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

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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/

A 40-year old man who's been playing with cameras for a long time

In my mind the 70s were such a nice and peaceful time. Of course, it was not the 70s. It was my own age and perceptions...

But the world did change a lot. And I changed a lot too. One thing is certain: I'm allowed to play with bigger and better cameras now. Everything else is probably worse.

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in action

Here are several cockatoo photos from yesterday. They trigger mixed emotions in me. On one hand I realize that some of them are quite OK, or even good; on the other I feel frustrated, because my camera is not capable of delivering the quality that I want. AF is always hit or miss, fast shutter speeds result in certain softness and if the object is more than 3 meters away AF is very rarely precise.

Now when I wrote all this, I think frustration dominates. I feel that I have missed a great photographic opportunity, because I was limited by my equipment...

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, NSW

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Buff-banded Rail portrait

Again this Friday I could spot a Rail and was lucky enough to have it stop and look at me for a second in the middle of a nicely lit spot and beautiful surroundings...

Buff-banded Rail, NSW

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Beautiful White Cockie

The red fruit this cockie was eating added beautiful colorful accent to the images...

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, NSW

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Juv. Ibis

More in-focus sharp and detailed images of a young Ibis.

Australian White Ibis, NSW

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Grey-headed Flying Foxes XXX

This is another interesting behavioral sequence. I'd rather not comment on the specific actions as it's extremely easy to slip into tasteless remarks. It really amazes me how Attenborough always finds the right balance when he talks about sex.

Grey-headed Flying Foxes, NSW

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Baby Rainbow Lorikeets

But, of course, from a photographer's point of view the most rewarding sequences were the beautiful images of cute Rainbow Lorikeet fledglings that I managed to take. I often hear the typical squeaky call of young Lorikeets, but this was the first time I saw baby parrots just out of the 'nest'.

For ten seconds the parent assessed the risk, decided there was none and then went on to feeding the youngster.

The scene was heart-warming, light was just right, sky was cloudy and the setting was beautiful.

There were two fledglings that could jump into the branches and climb up the tree trunk using their feet and beaks. The next images show how funny and cute they looked with their non-existent wings and tails.

Good luck, little parrots! Hope your primaries grow fast!!!

Rainbow Lorikeet youngsters, NSW

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