Photography on the East Coast

Week 6

Pretty boring week, on the study grind with assignments and mid-terms due. Here's some images from my first photo assignment. Click photo to enlarge.

-Ryan

Parents Weekend: Sydney

Week 5

Another short week, got back from Cairns on Monday night, few days of classes then flew down to Sydney on Saturday. Met the parents in the airport as the were flying in from Hamilton Island. The first day/night we walked around the city, of course the first stop was the Opera House. This building is such an amazing site, from the lines of rooftops, to the glow it gives off at night.

From there we went off to Darling Harbor, were we saw a crazy street performer who juggled a chainsaw. Then got entertained by a great band who played their own version of Thrift Shop. Sat down listened to some music and then watched the fireworks over the Harbor.

After the parents called it a night I bounced and went back to the Opera house and took some photos of it at night (I will upload these once they are edited). Probably spent 3 hours out there photographing the Opera house and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

The next day we went to a tent market in the basement of a mall, here we found the cheapest souvenirs and made sure to stock up. From there we took the ferry back to the Opera house and went to the Sydney Botanical Gardens. Walked through there to the Gallery of New South Wales (this is the state that Sydney is in). There was a lot of pieces that I liked here, but my favorite was the painting of Milton Sound, in New Zealand. I liked this the best because I will be seeing this for myself at the end of next month! I also liked this metal statue man, this gave me some ideas for my sculpture class, because I have to create something similar.

This was pretty much the end of our activities for the day. Like the night before, I went out and shoot the bridge and opera house. I took the ferry to a spot that I was eyeing and used my new tripod, that I pick up at the market that day, to take some better photos (coming soon). I stayed out until my camera battery died, what a shame, then headed back to the hotel.

The last day in Sydney we took a ferry to Manly beach. Here we rented bikes and rode up and down the beach front. We dismounted the bikes and went for a short hike along the beach, this soon turned into bouldering rocks. Once that was done we went back to Manly and continued window shopping. Here Dad got his birthday present, an Aboriginal art painting. Then we hoped on the ferry and headed back to the city. Packed then got on the train back to the Gold Coast.

Had a great time in Sydney, and it was amazing to see the parents one last time.

Word of the week: Keen

Meaning: Ready to go, pumped, amped.

"Are you keen to go to the beach?"

Parents Weekend: Cairns

Week 4

The parents arrived this week, a day late due to faulty planning. Briefly showed them around the apartments and introduced them to the roommates. Later Thursday night we headed north to Brisbane. We stayed in Brissie for two nights, the second day that we were there we walked the boardwalk and down to the GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) and looked at the aboriginal artwork on display there.

For my Photo Class I am working on a “Water and Light” project. Where we stayed in Brissie was on the river and had a amazing view of the Story Bridge and the skyscrapers on the river. The first night I photographed the bridge from our hotel deck (First Image). The second night we were there I took the camera out and walked around for a couple of hours trying to find a different vantage point of the bridge and reflections in the water (Image 2).

On Saturday morning (Dad's Birthday!) we took a 2 hour flight north to Cairns. Got into Cains, picked up a rental car and hit up the Aboriginal “theme park”. Here we learned about the Aboriginals and their traditions, this included throwing spears (Image 1), learning what berries are poisonous and how to use them correctly. We also were showed the different Boomerangs and there uses, this included a demonstration on how to throw them also (Image 2). We painted some rocks and then got our faces painted with “traditional” Aboriginal markings (Image 3). The last thing that was demonstrated was how to start a fire with two sticks, Wade was very willing to participate in this activity (Image 4 and 5)

After leaving the Aboriginal park we headed up to the Gorge were I snapped a few photos, of which we still are sporting the face paintings.

Yesterday, we toured the Northeast cost of Australia. Our tours first stop was at the Port Douglas Zoo! This was by far one of the best experiences I have had yet. Right of the bat we got to feed and play with the Kangaroos! This was a blast! They were a little shy at first but then warmed up to you, at one point I had a Roo following me around while I was trying to exit the park. I also got to feed a Joey while it was in the mothers pouch! We also saw some other animals throughout the park, including Crocs, Wallabies, and Koalas.

After the zoo we continued our journey north to the Rainforest. Here we had a short hike to a river where the old man and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to swim though the water was a mire 65º. On the way back down snapped some more photos of the rainforest and river for my photo project

From the Rainforest we head further north to Tribulation Point and had a nice swim/snorkel sesh in the ocean.

Tribulation Point was the furthest north that we journeyed to. On the way back to Cairns we stopped and did a Crocodile boat tour. On the tour we saw a few Crocs ranging from 2.5 Meters all the way up to a 4.5 Meter big daddy. This was the last stop of the day, thankfully, then we cruised along the Captain Cook highway back down to Cairns, stopping shortly at a few different lookouts.

Last night I continued exploring the water and light project and headed down the Cairns boardwalk to the Yacht Club, were I took some banger photographs and got a reminder of what I was missing at home.

Today I arranged for a half day snorkeling trip, because I didn't have time to scuba... We traveled out to Green Island and hit up the Great Barrier Reef for a couple of hours. We snorkeled for an hour or so and ended up swimming around a ¼ of a mile off shore, where the reef dropped off and there was significantly better sites, and of course made sure to bring the GoPro out there to see if I couldn't get a few shots. After snorkeling we walked around the island, literally, then got some lunch and headed back to the boat. Little boat ride, then hopped in the car and then caught a flight with just a few minutes to spare; I am writing to you from 30k feet in the air.

Cheers

-Ryan

Word of the Day: Yaladia- Means Hello and Goodbye in the Aboriginal language.

Pronunciation of the Day: Cairns

Pronounced: Canes, like sugar canes; if you say it with a “R” you're immediately considered a tourist.