Robert's Ramblings

This lone sentinel upon the ancient landscape of the Burren overlooks a tomb which has remained undisturbed for more than 5600 years.

Sitting quietly here for a while, looking, listening and using just a little bit of imagination it's not hard to believe that the ancient Irish race who held this place sacred still dwell here.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'There be Ghosts in this Place', 1/160s f/8 ISO100 200mm

There is region in County Clare called the Burren which has a feel about it hard to describe, perhaps even other worldly.

Much of the region is covered with a vast landscape of cracked sandstone which in the distance gives a feel of barrenness but up close is an intricate patchwork of micro ecosystems and full of life.

Far in the distance in this other worldly view lies Poulnabrone Dolman, a 5600 year old tomb which has now become one of the most photographed megalithic monuments in Ireland. Such a fitting resting place for the ancient souls which inhabit this place.

A long time ago on a planet far far away, time and space split and the Burren has remained untouched while the world around it pursues its relentless process.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Planet Far Far Away', 1/640s f/11 ISO100 8mm

Strong and gentle this Doolin local wandered up to me as we walked down the tiny country road on our way to Gus O'Connors Pub. Whether it was for attention or for that portrait moment in the promise of the camera I'll never know why she took a liking to me.

I'm glad she did though as although we spent the evening in O'Connors no other locals came close to competing with that dreamy gaze and those amazing lashes.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Doolin Local', 1/160s f/2.8 ISO640 160mm

Nothing could be further from the traditional 'White Christmas' than basking in golden twilight on an Australian beach in 35 degrees C. Well yes I could get creative and go further however the contrast between these two worlds literally poles apart yet sharing the same festive season is profound.

All through my childhood Christmas time meant sweltering 30-40 degree days, swimming with friends in local creeks, streams and rivers and an annual pilgrimage to the beach. Christmas meant holidays from school, wearing tee-shirts, shorts and sandals, spending hours in the sun, sunburn, bee-stings and grazed knees.

To me the myth of the 'White Christmas' was the stuff of books and Disney movies and Christmas cards.

As the years flew past the world got smaller, the differences grew greater and my acceptance of contradictions expanded.

No longer a myth to me having experienced several Christmases with my northern hemisphere families I now can't help but replace those famous lyrics of Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' with my own Australian summer version.

Photo: Robert Rath, 'Dreaming of a Golden Christmas', 1/25s f/11 ISO160 15mm

Funny how the man in red seems to have found his way in to every continent, culture and climate.

I have seen the man in red in driving a sleigh behind rain-dear above the arctic circle.
I have seen the man in red cruising the the beaches of Adelaide in a converted open top Ford Fairlane in forty degrees!
I have seen him at country fairs, city department stores, pageants and parades and workplace breakup days.

But until this day I can honestly say I've never been serenaded by the man in red and a piano accordion in the main street of Mallow, Ireland!

Well there will always for firsts for everything.

Wishing everybody a wonderful Christmas with family, friends or random 'men in red' and a sensational 2018.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Man in Red', 1/80s f/3.2 ISO320 50mm

With another extraordinary year racing towards the finishing line there is nothing more calming to me than looking out across the ocean to the distant horizon. Gazing out to sea washes away cares and worry and brings back to mind things that really matter.

The next few days will be fun and crazy and a little sad as well with Christmas almost upon us and loved ones gone. Still I love this time of year the way it brings focus back to family and friends.

And then there is the ocean again like some forgotten lover that in one moment I remember with nostalgic fondness and the next I want to wholeheartedly embrace.

I miss being under the water and for any resolutions I might make for the coming year the ocean will be a big part of them.

Gazing out to sea is lovely but being beneath those waves again is where I long to be.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Gazing Out To Sea', 20s f/11 ISO320 14mm

When I took this image outside of an Edinburgh pub the myths of ancient Greece could not have been further from my mind. Then I started reading the works of Homer.

A recurring theme in both Homer's 'The Iliad' and 'Odyssey' is the omen of a bird in flight. Even more powerful is where a bird of prey carries in its talons livestock or other quarry.

A bird seen on the right and the omen would be one of success but on the left such an omen would spell downfall or disaster.

In the Greek myths the bird of prey is always a great eagle carrying a sheep or pig or goat. If you squint a little and use your imagination this hawk could be that great eagle and the rat, a young pig.

Regardless, just make sure it stays on your right.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'An Omen on My Right', 1/200s f/2.8 ISO100 200mm

Another beautiful sunset unfolds casting its soft golden glow over Henley Square.

Up and down Henley Beach Jetty, on the beach and up along the foreshore most eyes were set to the west horizon as the sun dipped into sea.

As sunsets go it was beautiful but for those who thought to look behind it was extraordinary.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Remember To Look Behind You', 1/250s f/9 ISO100 14mm

Bands come and go year bye year, decade by decade. There are however some bands that live on decades later as anchors or focal points to significant periods of our lives.

They don't even have to be favorites or even liked but when we hear them we are instantly transported back years or decade as if no time had passed.

Tonight at the 'Thebby Theatre', Human League, the unmistakable voice of Phil Oakey and the rich layered synthesizer music of the 80's ticked those boxes for me.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Phil Oakey, Human League', 1/160s f/3.5 ISO800 200mm

This is a phase of the moon I rarely see and have never photographed before for reasons that will become obvious.

After an unsuccessful imaging night thwarted with intermittent high cloud and unwanted car headlights we finally gave up around 1:15am.

As we were packing up a very yellow half moon crept over the eastern horizon. It looked so odd seeing that strange inverted moon, so different from the waxing gibbous moons of sensible evening hours.

Later that morning when the moon had risen above our suburban landscape I decided to make the evening worthwhile after all.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'The Other Side of Midnight', 1/80s f/11 ISO100 600mm (best 12 of 36 frames)

Far away from the legendary Sargasso Sea this solitary clump of sargassum weed washes back and forth in the gentle surf of Henley Beach.

Unlike the huge floating rafts of the Atlantic Ocean, this form of sargassum lives a benthic life attached to the rocky reef off our local coast.

On any dive here 'bubble weed' is a sure sign there will be some interesting critters to photograph. Leafy seadragons, short head seahorses and pygmy leather jackets are just some who make this algae their home.

Here however on the sandy shore along side Henley Beach Jetty at sunset it presents a different photo opportunity.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Beached Sargassum', 2s f/20 ISO160 14mm

His last move was the first as he lept off the platform and into Galway Bay.

The rest soon followed with each exploring their very own last move between sky and water.

Finally the sun made its last move as yellow light rushed up the stairs and onto the platform before leaping into the clouds.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Last Moves', 1/640s f/2.8 ISO160 200mm

I partly decided on this title because it's the first thing (yes I know, how unkind) that came to mind and I'm curious about why people love dogs so much. Especially the ugly ones.

Perhaps there's a clue in a song written by Cat Stevens over 51 years ago, 'I Love My Dog'. A quick YouTube search will reveal countless versions. Many versions are personal and heartfelt tributes to lost friends.

Those who are dog lovers will show a devotion to their canine companions to rival the very best of soulmates. Those who are not just don't get it.

I photographed this guy with his owner snoozing on a bench outside of a cafe in Kinsale. I'm not sure if the dog wanted to say hello or scare me off. Either way I stand by my title.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Ugly Mutt', 1/30s f/4.5 ISO100 200mm

In the village of Drumcliffe, County Sligo, lies the final resting place of one of the worlds most beloved modern poets, William Butler Yeats.

Not far from his grave this memorial to his work celebrates the poet, his work and my favorite poem 'He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven'.

This sculpture created by artist Jackie McKenna depicts a man standing on the very words written by Yeats. Here are those words.


He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

William Butler Yeats


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Tread Softly Because You Tread On My Dreams', 1/640 f/4.0 ISO160 105mm

The other night I captured this image of the waxing moon and published a single (out of the camera) image taken at 1/160s, f/9 iso100.

On that same night I took a short sequence of 30 images at 1/160s, f/11 to try and avoid the highlight blowouts.
From these I picked the best 20, stacked them, drizzled them and performed some wavelet processing.

Here is the result. With three to four time more detail and the highlights mostly under control I think I have teased out as much detail as I can.

When the cloudy nights pass and we can see the moon again I'll try for more.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Teasing Out The Detail', 1/160 f/11 ISO100 600mm

I have noticed many strange and interesting marketing campaigns promoting being good urban citizens and binning our litter. This campaign is perhaps the oddest.

First of all I am not sure it is selling the right message. After all, is not the very thing we love about bad jokes is joking how bad they are? Is the message here, an undesired behavior brings reward in the form of entertainment?

Perhaps I am just getting too creative in my thinking and maybe Edinburgh's litter campaign is making a difference.

Regrdless, this joke's on me!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'This Joke's On Me', 1/1250 f/4 ISO320 80mm

Fixer upperer, renovator's delight, builder's hobby home. These are all common expressions for a place that needs an extra dose of something special to restore or keep it's original charm and glory.

Kylemore Abbey, county Galway, ticks all those boxes but keeping it splendid in all it's glory might just demand a little more effort that your average homemaker can muster.

Perhaps this is exactly how the wealthy industrialist Dr. Mitchell Henry felt when he abandoned the family home he built and headed back to his native England.

The Benedictine nuns nuns who purchased the residence in the early 1900's clearly have help from a higher power and to this day the abbey is being continually renewed.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Sacred Fixer Upperer', 1/125 f/8 ISO160 200mm