Alfred Nicholas Garden reflection

 

Alfred Nicholas Garden has that wonderful pond at the bottom of the alley

Sony A7RIV

FE 24mm f1.4 GM

This is linking to reflection Weekend Reflection  

Mural Art Reflection in puddle - Mural Monday and Reflection event

 Funny I am starting to take photos for the themes of weekday events. 

Brunswick, Melbourne.

It was an urban exploration that has allowed us to find more graffiti. 

Sony A7RIV

FE 14mm 1.8 GM

This is in participation of Monday Mural Event and Weekend Reflection Event

Kilcunda Trestle Bridge reflection for Treasure Tuesday

 

The reflection and the tone are what I am after

Sony A7RV

FE 14-24mm f2.8 

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Bendigo Night Reflection

 

Thanks to the reflective surface of the bin in the park. I got some reflections!

Sony A7RIV

FE 24mm f1.4 GM

Reflection posts

Tenby Point Sunset, Melbourne

 

This jetty sits in a town less than 300 in total. 30-minute drive from Melbourne. Not far at all.

This jetty sunset is very easy to shoot, and reflection of the jetty is a guarantee if no rain. 

Sony A7RIV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

This is linking Reflection Weekend and Skywatch Friday

Milkyway Reflection at Lake Tyrrell for Water H2O Thursday

 

I visited Lake Tyrrell last night. Solo until midnight. I was lucky to spot the reflection view of Milkyway. 

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Lake Weeroona Sunset - reflection

 

Lake Weeroona Sunset with reflection

Sony A7RIV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

This is linking Sky Watch Friday

Chinese Friendship Garden in Sydney for Sunday Best

 

The Garden of Friendship, located beside the hotel at which I was lodging, was conveniently within walking distance, thus meriting a brief but deliberate visit. Though the entrance fee of twenty-four Australian dollars seemed somewhat steep—indeed, one might argue that such a public cultural space ought to be freely accessible—the experience nevertheless offered a serene and aesthetically rich retreat.

Designed in the classical style of traditional Chinese gardens, the Garden of Friendship is a harmonious composition of stone, water, and plant life, arranged in accordance with Taoist principles. The architecture and décor reflect the elegance and symbolism characteristic of Ming Dynasty landscapes: curved bridges, ornamental pavilions, koi-filled ponds, and intricately carved woodwork, all working together to evoke balance and contemplation.

Historically, the garden stands as a gesture of goodwill and diplomatic kinship. It was opened in 1988 as part of Sydney’s Bicentennial Celebrations, a gift from the people of Guangdong Province in southern China to the people of New South Wales. Its very name, the Garden of Friendship, underscores its role as a living monument to the enduring ties between Australia and China. Located in the heart of Darling Harbour, the garden serves not only as a cultural showcase but also as a space for quiet reflection amidst the city’s bustle—a tranquil haven that bridges two worlds.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Joel and I went out to visit a cheese factory. No photography but it was really nice to taste a variety of them. 

Balnarring Beach, Mornington Peninsula for Skywatch Friday

 

In the first photograph, Joel is visible in the distance, intently focused on photographing seaweed along the shoreline. The air has grown markedly cooler, and the sky bears the pale, steely blue that signals the quiet approach of winter. It is in such moments that the necessity of reconnecting with the natural world becomes most apparent—calming, grounding, and essential to the soul.

Balnarring Beach, located on the Mornington Peninsula southeast of Melbourne, stretches along the calm waters of Western Port Bay. Its gentle crescent shape and serene outlook toward Phillip Island make it a place of both quiet retreat and natural charm. The area is known for its safe swimming waters, expansive foreshore reserves, and the peaceful rhythm of tidal life.

The name “Balnarring” is thought to originate from Indigenous words meaning “little” and “gumtree,” a poetic nod to the native landscape. European settlement began in earnest in the 1840s when pastoral stations were established, and by the latter half of the 19th century, Balnarring had grown to include a post office, a school, and a church. The arrival of the railway in the early 20th century further connected the township with surrounding areas, allowing more visitors to discover its coastal beauty.

Balnarring Beach—once also known as Tulum Beach—has long held a quiet reputation as a haven for holidaymakers and nature lovers. In more recent times, it was honoured as one of Australia's cleanest beaches, a testament to the community's stewardship and respect for the land.

Even as seasons shift and the cold edges in, Balnarring Beach remains a place of stillness and reflection—a coastal landscape where history, nature, and memory meet in tranquil harmony.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Skywatch Friday

The past fortnight has been exceedingly busy for me. Despite the considerable amount of work I have undertaken, the returns have felt rather meagre. Joel and I have been diligently studying investments in the Japanese stock market, prompted by Warren Buffett’s decision to reallocate his wealth into Japanese equities.

Travancore Monash Freeway Entrance

 

Travancor Entrance of Monash Freeway

Nice to see a reflection and a sunset 

Sony A7RIV

Laowa 9mm f5.6

Linking Sunday Best

More Hosier Lane mural art for Mural Monday

 

This is Van Gough style mural art in the same lane that I used to come for graffiti documentation. 

In the window reflection, there is my buddy and myself. We knew each other for 32 years now. 

Panasonic G9

Leica 15mm f1.8 

Linking Mural Monday

Signs around Circular Quay for Sign2

 

There is a quiet singularity to solitary travel—a certain freedom that allows one to follow the whim of the moment, to drift where the feet may lead without constraint or consultation. I find myself spending less, yet gaining more in reflection and spontaneity. The first photograph captures a curious figure—a monkey with its eyes covered, glowing luminously in the darkness like a beacon. The second portrays a street scene imbued with a sense of ease, the leisurely manner of passers-by framed beneath the familiar signage of Hero Sushi. The final image was taken within a bustling Malaysian eatery, its tables crowded with young Australians, drawn perhaps by the warmth, the spice, and the communal spirit of the place.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sign2

Stingray Bay, Warrnambool for Sunday Best

 

This was taken on an overcast day. No good sunset to use but the water reflection creates a lovely pattern.

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Sunday Best

Lake Pearson New Zealand for Skywatch Friday

 

The reflection is gorgeous.

Doing plenty of sit ups and push ups now. Feeling off not being able to move about

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sky Watch Friday

Portsea back beach, Mornington Peninsula for Water H2O Thursday

 

Joel will be engaged with his in-laws over the coming fortnight, so we resolved to visit the back beach at Portsea before the demands of daily life took hold once more. The excursion was imbued with a creamy noir quality, lending the moment a sense of quiet drama and reflection. It also afforded me the opportunity to test my new neutral density filter paired with the 35mm f/1.4 lens.

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Water H2O Thursday

H.M. Sign in Melbourne Bourke St for Sign2

 

This is the spot to do people photography. The building is a good location at night for floor reflection. But this is where most of murders and killings take place over the years in Melbourne CBD.

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Linking Sign2

Lake Pearson NZ for Water H2O Thursday

 

A lovely lake with reflection in early Winter from a while back

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 G

Linking Water H2O Thursday

No 16 Beach, Rye, Mornington Peninsula for Sky Watch Friday

 

Gloomy and dark. The mini waterfall is a bonus for the dull sunset. There is reflection in the water hole too. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4

Linking Skywatch Friday

Trestle Bridge in reflection at Kilcunda for Sunday Best

 

The creek is getting dried. It is almost stagnant. 

Sony A7RV

Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 

Linking Sunday Best

Joel called being too sick to be with me outing to NaiDoc Week in city. I ended up staying at home trying out all the croissant varieties bought around East Melbourne. 

Bay of Islands in Blairgowrie Mornington Peninsula for Water H2O Thursday

 

There exist three distinct locations bearing the name Bay of Islands within the state of Victoria, Australia. I have had the pleasure of visiting each of them. Of these, the one situated closest to Melbourne holds a particular charm for me. Nestled along the Mornington Peninsula, this coastal enclave offers a striking interplay of sea cliffs, hidden inlets, and crystalline waters—ideal for moments of quiet reflection or aerial exploration.

When my companion Joel and I are not preoccupied with the pursuit of sunset landscapes, we often retreat to this locale to fly our drone and capture sweeping views of the coastline. The rugged contours and tranquil hues lend themselves beautifully to this form of observation.

The second Bay of Islands lies within the famed Great Ocean Road region, west of Peterborough. This is perhaps the most well-known of the three, celebrated for its dramatic limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean—remnants of a landscape carved by centuries of wind and wave.

The third, more remote and lesser known, is found near the shores of Corner Inlet in Gippsland. Here, coastal serenity and the subtle presence of birdlife create a setting marked by calm rather than spectacle. Each Bay of Islands bears its own character, yet all share the same elemental spirit—where land meets sea in timeless conversation.

Linking Water H2O Thursday