Bridgewater Bay Sunset on the cliff for Water H2O Thursday

 

Standing upon the sand cliffs of Bridgewater Bay at Blairgowrie, one is immediately struck by the deceptive stillness of the landscape. The cliff edge on which I stood was, in truth, precariously poised above a cavern hollowed out over centuries by the ceaseless force of wind and tide. Beneath my feet lay a deep cave, its roof eroded and thinned to a fragile crust that may collapse at any moment. My companion, Joel, wisely urged me to step back, reminding me that the grandeur of the view is often matched by the peril of the elements that have shaped it.

These overhanging caves are a signature feature of the Mornington Peninsula’s rugged coastline. Formed by the relentless pounding of Bass Strait waves against the friable sandstone, they represent both the transience and endurance of natural architecture. Over time, the softer layers of rock are worn away, leaving behind dramatic vaults and caverns beneath seemingly solid ground. Such formations are not uncommon in this part of Blairgowrie, where the interplay of geology and oceanic power has carved out a coastline as beautiful as it is dangerous.

The sand cliffs themselves bear witness to an ancient story. Much of the Peninsula’s coastal geology is composed of calcarenite, a form of dune limestone laid down during the last Ice Age when sea levels were lower and winds piled sand into vast dunes. In subsequent millennia, these dunes hardened into stone, only to be gnawed once more by the restless sea. Thus, what today appears as a sheer and formidable cliff is in fact a fragile palimpsest of natural history, its fate determined by the invisible pressures at work beneath the surface.

On this occasion, I carried my newly acquired FE 16mm f1.8 GM lens. Yet the wide angle, though technically perfect, seemed inadequate to capture the sense of awe and danger embodied in those cliffs. For no lens, however fine, can wholly convey the vertiginous impression of standing on ground that trembles with impermanence, overlooking caverns sculpted by time and tide.

Sony A7RV

FE 16mm f1.8 GM

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Bridgewater Bay Blairgowrie for Water H2O Thursday

 

Both Joel and I longed to breathe the briny air and hear again the timeless voice of the sea. A fortnight past, we made our way once more to the cliff-tops overlooking Bridgewater Bay at Blairgowrie, drawn by the desire to attempt long-exposure photography in a place yet untried. Though the conditions were far from perfect, the novelty of the location, with its rugged beauty and the promise of new discovery, gave the venture a certain poetry of its own. Joel, ever patient, came to collect me from my home, but through my own misjudgment—having earlier taken my mother to supper—I delayed him by forty minutes. That tardiness weighed heavily upon me, for I felt I had stolen time from both him and the sea itself.

Bridgewater Bay, where we stood, is no ordinary shoreline. It is a place where the restless waters of Bass Strait carve their legend into limestone cliffs and sandstone shelves, where tidal pools mirror the heavens and the wind carries whispers of ancient times. Once a hunting and gathering ground for the Boonwurrung people, who knew the rhythms of these shores long before our cameras sought to capture their moods, it later became part of the maritime frontier of the Mornington Peninsula. The bay has borne witness to shipwrecks and storms, and its eroded rock formations—arched, honeycombed, and sculpted by centuries—stand as natural monuments to endurance.

Thus, as Joel and I set up our tripods against the evening light, I could not help but feel that our own small pursuit of a perfect image was but a fleeting gesture in the vast theatre of time. The bay, with its layered history of people, tides, and stone, seemed to forgive my lateness, reminding me that all human haste dissolves before the patience of the ocean

Sony A7RV

FE 16mm f1.8 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

New curry house on De Graves St Melbourne for Sign2

 

After returning from my period of work away from home, Joel and I had intended to venture out together, as had been our custom. Yet fate, ever whimsical, had other plans. He was overtaken by a most disagreeable cold which lingered obstinately for several days, robbing him even of his voice, and leaving him in no condition for rambles abroad.

Thus, with reluctant heart, I resolved to take a solitary stroll. The air was gentle enough, though the absence of companionship rendered the way a little quieter than I might have wished. My camera, though faithful, felt almost unfamiliar in my hands, as though it, too, had grown idle during my absence. I captured but a few images, for the rhythm of observation and the instinct for composition, once second nature, now seemed to lie dormant, waiting to be awakened once more.

It was not so much the photographs themselves that mattered, but the act of stepping out, of reacquainting myself with the world through a lens. I sensed that, in time, the old ease would return—that subtle harmony between eye, heart, and machine which makes the smallest detail sing. For now, it was enough simply to begin again, however modestly, and to know that the habit of seeing had not altogether deserted me.

Sony A7RV

FE 16mm f1.8 G

Linking Sign2

JimmyRum Distillery visit in Mornington Peninsula for Treasure Tuesday

 

During an outing arranged by Joel, we visited the JimmyRum distillery—a distinctive venue in Dromana on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, known as the region’s first dedicated craft rum distillery. Established with the vision of introducing Australians to a refined appreciation of rum, JimmyRum has since gained a reputation for its inventive small-batch creations and a relaxed coastal ambience.

Upon our arrival, however, we found ourselves unattended for nearly half an hour, seemingly overlooked amidst the flurry of larger rum-tasting tour groups. We very nearly departed in disappointment, until a courteous gentleman eventually welcomed us and offered us a seat, inviting us to wait a little longer.

We partook in their curated rum tastings—Joel selected the extravagant set, while I opted for the fruit-based selection. Despite our differing preferences, we curiously settled on the same bottle to take home: a coffee-flavoured rum, which was not at all what we had initially anticipated. Regrettably, the finer expressions we truly desired proved beyond our budget. Nevertheless, the accompanying cheese balls were delightfully paired, their richness harmonising beautifully with the spiced warmth of the rum.

What began with some hesitation concluded in a most spirited and memorable experience, a testament to the allure and conviviality that JimmyRum has come to embody.

Sony A7RV

FE 16mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Vue De Monde Melbourne for Treasure Tuesday

 

Roast Eel 

Smoked cocktail

Picked Oyster

Caviar on pumpkin mesh

Merren 3 eats

Pineapple sorbet with floral crisps

Cured Kangaroo meat 

We are getting older 

Souffle 

Joel’s birthday was celebrated just last week, an occasion for which I had secured a reservation no less than three months in advance. The booking, as expected, was gone within minutes of the reservation page opening—testament to the enduring allure of this esteemed establishment, which has held its place among Melbourne’s finest dining destinations for over a quarter of a century. Indeed, having now dined at virtually every hatted restaurant in the city, it feels as though we are truly savouring the richness of life’s finer pleasures.

For this special evening, we were seated at Vue de Monde, a culinary landmark atop the Rialto. The evening unfolded with an elegant succession of courses—each a thoughtful homage to native Australian ingredients and refined technique. There was the delicate smoked eel with white chocolate and caviar, a bold yet balanced expression of contrasts. The Western Australian marron arrived perfectly poached, nestled in a vivid green sauce of Geraldton wax and finger lime. A course of Flinders Island lamb followed, prepared with such precision that it seemed to melt upon the tongue. Even the bread service—a warm, crusty sourdough with house-cultured butter—was elevated to a ceremonial delight.

The degustation concluded with an exquisite arrangement of petit fours: wattleseed macarons, eucalyptus marshmallows, and a hand-churned ice cream, theatrically frozen in liquid nitrogen at the table. Each dish was presented with care, matched by service that was both attentive and effortlessly refined.

To commemorate the occasion visually, I brought along my new Sony 16mm f1.8 lens. Its compact form and brilliant aperture made it an ideal companion for capturing the quiet drama of the dining scene—the glint of glassware, the sheen on porcelain, the gentle fall of candlelight on plated artistry.

Sony A7RV

FE 16mm f1.8 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday