Robert's Ramblings

I watch in awe as the dark smudge in the ocean to the north finally reveals itself as a long distance swimmer.

Unlike the robotic repeats of swimming pool confined laps the ocean is a very different place. With no bottom to rest on, no black line to follow, no turns to reset and no laps to count this swimmer simply swims, and swims and swims.

Soon a black smudge disappears to the south and the swimmer is gone with who knows how much further to go.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'The Swimmer', 1/125s f/11 ISO160 200mm

The industrial northwest comes to an abrupt end with Barker inlet, St Kilda Inlet and the mangrove forests heading to the north.

This view from Mt Lofty summit puts it all into perspective.

When I was a little younger I confused mango with mangrove and came to the conclusion we had vast areas of coastline producing gorgeous mango fruit.

I guess I was a little disappointed when I finally understood the difference. Still mangroves have their own special coolness.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Mangrove Vista', 1/8 f/7.1 ISO160 70mm

This playful pair are part of the 2015 'Brighton Jetty Classic Sculptures Exhibition'

Not that I'll be playing with them any time soon. I'd prefer a more solid pair with nice soft coats rather than these barbwire canines.

Still, they don't eat much, never get lost and would make ideal pets for some people I know.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Barbwire Playtime', 1/4000 f/14 ISO100 70mm

As a photographer I have a fascination with capturing images other photographers.

Just watch a photographer, especially a landscape photographer, for a while and you will see how absorbed into their craft we can get. One moment focused on a scene, the next lost in thought.

We really do make excellent photographic subjects except we are usually on the wrong side of the lens.

I watched this photographer walk up and down the jetty, pause to look out to the horizon every so often then turn his head to the ground as he walked back as if he did not see what he was looking for.

At least I did, ... this time.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Hat and Camera', 1/100 f/2.8 ISO640 200mm

This previously unfinished piece by 'Treas' can be found on the north wall of Port Adelaide's Port Authority Building.

It's finished now of course and there are plenty of examples of the final work but I really liked the feeling of the 'creative process at work' here.

My apologies Treas for adding a little of my own interpretation of 'unfinished' by removing the colour from the 'unfinished' side.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Wonderwalls Unfinished Business', 1/100 f/6.3 ISO100 70mm

But wait there is more ...

Polish artists Sainer and Betz of the Etam Crew are doing their thing here on the West Wall of the old Port Authority building as part of Wonderwalls 2015, Port Adelaide.

Again I can't wait to see the finished work.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Wonderwalls The West Wall', 1/800 f/7.1 ISO640 70mm

The guide said this work being done on the north wall of the old Port Authority building is by an artist called Linz. That would be a city in Austria if I was not mistaken, not the artist.

The real creator here is Queensland street artist Lee Harnden. Townsville born but no stranger to the Port Adelaide district and while we chatted he had plenty to say about what he thought 'The Port' really needed.

More artists of course!

I better let him get this one finished (is it bad to publish a work in progress?)


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Wonderwalls The North Wall', 1/320 f/8 ISO100 70mm

Anyone interested in street art should head to Port Adelaide this weekend for a range of amazing graffiti projects ranging from the small to gargantuan.

The old Port Authority building has been an empty blight on The Port landscape for years. Finally it's being put to good use as a canvas for Australian and international artists as part of the Wonderwalls Street Art Festival.

Here New Zealand artists Askew One and Elliot Francis Stewart are in the middle of their East Wall masterpieces or should that be monsterpiece!

The work is slow and meticulous. Not only do the artists need talent with paint and roller but being a skilled crane operator seems also to be part of the trade.

I can't wait to see the finished work.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Wonderwalls The East Wall', 1/320 f/8 ISO100 70mm

Even though I am not out on there on the yacht 'Temptation' enjoying the post-sun golden twilight view of Glenelg and the Adelaide hill beyond I can say I am enjoying the view.

The fact that there is a yacht out there full of people 'doing Temptation' and having a fantastic evening not only provides a beautiful image but reminds be to be grateful for this beautiful place we live in.

Love doing Temptation which ever way.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Doing Temptation', 1/320 f/2.8 ISO640 200mm

Spending the evening down at Glenelg tonight with my family I casually suggested we go for a walk down to the jetty after dinner.

What followed was really to be expected with the beautiful sights of yet another stunning sunset.

I lingered for a while after the sun had long gone, entranced by the myriad forms of silhouette people traversing the jetty when I looked up, ...wow!

I really wished I had a tripod to capture the detail of this stunning crescent moon but unencumbered without 'the gear' I think I enjoyed the moment even more.

Then it started, first one or two voices in exclamation and then like ripples radiating away in all directions people were looking up and saying 'wow, look at the moon'


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Look at the Moon', 1/40s f/4 ISO160 200mm

Can you imagine just hooking your backside over that rail and going for a mega-slide? I do, ... every time!

Anywhere I find steeps steps with handrails, escalators or some interesting architectural object even resembling a banister rail my heart-rate goes up a notch and my desire becomes non-conformist.

The reality and probably all the better for my general well-being is that it is usually all in my imagination.

Still fun imagining though.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Big Slide', 2.5s f/11 ISO160 15mm

The marine life under Rapid Bay jetty seems to be getting better and better over the last few years after the hit it took when the new jetty was built.

The fish life is abundant and the sea-grass beds a re looking better than ever.

What does seem to be taking its time to recover are the large algae, especially the kelp which adorn the deep pylons at the end of the old jetty.

As this is one of my favourite dive locations I will be keeping a very close eye on this place both above and below the water.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Rapid Bay Looking West', 1/200s f/13 ISO640 150mm

It took a while and there have been a few fits and starts but it looks like summer has finally settled in.

A gorgeous side effect of this summer's reluctance are the beautiful golden sunsets.

I captured this family at my local Henley Beach as they enjoyed this golden summer evening.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Summer Gold', 1/4000s f/10 ISO160 200mm

Have you ever grabbed so much from the lolly jar that your fistful of sweet treasure was too big to get your hand back out!

Well perhaps if it was an attempted snatch and run you may have tried it ... when you were six!

As adults we know better to simply take the entire jar.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Lolly Jar, 1/800s f/5 ISO400 150mm

As we worked at pulling up melted pipework, cutting back damaged bushes, felling burned trees and removing damaged fencing I happened upon this wheelbarrow.

I can imaging how this once bright blue plastic wheelbarrow carried cuttings or garden mulch or assisted in any number of garden tasks.

Today it lies in a melted blue puddle, tire burned away, paint stripped and rusting.

Just another casualty.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Once Was Wheelbarrow, 1/80s f/13 ISO50 135mm

Still exploring this scarred landscape and trying to make sense of what burned and what did not.

Tomorrow we will help put restoration in motion.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Burnt Out Creek, 1/80s f/8 ISO640 17mm

I am still not sure what I think about the 'Gold Class' cinema experience.

The idea of having a late supper and sipping wine while lounging under the 2D gaze of Matthew McConaughey or Cate Blanchett seems disrespectful towards the actors as much as the other cinema guests.

I'm sure I could get used to it though.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Gold Class Exodus, 0.6s f/11 ISO160 15mm

You almost never hear of people on the beach getting angry when a guy or girl sets up a camera in front of them. I do however see the analogy to a surfer dropping in on your perfect set.

Sunsets are a little like that perfect set. There may only be a brief few minutes where the scene is just perfect.

After watching this woman for a minute or two I came to the conclusion her telephoto lens would not notice my intrusion so I dropped in on her.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'She Takes Photographs, 1/160s f/16 ISO100 15mm

Lurking in the garden is a beautiful creature who spins her web every night to rid us of those pesky mosquitoes.

The Garden Orb Weaver is actually a collected name for several species of spiders with similar body shape and behavior. Yes she is beautiful but only from a distance as anyone who inadvertently walks into one of her webs will attest to just how quickly that distance can be achieved.

It might be wishful thinking to hope she keeps the mosquito population down but I sure do like seeing her in our garden.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Lurking in the Garden, 1/100s f/16 ISO1250 100mm 2x Off Camera Strobes

I am not sure what these spikey things found washed along our local shore are or where they come from.

They do however remind me of the tumbleweeds from old western movies only spikier.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Beach Tumbleweed, 1s f/22 ISO100 15mm

I've always wanted to capture a dragonfly in mid flight. I never thought my first dragonfly image would be a victim of a much larger tragedy.

I can only imagine this poor creature flew into this cobwebbed shed to escape the heat of the encroaching fire only to be caught in these black soot encrusted webs.

Mid flight being its final resting place.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Caught In An Ashen Web, 1/60s f/4.5 ISO2000 200mm

One week later and after 40mm of rain this once beautiful section of forest along the Kersbrook Road resembles something from another post apocalyptic planet.

Gaping trenches where tree roots have burned away.

Ash washed into gutters and fresh clay exposed by the rain.

Smouldering steam and smokey memories waft from rents in the earth where the fire has retreated and continues to burn.

Thank you for the rain.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Ash, Rain, Clay and Smoke, 1/60s f/8 ISO640 17mm

Last night I got into an animated conversation involving the merits or not of building our new Torrens Riverbank Footbridge completed and opened back in June 2014.

The conversation had many facets including cost, aesthetics, utility and return on investment.

To me the benefits a creating something beautiful are subtle and intangible but extremely important regardless of the utility.

I love it.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'The Eye of the Beholder', 6s f/11 ISO320 17mm

Smile for the camera he said.

Smile she did basked in the golden light of this amazing spectacle.

Her silhouette will be remembered forever though her smile would never be seen again.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Golden Smile', 0.6s f/18 ISO100 15mm

My fascination with contrails appears to have no sign of letting up.

I love the beautiful white plumes seen in the middle of the day. I love the burnt orange trails in the last rays of sunlight after sunset.

These black contrails however had an almost ominous mystique. Better still I got experience it both ways.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Both Ways', 1/50s f/7.1 ISO160 200mm

SAS Operative: Let me see your number plates.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: You don't need to see their number plates

SAS Operative: We don't need to see their umber plates

Obi-Wan Kenobi: These aren't the bikes you're looking for.

SAS Operative: These aren't the bikes we're looking for.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: They can go about their business.

SAS Operative: You can go about your business.

Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Move along.

SAS Operative: Move along... move along.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'These Aren't The Bikes We're Looking For', 1/800s f/2.8 ISO100 200mm

There are a couple of big round rocks outside the InterContinental Hotel on North Terrace.

Apart from an interesting subject they reminded me of a line from a Douglas Adams book ...

"We’ll be saying a big hello to all intelligent lifeforms everywhere and to everyone else out there, the secret is to bang the rocks together, guys." - "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy," Douglas Adams

Perhaps these are a little big for any any earthly lifeforms but who knows out there in our galaxy and beyond could use a little help because ...

"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space." - "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,"

My apologies to to all those out who are not Douglas Adams fans, you will need smaller rocks.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Banging The Rocks Together', 6.0s f/16 ISO640 15mm

I just could not help myself but now that my 1000 days project is over I will be dropping the day count.

For now it will just be images I share.

Looking far to the Southwest through the haze is first the Myponga Peninsula and then The Fleurieu Peninsula some 90km distant.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Looking to the Southwest', 1/25s f/7.1 ISO160 200mm

What is it to set a goal, a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) and then finally find yourself at its manifestation?

When I began this project it was a simple but ambitious '365 Days' project with a twist, 2012 had 366 of them. At its completion the once audacious goal seemed to become something far less than its original design. 366 days became 1000, my goal had just expanded and the project gained a new life.

Now I find myself at the end of 1000 images and the palpable déjà vu of being here before. What next? A new goal like Thomas Hawk's 'one million published images' might be a little too hairy to contemplate but I will create something to keep me driven and practice this amazing craft we once called photography.

Thank you to everyone who supported me in this project and especially my wife Jennifer and the countless hours of imaging, editing and posting that she graciously allowed and supported. Support is important and without it I would not have reached 1000.

So here it is, image number 1000. A selfie taken at my favorite location Henley Beach Jetty along with my very first attempt at light painting.

It may not be beautiful but I am happy to have a little fun to finish with.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 1000, One Thousand', 35s f/16 ISO100 15mm


Stay tuned .... the show is far from over!

I had the most amazing shot in mind for day 999 but .... Humbug Scrub caught fire.

At first I thought the billowing white cloud above Adelaide was some strange storm cloud but soon it became apparent it was anything but natural.

Today was hot, 44degC hot, and all morning the catastrophic fire warnings were being repeated for all of the Adelaide Hills. For Hills dwellers a fire like this is always on theirs minds during our summer and today the worst appears to have happened.

I've not heard of any injuries to people so far and I hope it stays that way while fire crews do their best to bring it under control.

Just to put some perspective on this bushfire, this image was taken from Rapid Bay Jetty, nearly 100km away to the South.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 999, Humbug Scrub Bushfire', 1/800s f/7.1 ISO100 200mm