Purple Swamphen

Purple Wamphen, NSW

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

MV Brigitte Bardot in Sydney

I saw and photographed the Gojira for the first time on Saturday. Both Sea Shepherd ships – MY Bob Barker and MV Brigitte Bardot were in Sydney.

I prefer the old black paint.
As a professional designer and animator I don't quite like how the girl image is drawn. But it is not that important. What is really important are the missions these vessels go to and the results they are achieving.

MV Brigitte Bardot in Sydney, 9 Jun 2012

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

All Bats are gone!

I casually snapped this picture on 19 May 2012.

  I met a friend at the Sydney Botanic Gardens. We had coffee, a nice walk and spotted the two owls. We looked at the bats, but light was harsh, sky was bright and the only reason I took this photo was just to remember the beautiful combination - pink blossom, green leaves and orange Flying Foxes. 

I could have never imagined that this would be my last bat photo in the Gardens. I knew that the park authorities wanted to get rid of the bats. I read that finally the government had allowed the operation to begin.

I went to the gardens last Saturday after taking some photos of the Sea Shepherd ships docked at Circular Quay.

I thought there would probably be fewer bats this time.

There wasn't even one!

The Gardens felt deserted, empty and dead.
The cockatoos must have been scared by the noises too. Only the big owl was there as his fig is relatively far from where the bat colony used to be. There were ibises and cormorants in the pond.

For the nearly 10 years since I first came to Sydney I have taken the bats for granted. I've considered them to be one of the most unusual an exciting features of this city, a sign that its people can coexist with wildlife better than most others.

I've always thought that some day I'll get a better camera and lens, will find the ideal weather and light and will take amazing photos of bats in flight. This will never happen.
Here are three of the better Flying Fox photos from the past. Let's say 'Good bye' to them. I'm very sad.

Grey-headed Flying Foxes, NSW

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

One more Owl pic

This one is not better than the previously posted images. What is special about it? Well... this is a different owl, roosting in a different part in the Botanic Gardens. Today I spotted the two of them.

Powerful Owl, NSW

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Rainbow Lorikeets visit me from time to time

Rainbow Lorikeet on the balcony, NSW

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Powerful Owl – a bird of habit

I don't see Powerful Owls every day, but they seem to be birds of habit. Two live in Sydney Botanic gardens. Every time I go there I spot one bird – usually high in the branches of a fig tree, holding half a possum in its claws. Out of five sightings over a period of 4-5 months this was the only time the owl was in a nearby palm tree and without prey. All other photos I have are quite graphic and unpleasant to look at. These, too, are not great, but I thought it was about the time to post something...

I'm slowly losing motivation to shoot as my photographic gear seems to be ageing and not delivering the quality I'm after. My life lately has been full of all kinds of personal and professional disappointments and that, too, affects the levels of photographic enthusiasm.

Powerful Owl, NSW

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

The fluffy time of the year

Very hard to spot, this Tawny Frogmouth family was photographed a couple of months ago in Sydney Botanic Gardens. The father was roosting on a nearby branch and the mother and two chicks were deep asleep most of the time. But patience paid off. They woke up for a while and looked at the camera for a few better shots. Light was quite harsh and the scene backlit with overburned patches of white sky... Not the ideal conditions, but the ideal subjects!

Tawny Frogmouth, NSW

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

MY Bob Barker in Sydney

I went to see the Bob Barker today and took a few photos. The ship is ready to take off for Hobart, where all three Sea Shepherd vessels will meet and start this year's anti whaling operation in the Southern Ocean.

As always I made a small donation, wished the good and brave young people on board luck and am hoping that this really is going to be the last year of Japanese whaling.

It is sad and ironic how all camera brands are Japanese and people who want to take good photos have no options but to buy Japanese products. It always is a personal decision, but I boycott Japanese goods and products and my old Canon body and two lenses are the only 'made in Japan' objects that I own. I'm not planning to upgrade and, of course, I can never afford Leica or Hasselblad.

I'm not sure how I feel about the new paintjob. I think that the old all-black Sea Shepherd vessels looked more menacing, mysterious and invincible. This new design is cool, but makes the ship feel a bit like a toy.

MY Bob Barker, Sydney

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Let's wish the Sea Shepherd crew a successful season!
If you're a supporter, you can easily make a donation or buy a great t-shirt or cap. http://www.seashepherd.org/