More Seagulls at Lake Tyrrell for Saturday Critter

 

It is winter here. I don't really get to photograph much about wildlife. Sea gulls are probably like more flying rats in urban land. 

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Saturday Critter

Kilcunda Trestle Bridge Pano for Skywatch Friday

 

Pretty moody last weekend. I am surprised that I even got colours. 

DJ Mini Pro4

Linking Skywatch Friday

I discovered playing horror movies helped me to do vertical trainer lately. More efficient. 

The seascape at Kilcunda Gippsland for Water H2O Thursday

 

Joel identified the spot, and I quickly took over after he finished the shot. 

Sony A7RV

Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 

Linking Water H2O Thursday

just got off the phone with Joel. We might scout another spot near this place on the weekend. 

My Beach is your beach for Sign2

 

The area is so littered with dog poo though

Sony A7RV

Laowa 9mm f5.6

Linking Sign2

Kilcunda rock arch Gippsland for Treasure Sunday

 

I have been here a few times over the years. It was a lowest tide ever while everywhere on the back beach of Mornington Peninsula was actually high tide. 

This is probably the moodiest shot I have taken this winter.

Sony A7RV

Sigma 14-24mm f2.8

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Duckboard Place mural for Mural Monday

 

This mural has been sitting there for years. I never had a good light to capture this mural properly. Lucky in one of my lovely photo walks there 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Melbourne urban reflection for Sunday Best

 

When we finished the dinner, the walk back to carpark came across this view. 

A quick snap. No tripod. Shot wide open.

Sony A7RV

Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 

Linking Sunday Best

Marble grade 9 beef with Yuzu sauce. It tasted really nice.

Black lipped Abalone covered by garlic chips

The restaurant we went to is at Atria Fine Dining

More Sea Gulls from Lake Tyrrell for Saturday Critter

 

It is winter. Hard to venture out and look for any wildlife.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Saturday Critter

It was a good catch up with Joel for his birthday dinner celebration. We had black lip abalone on 80th floor in CBD. We drank so much spirits and sake. Now I am hanged over.

Loch Ard Gorge Sky for Sky Watch Friday

 

Not posting enough from my various trips everywhere. My trips usually do not cost much as I rely on business allowance. 

DJ Mini Pro4 

Linking Skywatch Friday

Hel wrote a wonderful post on Great Ocean Road

Lake Tyrrell Victoria for Water H2O Thursday

 

I will need to go back to it again

Always looking different every time I visit

DJ Mini Pro4

Linking Water H2O Thursday

For American friends, Happy 4th.

I am taking Joel out to celebrate his birthday in a city restaurant. 

Firelight Food truck Signs for Sign2

 

The evening was great for night urban vibe. I was using 50mm f1.2 for the sake of it. How fun!

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Linking Sign 2

Firelight Festival Dockland for Treasure Tuesday

 

On Friday, cold and wet, I visited firelight festival photographing the fire performers. Not as good acrobatic performance as I would have liked but she is a positive energy to the dissapointed audience.

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Duckboard Place, Melbourne for Mural Monday

 

This mural is sitting there for many years. Surprised that no one really wants to tag this.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Sunset at Lake Tyrrell for Sunday Best

 

The lake was not completely filled. So I got this Yin and Yang kind of look to it. 

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Seagulls at Lake Tyrrell for Saturday Critter

 

They are rather noisy. But makes a good view

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Saturday Critter

Lake Tyrrell Sunset for Skywatch Friday

 

It has been raining for the last 3 consecutive weekends. Lucky I visited Lake Tyrrell when I needed to perform home visits on some nursing homes. 

Linking Skywatch Friday

I am enjoying netflix and disney plus channel now. Watching these shows is so addictive. 

Mount Martha sunset Mornington Peninsula for Water H2O Thursday

 

Joel and I did not manage to walk far into Balcombe walking trail. He was so preoccupied with this scene. He set up his equipment like he was setting up a nuclear lab. It only took less than 1 minute to get this frame handheld.

Mount Martha is a quaint beach town wedged between Safety Beach and Mornington on the Mornington Peninsula. This is a popular walk with locals and it's easy to see why - this track follows the Bay Trail and encompasses four leash free beaches as well as providing beautiful bay views.

Hawker Beach, Birdrock Beach and Dava Beach are three different leash free beaches available along this walk and all boast golden sand and clear water. Your dog will love jumping through the waves or digging in the sand and owners will love the shelter of the surrounding cliffs – creating your own sanctuary. Make sure you are aware of the steep beach access along this walk 

The leash free beaches are expansive, with Dava Beach being a continuation of Birdrock Beach (the only way to enter Dava Beach is to first enter Birdrock Beach). Fossil Beach gives you something different altogether, being predominately made up of rocks it gets its name from the abundance of fossils that geologist A.R.C Selwyn discovered amongst the limestone cliffs there in 1854. These fossils displayed evidence of sea life from 10-15 million years ago.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Lake Tyrrell Sign for Sign2

 

This sign was one of the reasons Aboriginal groups went to court with state government. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sign 2

Pearses Bay, Mornington Peninsula for Treasure Tuesday

 

Joel and I knew the day gonna suck. We visited the place 2 weeks ago. I did not give enough time in the planning. By the time we were at the coast, sun was already gone. Then the cloud cover kind of dropped the temperature by a few more degrees. So we set up our gear very quickly and snapped the usual location here.

What surprised me was the fact that there were two wedding photographers torturing brides at this windy coast for portraits. It was not even pretty at that hour. The area we were standing on can collapse any time from my earlier reading into geological studies. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Christchurch mural for Mural Monday

 

These were kind of cute on the abandoned buildings after the earthquake in Christchurch NZ

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Sunday Best - Lake Tyrrell Topdown Panorama

 

I should have visited here more often. It has been over 8 months since I last visited. My boots are all filthy from the red dirt.

DJ Mini Pro4

Linking Sunday Best

Gonna take mum to another house inspection. Then head to Mount Martha for a photography site investigation with Joel. 

More critter for Saturday Critter

 

Not sure it is a moth or a butterfly. 

Olympus 150mm f2 

Linking Saturday Critter

I got a new OLED monitor for my desktop in my room. It turned out there was no speaker function. So I had to get Joel to sort it out today. 

Lake Tyrrell Sunset for Skywatch Friday

 

This was taken a while back when the usual arid season arrives in Lake Tyrrell

Panasonic G9

Leica 12-60mm f2.8-4 

Linking Skywatch Friday

New Zealand Waters for Water H2O Thursday

 

I was not too impressed when I clicked the shot. Later, I actually love it more.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Now is the end of financial year sale. I have bought so many things this month more than any years prior. Now I am tempted to get Sony 12-24mm f2.8 but I must stop the impulsive buying!

Little Lonsdale St Signs for Sign2

 

Last Friday, I decided to take a photowalk in CBD again. I can take away some Japanese Cheese Cake from Uncle Tetsu for mum. She likes it. 

The first shot was nice for a Chinese acupuncture store. 

The 2nd shot does make me think a bit more. A little too much wokism 

Sony A7RV + FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Sign 2

Fungus Mount Macedon for Treasure Tuesday

 

This was taken at the beginning of the month which was rather late for mushroom hunting. 

Overnight was zero-degree celcius. No fun. The lack of sunlight and the cold feeling in isolation does make me a little melancholic. 

On YouTube, I saw this phenomenon called "Blue Dot Effect" published in psychiatric journal, which was rather interesting. Basically, we all choose to have our own problems when there is nothing really major. Food for thought. 

Sony A7RV

Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Christchurch mural in New Zealand for Mural Monday

 

That looks like our future

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Long Teng Broken Bridge Taiwan for Sunday Best

 

The remnant of the bridge from Japanese occupation period is now wrapped around by nature.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Last night, Joel and I went to Pearses Bay again. A last-minute decision as it was a high tide. Weather was crap. So we ended up in a Greek Fish n Chips shop getting souvlaki in the end. This is the kind of life I like. No need to impress anyone just by being myself. 

White Whiskered Laughingthrush in Taiwan for Saturday Critter

 

I only learnt the name of this bird until a former mate in Perth Australia told me about it.

Extraordinarily plumaged songbird with white facial markings that lend it an almost comical whiskered appearance. Brown overall, with accents of yellow, buff, purple, plum, blue, and orange throughout the plumage. Inhabits montane forest edge with dense shrubbery or grassy cover, but often emerges out onto roadsides and paths to forage, often crossing the road close to vehicles. Moves in noisy flocks or in pairs, giving soft contact calls and harsh rattling and whistling calls when alarmed. Song, a melodic tinkling, is simple but pleasant.

Sony A7RV

Sigma 105mm macro 

Linking Saturday Critter

Sunrise at Sandridge Point Melbourne for Skywatch Friday

 

I just cant continue waking up at 3 am driving to Melbourne for a sunrise anymore

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM

Linking Skywatch Friday

Pearses Bay Melbourne for Water H2O Thursday

 

The way the water motion goes is kind of fascinating to me.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

De Graves St Sign for Sign2

 

Their pricing have not changed despite the inflation over the past 4 years. I am very surprised.

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Lake Light in the stormy weather for Treasure Tuesday

 

The hue caught my eye while passing through an unnamed lake.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Cute duckling on Hosier Lane for Mural Monday

 

This one stands out as I do my regular walk in CBD for contents on the other blog of mine. 

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Mural Monday

Listening to Joel talking about his kids' troubles is a reminder that we all have a story to tell. 

Castle Hill New Zealand for Sunday Best

 

I like the composition somehow. I enjoy the walk there

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

I spent the whole day hiking out around Ballarat area with Joel. Damn, the waterfall was completely dried out including the river nearby. That was a huge disappointment. In the end, we had some nice chicken Parma in a dusty general pub at a nearby country town. I swear the owner looks like a character from a horror haunting movie killing off tourists.  

Then Joel's electric car ran out of juice. We had to go to a town with limited fast charge. I believe Joel turned up the heating too strong for the cold weather here. 

Lady bug in bokeh for Saturday Critter

 

Too shallow DOF. Should have done the stacking. 

Linking Saturday Critter

Lake Tekapo New Zealand for Skywatch Friday

 

It was still cloudy and windy. Lucky the cloud break allows some colours to enter into the frame. 

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Skywatch Friday

Mount Sunday Edoras for Water H2O Thursday

 

I really missed New Zealand 

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Mum's mobile company just got sold to another one called Yana Amaysim. The name sounds like a scammer to me. She asked me to help her to verify the direct debit was still in place. I could not find the company on line until I break it up. The person on the phone sounds like a scammer too. 

Nanmen old street Mazu Shrine carvings for Sign2

 

The signs are written in old language. 

On the left 

Glory in many universes and dimensions; power and blessings fill every home

On the right

Prosper in ranks and files; fortune shines on the living world

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sign2

Mount Macedon Fungi for Treasure Tuesday

 

A bit late to the mushroom hunt with Joel this year. Though we did not find parasol, these brown ones will do.

Sony A7RV

Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Buddhism Guardians in Christchurch for Mural Monday

 

I found this next to a French Restaurant ironically. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Castle Hill, New Zealand for Sunday Best

 

On the hill where Kingdom of Nania is filmed. A nice series of layers

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Alpine Parrot Kea in New Zealand for Saturday Critter

 

Kea was once treated as pests in NZ. In 1970, they went into extinction as the country wanted to protect their sheep grazing industry. Now, Kea is a protected species. They behave like seagulls trying to get my food all the time.

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Saturday Critter