Story Bridge in Brisbane Australia for Sunday Best

 Brisvegas is alive.

The Story Bridge is a heritage listed steel cantilever bridge spanning the Brisbane River that carries vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the northern and the southern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. It is the longest cantilever bridge in Australia.

The road across the bridge is named Bradfield Highway. The bridge connects Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point. The Story Bridge opened in 1940 and was tolled until 1947. It is named after prominent public servant John Douglas Story.

Given the early settlement of Kangaroo Point, there is a long history of residents wanting a bridge between the Brisbane CBD and Kangaroo Point. Even while the first Victoria Bridge was being constructed between North Brisbane and South Brisbane in 1865, several hundred people were petitioning for a second bridge to be built from the Customs House to Kangaroo Point. In 1888, a meeting was held in the Brisbane Town Hall to demand a bridge connecting either George Street, Albert Street or Edward Street via the City Botanic Gardens with any loss of the land from the gardens to be potentially compensated by removing Government House.

Sony A7RV

Laowa 9mm f5.6

Linking Sunday Best

The photography tips for beginners in photography:

1. If you wanna freeze the action, don’t increase your shutter speed. Just ask the players to freeze and not move.

2. You can clean your camera with soap

3. Some part of your finger should appear in the camera. Gives a nice blur and focus

4. You don't need a lens to take good photos

5. Lens cap ON, iso to MAX

6. Time for a deep clean? Be sure to exfoliate your sensor

Soi 38 Thai Street Joint for Sign 2

 

Shabby looking sign - the food joint website Soi 38 Melbourne

Beef Boat Soup - a classic

Pork Crispy 

This street joint actually hides next to a parking spot next to the boom gate under a large multi-Storey building. It has a cult like following mainly from city workers coming here for a lunch break. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 

Linking Sign 2

De Graves St patrons for Sunday Best

 

The cardiology conference is so boring. The place is filled with wankers. The soothing walk during breaks is my refuge away from the mass of people into their own agendas. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4

Linking Sunday Best

Joel sprained his back. He was hurting like a baby. So we ended up going to city beach for a sunset. 

Pesgrave Place for Sign2

 

Joel had a craving for Uncle Tetsu Souffle in city. So we took a stroll in this alley for snapping something.

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Sign2

Richmond Mural art for Mural Monday

 

This was taken a while back when I was still in university. I used to enjoy typography or topography sorts of city hidden arts. Graffiti it may be. They are marks left by the local culture. 

Panasonic G9

Leica 15mm f1.8 limited

Linking Mural Monday

Freemantle Perth for Mural Monday

 

Back in the days I went to Perth for a medical exam, I struggled to calm my nerves. So I took my camera out for a spin in the posh area of Freemantle. 

It was in 2011 I think. The year I passed exam too. So I love this city very much lol. A plate of pasta at the time cost me 48 AUD. It was still quite expensive by today's standard!

Fujifilm Pro2

16-55mm f2.8 

Linking Mural Monday

Spider in the garden for Eileen's Saturday Critter

 

This week is raining nonstop. I ended up having with dining spree with my friends. Quite a bonding experience. 

Photographing in the backyard is very convenient lol. 

Pentax A200mm f4 macro

Linking Saturday's Critter

Last night, I had some fine food at a city Japanese restaurant. I did meet a friend but my whole focus was enjoying the dishes off Ala Carte menu. 

I will be heading out with Joel for his birthday dinner tomorrow night. 

Brisbane South Bank building for Sunday Best

 

It was the evening after some nice Wagu all you can eat. a stroll on the way back to hotel got me notice this light up. Ever since high school, I have not "wandered" late at night in a foregin city like this. 

Sony A7RV

Laowa 9mm f5.6

Linking Sunday Best

Tangalooma Shipwreck, Moreton Island

 

I visited the Moreton Island. The helicopter ride gets me this wonderful image. 

Busy walking around the city of Brisbane at night. So far over 2k photos in the past 3 days. I gonna hit the top notch cocktail bar tonight - Death and Taxes Death and Taxes

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 

Linking Randomosity and Corner of my world

Melbourne North sunrise for Eileen's sky watch Friday

 

Just in time coming back to Melbourne stormy weather. A nice stormy weather before sunrise in Melbourne North. 

There are 1 giga of travel photos in my hard disc. I gonna process them gradually over time. Funny that I received a call from my good pal for a nice Japanese dinner in the city. It is true that friends are older the better. I miss the home feeling. 

Sony A7RIV

FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM

Linking Skywatch Friday

Melbourne Night City View as Treasure Tuesday

This is taken during a low tide at Brighton's beach. The night scenery is not bad.

Sony A7RIV

FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday

 

Street painted sign at Southern Cross Station for Sign2

 

At one stage, I see this sign everywhere in Melbourne CBD laneways, regional city walls and underside of most railway stations. 

This was one of them near Spencer Street Station 

Panasonic G9

Leica 12-60mm f2.8-4

Linking Tom's Sign2

Kang Rice Wine - famous in Qing Dynasty

 

Just like the modern days, Kang is the powerful family that controls sale of salt, wine and sugar. It plays a major role in SilkRoad trade too. His family home is bigger than the size of forbidden city. The whole city like mansion is preserved till this day.

The sign says "Kang Hudred Million Wine" 

The words on sides of the door reads "There are all sorts of wine in the world" "Nothing beats the wine from Kang"

Linking Tom's Sign2

Hofbräuhaus Melbourne - German pub in city CBD

 

Hofbräuhaus Melbourne is the iconic location that serves black beer and pork sausages. My Jewish pal loves the location very much that I always get dragged here for his feast. 

The vibe at night is always something special. Maybe it is because the place carries so much memory in it.

Panasonic G9

Leica 12-60mm f2.8-4

Other Melbourne posts

The classic view of Sydney Harbour Bridge

 

For a conference trip to Sydney, one has to take a souvenir shot back home. Pity there was no shiny light up projections on the evening.

Panasonic G9

Leica 8-18mm

City posts

Grampians National Park via a photographer's perspective

I love Grampians. It is also called "Gariwerd", which means "ranges" in traditional aboriginal language. This is a place where photographers would find it challenging to photograph: the harsh lighting from the typical angry sun, dense dark foliage of native plants (not reflecting colours) and the gale that would blow your mind away (because your tripods get blown away too).

It is reported that over 60 cultural sites have been identified in Grampians. The murals are certainly worthy of visits for any photographers - the tracks leading to the murals are often good photography opportunities.

Over the past 20 years, I have frequented this place for photography opportunities. It turned out this place had turned into an escape from the reality for me. I love the Gala screaming their lungs off every morning. I love the kookaburra squeaking like a group of zombies every sunset.

This is a little summary of my photography experiences in Grampians:

* Visit in winter months - diffuse light from cloudy sky is better than harsh light in summer. Summer is high risk for bushfire as well. The frequent rain often creates mood for the photo ops and great to get mists/fog to render better pictures.
* Do check news about closed roads/paths through national park website
* Always bring a GBS phone and bring plenty of water with you. Drive a 4WF.
* Bring food and groceries from Melbourne as the pricing in Halls Gap is often at least double of the city prices
* Photograph in early mornings or late afternoon

Waterfalls

Pentax Da 50mm
Mckenzie fall - part of it - funny that I cannot find any more photos of this largest fall in Victoria. But this one was different from the generic full frontal shot seen on the web everywhere.

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8
Ferret's waterfall - disappeared after the bushfire in 2006

Pentax 10-22mm
Silverband waterfall - not a long walk, pretty much flat track. Problem is this fall dries out easily. Only to visit after a rainfall. And watch out brown snakes in the area!


Pinnacles
This is a good 5 hour track return trip. Three major phases in geographical changes as you walk through this region. This place is all about rocks.

Pentax Da21mm Limited

Pentax Da21mm limited

Pentax Da21mm limited

Voigtlander 12mm R4A


Wonderland Carpark

Balcony Lookout

On a sunny day, strong UV cast really sucks. There is no point to visit in the day hours. The photos will turn out shit really.

This lookout is bad for sunset shots at the magic hours. This is because the sun goes down on the completely opposite side of the look out. So you dont get much light at all except occasional purple sky at times.

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 300mm f4L IS - wide angle lens is pretty much useless at this lookout. Best to use 50mm + focal length.

Canon 300mm f4L IS


Reeds Lookout

This lookout is more photographer friendly - at least sun is going down within the view of the look out.

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro




Lake Fyans

Olympus 150mm f2

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Leica 25mm f1.4


Tracks

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Canon 50mm f1.2L

Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro

Pentax Da21mm limited

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8

The colour is certainly better in a foggy and wet condition. I prefer to shoot in the rain in here.

Pentax Fa 31mm f1.8 limited

Pentax FA43mm limited

Pentax 16-50mm f2.8




Giant Koala - Dadswell Bridge Victoria

Nice for a visit if you get really bored like it is raining cats and dogs or it is just simply too hot to bear in the extreme heat. Not a long drive north to Grampians. There is also a waterfall nearby - single span but puny water flow. Lucky to see it after a rain fall (I did have a few shots at it and they turned out like a poor stream wee due to prostate enlargement)



Wild life

I could easily captures shots on most of the native Australian animals in Grampians. Not much effort required. Just wander in parks or myriads of tracks in early morning or near sunset.

Olympus 150mm f2

Near Lake Fyans after a rain fall

Olympus 150mm f2

In the reserve park near central Halls Gap

Olympus 150mm f2

At the carpark near Wonderland car park entrance

Olympus 150mm f2

Olympus 150mm f2

Olympus 150mm f2

Useful resources:

Travel and Accommodation 

Park Victoria - Grampians National Park


Grampians Map

Grampians Map


Halls Gap

Halls Gap - the nearest town

3 breakfast cafes there in the central. Always packed with people. I tend to get specials of the week for the sake of getting something new each time.

Among these, this middle eastern sausage was memorable because it looks like number 2 in the toilet. But it tastes really good though. From Black Cat Cafe