A random eye
A neighbour called me the other day to alert me to the presence of swans near the Big Bridge.
Unfortunately I was in the middle of hand-feeding one of our batches of little bulls and by the time I finished them, got the kids piled into the car and driven the 10 minutes to the bridge, I was too late for exciting close-ups of families of swans.
*pout*
But the strange colour and light of the afternoon – with sun doing a losing battle against the clouds – compelled me to stay a little while.
To see what I could see.
(… A sailor went to sea, sea, sea…)
The things I see are sometimes different to the things other people see… according to my husband anyway.
He’s always: What ARE you taking photos of now?
Heh.
This sequence of images was shot with no plan and within 30 minutes. I am such a random person/photographer, I honestly never know what I am going to end up with!
I walked a little along the river bank but this is as close as I got to the swans. Even a 500mm lense wouldn’t have helped in this light. Although I would’ve given it a red-hot try…
On the walk back I stopped trying to look for swans… and I just LOOKED.
Man-made lines and Mother Nature’s lines… neat and regular versus stark and elegant.
Empty branches silhouetted against a suddenly fiery cloud.
That same scene reflected in the cold gentle ripples of water below.
The effects of shifting focus on grassy reeds near the water’s edge.
I like the second. You?
The sensual squiggles provoked by wind and wildlife…
There is a painting in our bedroom similar in feel to this photo… it’s one of the most fabulous, calming things I have ever seen. And I have no idea why…
I chased the duck with my Nikon as it sought shelter from prying eyes – the inkiness of the water is compelling, isn’t it?
Looking upriver a couple of minutes later, as the river catches fire for just a moment.
A wider shot of ALMOST the same slice of afternoon.
And then, somehow, the light goes all English and soft and mellow on me. Blended greys and barely there golds.
And all that she could see, see, see…
Was just how late she’d be, be, be
With cooking all the tea, tea, tea!
🙂
BB
22 Comments
Amanda
Your eye is beautifully random 🙂
Amanda´s last blog post ..Dear Darl, it’s 21 June, 2012
KAddy
Love it. My favourite time of the day too. Thanks for sharing. Ps. I like the second one too 🙂
Debby
And people all across the sea, sea, sea
Looked at these pictures so envious-lee, lee, lee,
And thought “Some day that will be me, me, me,
Looking over the scener-ee, ee, ee.
You know. I really got to get my hinder to bed.
Debby´s last blog post ..Fireworks.
BB
We can’t wait Deb!!!! ♥
bushboy
Excellent BB…excellent. Try some even closer photos of the water. The ones I have taken I use them for backgrounds.
little bb
Florence
WOW! How beautiful.
Ainsley
Inspiring BB, you are very clever!
Ainsley´s last blog post ..Wet in July
LeeNJ
You mean you didn’t see the “duck” shape in the water surface in the 4-from-end picture??? Check it out! It’s on the left.
Debby
LOL. Plain as day!
Debby´s last blog post ..Today
BB
No – but I do now… how ‘clever’ am I??
Andrew
Calendar material in this lot of photos.
Andrew´s last blog post ..Malaysia Day 9
A Novel Woman
I love love LOVE these shots! I find all water shots calming. I’m in the midst of moving, so I’m so out of the loop. Glad I caught these.
A Novel Woman´s last blog post ..This is something I would do
Helen G.
I love a random eye… because it allows me to see, see, see places I would otherwise not see. How much beauty would I miss without your random eye?
Thank you for sharing.
Colin (HB)
BB – well you certainly have plenty of water up in your neck of the woods. When will the stuff stop falling???
Will the councils burn back when the vegetation gets out of control? That’s when of course, it from above stops.
I hope all is being organised in your area, just in case it is a long, dry and hot summer.
Oh yes, it is raining still on and off in Brisbane. You really can watch the grass grow. Fascinating to sit and watch – joke, joke!
Cheers
Colin
Anne
and just how much we love, love, love … I know what you mean I am pretty random to. Sometimes I’ll going out with an aim like you and the swans but most the time my attention wanders onto other things I see. Its okay my partner is like that to ‘What are you taking a photo of now?’ I love that close up reflection. Looks like the perfect photo taking evening.
Anne´s last blog post ..Effort Conquers Distance
jeanie
First picture, I see a god (or a ghoul or a sprite) blowing the clouds – that sort of distracted me.
The one I would love for the saying pretty please is the second last (although there are many there that would be excellent) – definitely worth a batch of whatever you want whipped up…
jeanie´s last blog post ..Reports from 5.46am
JulieinOz
Oh My….
Definitely a couple of calendar photos there BB..
So so beautiful…Thankyou.
The last one gets to me…dont know why…just so calming and so quiet.
Love the poetry too.
Patti B
Just found you, have been checking in every day from Northern California USA… Love it!! Keep up the good work.
Leenie
Thanks!
Leenie´s last blog post ..PHILOSOPHIES I BORROWED
SJ
The bird looks like some kind of coot or rail. The American Coot is mostly black like that, but it has a white bill. Their toes have little webs along the side of the toe, but the webs don’t connect the toes like ducks. I found a photo of the Dusky Moorhen in Wikipedia, and it is a bird of Australia.
Kate
These. Are. Gorgeous!
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Georgianna
Fabulous reflection photos! LIke molten gold. 🙂
Georgianna´s last blog post ..Romancing the Rose