Princes Pier Starfish for Treasure Tuesday

 

The starfish was captured with Joel's beloved 135mm f/1.8 lens, a magnificent piece of glass that still carries the burden of justifying its price years after it was purchased. Whenever the opportunity arises, out it comes from the camera bag, eager for purpose. This time its subject was not a model, a mountain, or a distant eagle, but a humble starfish resting beneath the city. There is something wonderfully absurd about using a premium portrait lens on marine life under a bridge, yet the starfish accepted its moment of stardom without complaint.

The second photograph reveals the scene itself. We were standing beneath Princes Bridge in broad daylight, yet the place felt strangely removed from the world above. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the structure, casting pale shafts into the water while shadows gathered among the pylons. The bridge stretched overhead like the ribs of some sleeping industrial beast. Beneath it, the river moved with quiet purpose, carrying reflections that trembled and dissolved with every ripple.

It was a little spooky, a little enchanting. Above us, the city carried on with its noise and haste. Below, in this dim underworld of concrete, water and shifting light, starfish clung to the seabed like scattered stars fallen from the night sky. And there we were, crouched beneath the bridge with an expensive lens, giving them the attention they never asked for but somehow thoroughly deserved.

Sony A7RV

FE 135mm f1.8 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Princes Pier Port Melbourne for Sunday Best

 

A gentle wander along the Port Melbourne foreshore with Joel brought an unexpected delight. Beneath the bridge, scattered across the shallow seabed like fallen stars, lay dozens of starfish basking in the clear water. We both stopped in wonder, peering over the railing and pointing out each new discovery. Before long, cameras were in hand and we were happily photographing them, as excited as children stumbling upon a hidden treasure. The quiet afternoon, the glimmering sea, and those living stars below made the simple stroll feel like a small adventure.

Sony A7RV

Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 

Linking Sunday Best

Princes Pier Pylon Port Melbourne for Treasure Tuesday

 

The photograph was taken at Port Melbourne’s historic Princes Pier, though not during the golden hour that so often bathes the sea in honeyed light. Rather, it was a spontaneous shot—one of those unplanned moments that arise when the day’s itinerary dissolves and the camera remain the only faithful companion. Joel and I had wandered aimlessly that afternoon, having run out of places to go, when the glimmer of light on the water caught my eye. The air was mild, tinged with the scent of salt and timber, and the long-weathered pylons stood solemnly like sentinels of the past. I pressed the shutter almost absentmindedly, more out of habit than expectation. Yet, to my astonishment, that very image would later win a prize in a national photography competition. It felt strange and humbling that a fleeting, almost casual moment could be recognized amidst so many crafted works.

Afterwards, Joel and I drove to St Kilda, that lively seaside district known for its old amusement pier and cosmopolitan charm. We found a small souvlaki joint tucked between the shops, the sort of place that greets you with the aroma of grilled lamb and oregano before you even step inside. The lamb chops were extraordinarily juicy, glistening with their own fat, charred just enough to release a whisper of smoke. We ate in companionable silence, watching the slow descent of twilight over the esplanade—the sea turning from steel to violet, the city lights beginning their nightly shimmer.

In retrospect, that day feels like a quiet meditation on chance and reward—the way beauty can appear without warning, and how memory often attaches itself to the simplest acts: a photograph taken without intention, a meal shared without ceremony. Princes Pier, in its weathered grace, seemed to speak of time’s patient endurance, the lamb in St Kilda, of life’s earthy pleasures. Between them lay the essence of the day—an unassuming harmony between art, friendship, and the small felicities that make an ordinary afternoon unforgettable.

Sony A7RV

FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Pier reverie at Princes Pier Melbourne for Treasure Tuesday

 

It was worth waiting for it

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Princes Pier for Treasure Tuesday

 

I am in Albany WA for a week contract. Hard to find time to comment on other blogs. I will catch up after return.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

This shot was taken last weekend with Joel. The tide was coming up rapidly. Within 10 minutes, we had to duck out of there. 

Princes Pier, Melbourne for Skywatch Friday

 

Due to the foot injury, my pal and I came here after a nice dinner in CBD. As usual, there is a whole line up of photographers at the edge of the pier. A bit busy driving from Bendigo to Melbourne again for Chinese lunar new year. Mum got a whole list of last-minute shopping to do. She wants "fresh" produce as ancestral offering on the lunar new year eve. 

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Skywatch Friday

Princes Pier Melbourne

 

The iconic spot in Melbourne. 

Sony A7RIV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

This is linking Good Random Fun

Star Fish below Princes Pier

 

This frame gives me some creeps and visual impact somewhat. I still like how it looks.

Sony A7RIV

14mm f1.8 GM

This is linking Wordless Wednesday

I also made a new account on Mastodon network, and this is my account 

roentare@mindly.social