Robert's Ramblings

There is something both beautiful and terrifying about comet Leonard’s appearance in our evening sky. This time last year no one knew it even existed.

For the last 40,000 years the comet has been hurtling inbound from the depths of our solar system on its 80,000-year orbit. Greg J Leonard discovered this expectant visitor back in January and his namesake finally became visible to the naked eye this month.

Beautiful because visible comets are a rarity in our night skies. Terrifying because we had no prior knowledge of its inbound journey and then how terribly close to earth it came. It is a reminder that we have no idea what is out there coming for a visit and very little time to react when discovered.

This time, astronomers and stargazers around the world got to see comet Leonard as a delightful visitor to our solar system and to our night sky.


#landscape #astrophotography #comet #leonard #c/2021-a1 #palmer #southaustralia #darksky

It’s the night before Christmas and a man walks alone along a solitary Galway alley. The lights in the shops now display gifts that could have been. More likely they will be snatched up in the post-Christmas sales when their value as tokens of love and affection has passed by for another year.

Whenever I see someone walking alone on Christmas Eve I wonder what their story might be. Is there a loving family somewhere waiting for them? A friend perhaps, or some other welcoming destination just a little further on. Or maybe they are just biding time before Christmas day.

I wonder because as long as I can remember, Christmas Eve has been my family’s time to get together and enjoy each other’s company. I am so grateful we have always been able to do this.

So on Christmas Eve I would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you – family, friends, acquaintances and passersby – who, despite another difficult year, have made our lives just that little bit richer and given us the opportunity to do the same.

Happy Christmas and may the New Year bring hope, joy and happiness to you all.

Robert & Jennifer


#christmas #galway #ireland #christmaseve #alone #solitary #alley

Well actually if you go hunting you will find quite a few more! Yes I’m back at the Gilman Wetlands again on a typical evening home commute.

I am drawn to these abstracts, the hidden perspective that thousands of people drive past everyday without ever realising its there.

Sometimes I come here and see nothing out of the ordinary. This time two pelicans and their sunset shadows caught my eye.

Regardless, it’s always beautiful.


#gilman #wetlands #pelicans #aerial #abstract #drone #goldenhour #shadows

The planet ‘Kelp’ is hidden to the sight of most as it hides just under the waves that kick up on Aldinga Reef. Divers know it but often overlook it’s beauty seeking instead the grandeur of the nearby ‘Drop-off’ down to the sand below.

I have always loved this part of the Aldinga Reef system with its torturous maze of ledges, swim-throughs, holes and tunnels. The limestone structures provide refuge for fish nurseries as well as habitat for critters that need the cover of cracks and kelp.

You can linger here protected, exploring all those nooks and crannies, even as the fierce gulf current picks up making the outer reef challenging. The shallow water makes it possible to spend a long time before needing to return to the ‘dry’.

Planet Kelp’s crowning glory though is that amazing canopy of yellow-green kelp. It’s just gorgeous making this place come alive with movement and colour.

Can’t wait to visit again soon.


#scuba #diving #fisheye #ocean #photography #aldinga #kelp #underwater #wideangle #southaustralia #aldingareef #silverdrummer

By all accounts it was one amazing day out on the ocean. Our first real day of summer and sea conditions that were nothing short of perfect.

Our plan had always been to venture South to the incredible Aldinga Reef system and dive that infamous drop-off if conditions permitted. Not only did the conditions permit, they invited!

Dive shots with 15m visibility to come later but I had to share this image of our tiny section of drop-off.

To give a sense of scale here the yellow green kelp is at 5 meters, the dark blue-green shadowy band behind us is around 12 meters deep while the pale white sand lies around 17 meters. The drop-off is not deep by many standards but perfect to create an immensely grand sense of scale underwater.

Every South Australian diver would be very aware of Aldinga Drop-off’s ‘infamous reputation’ so I will not go into the details but for my land locked friends this site has had two high profile Great White Shark attacks. One attack resulting sadly in a death and the other one very fortunate survivor.

I love this place and will be back soon, I just need to put in my order for these amazing conditions again.


#Aldinga #aldingareef #aldingadropoff #reef #sea #ocean #boat #scuba #diving #boating #southaustralia #aerial #drone

The remaining pylons of the old Port Willunga Jetty would have to be one of the most photographed iconic features of the greater Adelaide coastline.

‘Most photographed icon’ often translates into kitsch so I looked for a different perspective in those last rays of sunlight and found one.

You’d never even know there was once a jetty here except for those shadows of the past.


#portwillunga #jetty #beach #aerial #drone #coastline #shadows #goldenhour #sunset #southaustralia

Indistinct shapes move among indistinct forms.

The large forms wobble, snap back; wobble, snap back; wobble, snap back. As if they are trying to escape some invisible force holding them in place. They have been trying a very, very long time.

The smaller forms wobble, drift; wobble, drift; wobble, drift. The force that brings them here is less obvious, more fluid but still there. A force as ancient as the stones themselves.

Stony Point in winter relives this dream year after year, decade after decade, perhaps century after century and possibly unaccountably longer.

No one knows how long the Giant Cuttlefish have been coming here.

Let the dream last.


#abstract #water #motion #fluid #critters #cuttlefish #giantcuttlefish #marinelife #molluscs #pointlowly #sepiaapana #southaustralia #stonypoint #whyalla #aerial #drone

More often than not when you want to capture an image of some particular critter they have other ideas. That’s how it usually is with Shaw’s Cowfish, (Arcana aurita).

I have countless images of cowfish where as get my camera into position they turn adding yet more backsides to my collection.

I was expecting things to go the same way again on my last Rapid Bay night dive. Just to rub it in this little guy joined me almost as soon as I got in the water.

I tried an initial few shots and was immediately rewarded with more backsides. At that early snub I lost patience and proceeded on my dive to the jetty’s T-section. Several times this little guy kept swimming in front of me and I refused to make even an attempt! On I went.

On reaching the T-section I turned on my red lights, started hunting for photo opportunities and discovered I’d been followed all the way to the end. This time the little cowfish was happy to swim in circles in front of my camera and I finally captured that cute little face.

I am glad she had more patience than I did.


#Aracanaaurita #Cowfish #Critters #Fish #Jetty #Paintedboxfish #Rapidbay #Scuba #Diving #Shawscowfish #Southaustralia #Underwater #Photography #night #macro

I think Lady Beetles are my favourite of all the insects that inhabit my experience. For reasons I have never been about to fathom, every time a Lady Beetle flies into my world I smile and am happy.

For as long as I can remember I have been entertained and delighted by their clumsy antics. Often landing on and exploring the most absurd of things I have always been at the ready to rescue and repatriate them back out into the garden again at the slightest hist of distress.

Lilies too have a special place in my memory with their affinity for creeks and streams and their regal slenderness. Unlike the pretty flowers mum grew in her garden, these denizens of bracken fern spring watered gullies were mysterious, exotic and compelling to be near.

Here in a little Adelaide Hills creek where I was drawn by the lilies, I was delighted to capture two of my favourite things in the one moment.


#insects #critters #flowers #lilies #lilly #ladybug #ladybeetle #beetle #nature #adelaidehills

A thing of childhood nightmares lies before me, mouth agape. Like the edge of a precipice I am drawn inexorably towards that perilous abyss beyond. Every fibre of my being screams ‘don’t’ while body inches forward regardless.

After all this Doughboy Scallop is only a few centimetres across and I want a really good close up shot!

Scallop’s are actually quite interesting critters in more ways than just a favourite menu choice. You’d never find one of these on your plate though as the Doughboy Scallop forsakes a mobile life on the sea floor and settles instead for a permanent niche amid the sponges and other benthic life. Once a permanent home is found this guy will never move again unless his home is wrenched away by storm or other trauma.

As for those amazing blue eyes. They are a marvel and what always draws me inexorably towards another image!


#Animals #critters #Scuba #Diving #Rapidbay #Jetty #Life #Macro #Marine #Night #Ocean #Sea #Underwater #Doughboyscallop #Eyes #Mimachlamysasperrima #Nature #Scallop #Southaustralia #monster