

Here we go, machinery on the beach, attempting to repair bad stormwater drainage that has been damaging the coastline for years.

Just as well for these guys, its pretty difficult for humans to access the habitat they have chosen.

Stunning native plant life that inhabits the coastal heathlands and wetlands will be at risk from substantial rises in sea level.

Its incredible how a couple of days of larger swells can so quickly change the geography of the lake mouth. The cloud has been sitting off the coastline for a few weeks now, but we have entered a dry period and have already seen some major bushfires over the last week.

Weather forecast for the next couple of days is the threat of damaging storms due to a couple of weather systems meeting up. Might make for some good photography.

Heading home from sunrise if anyone is interested in a house with 270 degree views from the ocean to the lake.

Heaps of character too! It would be a shame to sell, but got things to do and places to see.

A solitary pelican waits for the incoming tide to provide breakfast.

Unique sand formations, formed from large swells and tidal movements, at the entrance to Lake Cathie.

What a gorgeous time of day!

A little water, does not stop the deer or kangaroos from reaching safe havens during the day.

Old man roo, heading for the comforts of home during the warmer part of the day.

A distant view of the entrance to Lake Cathie showing the changing sand formations.

A small area of hard rocky outcrop reaches into the lake. Most other rock on the lake surrounds is called Coffee Rock and is like a highly compressed sand, very easy to damage and erode.

Mum first, followed by joey, dad had already cleared the way.

 

My SLR Camera tip is explore your subject and make it your own unique and ongoing work.

 

Fair Dinkum!!

Long Weekend Downunder

The downside to unemployment is you don't have the funds to travel and see other places with opportunities for photography.

The upside is when you live in a location like Lake Cathie when each day can offer something new, whether it be a different cloud formation, a wildlife visitor or just a change in the tides.

The following nine images are from this morning and the next ten are from Sunday morning of this long weekend.

Click on images for a larger view.

Early this morning before the sun rose, a Full Moon was sitting over the main bridge at Lake Cathie.

It looked like being a good sunrise. As I walked towards the lakes entrance, I disturbed a Black Swan wading in a large pond, isolated from the main channel at low tide.

The south side of the entrance has taken on a new appearance, with the tides from this months moon cycle.

The Black Swan moved upstream towards the main bridge. As I followed I turned for another sunrise capture.

Near the main bridge he swam into some golden light, reflected from the adjacent sandy beach.

Rather than swim around a shallow bank he walked across. It is not often you see a Black Swan on the ocean side of the bridge and I suspect that he was separated from his family, and perhaps resting after a long flight.

Looking across from the main bridge towards Lake Innes which is about 5 kms. further upstream.The Black Swan swam under the main bridge and spent some time in the deeper water, far enough away from the banks to feel safe.

Here he is just near the main bridge, being watched on by the Cormorants in the following image.

The following images are from yesterday, Sunday 30th September 2012.

Looking across the lake from the little bridge towards the boat ramp. The smoke was from the motor of a small powerboat.

A Pelican glided across the surface of the lake towards the little bridge were I was standing. The larger birds have to suddenly climb, to miss the power lines on the road that link the village to the houses on the western side of the bridge.

A White Faced Heron glides across a small lake island in the search for another food source.

From the Little Bridge at Lake Cathie I drove north to the Village Track where the Spring Wildflowers are blooming.

One location along the track has a unique ecology due to a wet weather creek that passes through.

Leaves from the Scribbly Gum, turning to a rust colouring, as they reach maturity.

A pair of isolated Scribbly Gums frame the surrounding heathland wildflowers with their beautifully marked trunks. 

The Flannel Flowers are out in full display. I used heavy back lighting and shallow depth of field for the following two images.

The beauty of the coastal heathlands may be vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels.

My SLR Camera tip for today is for heavily back lit scenes use Spot Metering, a shallow DOF and increase shutter speed to avoid highight blowouts.

Fair Dinkum!!