Robert's Ramblings

My experiences diving with Southern Eagle Rays (Myliobatis australis) have all been fleeting affairs.

Timid and never lingering they always seem to glide into view and the off into the distance with no real opportunity to get a feel for their beautiful form and grace. This ray under Rapid Bay jetty last weekend was not different.

It came from behind, swooping past my right shoulder, swam across my vision from right to left then swam out into the sea grass beds. I tried to follow but there did no seem any point as it almost disappeared into the gloom.

Then I noticed a sweeping dark shape head back under the jetty again and head back towards me.

I got one chance for an image as the eagle ray swam straight towards me, suddenly realised I was in its path and then shoot off again into the distance.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Lone Eagle', 1/125s f/14 ISO320 15mm

Summer might be over but the Rapid Bay afternoon sun still has enough sting to burn quite badly.

Out of the water there is not much shelter from the sun unless you know of places like this secret little grotto on the western side of the old jetty.

There's another one down the beach at the eastern end which heads so far into the hillside that both sight and sound are completely lost to the daylight world.

Exploring treasures like this reminds me that childhood adventures never actually need to come to an end.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Sheltered Treasure', 1/800s f/10 ISO100 15mm

During the climax of one of Adele's most beloved songes the arena burst into a ticker tape shower. Little snippets of paper with hand written messages flittered into the crowd, into the stands and out into the parklands beyond the stadium.

"hello", "Twas your song through every open door" and "... to stand in your arms without falling to your feet" were just some of those notes.

Even out here in the parklands, As her hand written notes fluttered to the ground, fans sought just a little of her to take home their very own message from Adele.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Message From Adele', 1/15s f/2.8 ISO2500 100mm

I really like the moon when it's not a full circle. The shadows on the horizon are often quite stunning in highlighting the lunar mountains and creating a real three dimensional presence.

A few days before last night's full moon I decided to revisit the technical challenge of a half reasonable moon shot with an inexpensive camera.

The idea is quite simple. Take fifty or more identical images of the moon in in quick succession, like a sports photographer machine gunning for the perfect moment. The difference is that here there is no perfect moment.

Every image will be a tiny bit different as the atmosphere seethes and twists and curls craters and mountains like a bubbling cauldron or like a distant car shimmering indistinctly on a hot open road.

Combine all those images in just the right way and it is possible put those craters and mountain and lunar features back into their true locations.

Does the process make this image truth or creation? Now there's a question ... for another time.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Waxing Gibbous', 1/60s f/22 ISO100 600mm

I love living with a Western horizon hemmed by sea.

There is something very special about the sun setting over the ocean. There is a completeness to the day.

To watch as the sun moves on to be replaced by the twilight and then the starlight is to have the day's wrinkles smoothed over by the softness of the darkening sky.
It feels right to linger, to ponder and then retire for the evening with another beautiful day complete.

Every night another delight in the western sky.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Western Delight', 1/1250s f/7.1 ISO100 165mm

A rush of water fills the basket then stops, silent for a moment. The gaps seems to last forever.

Then it starts again, the pressure building, the hot water teasing out the oils with their precious flavors.

Next a little trickle, chance deciding which side will appear first before becoming a wriggling pair of golden brown tails.

Thirty seconds later it's all over, the puck spent and the machine silent. Only the rich coffee aroma remains as a reminder of the moment passed.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Espresso', 30s f/16 ISO100 100mm

Come outside and checkout this cloud my work colleague gestured. How fortunate I just happened to have my camera and could steal a few minutes away from my desk.

Once outside, above us billowed the most amazing cumulus cloud structure expanding above the North Eastern skyline.

The detailed textures in the clouds were amazing but without a frame of reference or context I new the drama would be lost in a photograph.

And then VH-YNH flew into my frame.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'VH-YNH', 1/1000s f/8 ISO100 200mm