Robert's Ramblings

The reason the Leafy Seadragon seems so elusive is that it blends so well into its environment.

It does not matter if it's in kelp or bubble weed or any other of the many species of yellow algae inhabiting our coastal waters, they just seems to disappear into the detail.

For many years I dived in locations where Leafy Seadragons were common and never saw them until I started photographing them.

Now I see them most times I dive where they are still hidden most of the time but not so elusive.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Crouching Diver, Hidden Dragon', 1/200s f/5.6 ISO200 15mm

Adelaide's Festival Centre is awash with interesting activities as part of the OzAsia Festival.

I did not get to find out why this girl was sitting on her glowing magic carpet but what ever she was doing there sure got a lot of attention.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Magic Carpet', 1/80s f/2.5 ISO800 50mm

During the Kelby PhotoWalk we spent a little time under the Morphett Street Bridge where there was plenty of action.

There were actors, photographers, models and other artists all doing their own thing in this very public space.

This man is hard at work pursuing his own special craft.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Man at Work', 1/40s f/3.2 ISO640 50mm

Wow, another amazing pseudo summer's day and an equally gorgeous sunset to round it off.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Pseudo Summer Sunset', 1/2000s f/7.1 ISO320 50mm

Last night I joined local Adelaide photographer Andrew Barre and 34 others for a photowalk around Adelaide as part of the annual Kelby PhotoWalk event.

In its eighth year now, and with more than 21,000 photographers world wide participating in yesterday's event, the Kelby PhotoWalk is testament to the growing popularity and social nature of amateur photography.

Gresham Street is where we all started from.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Gresham Street', 1/250s f/9 ISO200 50mm

Number six on the hopscotch grid has one foot in the square but she's going the wrong way not aware that's there.

A portent of summer has hit us with a fiery vengeance and with that people have come out to play in the sunshine here on Brighton Jetty.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Hopscotch', 1/2000s f/11 ISO100 50mm

Little mounds of stones seem to be part of arid landscape walking trails, at least all of the arid walks I can remember.

I wonder how the scattered rocks and stones come together apparently all on their own because I have never seen anyone actually build one.

There was nothing special about this cairn over any of the other pile of rocks that apparently no one actually built. I just happened to capture this one.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Cairn', 1/500s f/2.8 ISO100 155mm

For those back on shore a brilliant yellow sun hovers precariously above a flat expansive western horizon.

Like a dry swimmer testing the water it first dips a little into the water and then more and more as it's seeming water confidence grows. Eventually it is gone beneath the distant waves.

Here under the water yellow light from the horizon is caught in the myriad crests and troughs of a rough sea. Light sparking magic that very same sunset is brought down here to me.

For a couple of minutes this beautiful display of gold light played out out from above before fading to green and then blue as twilight began.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Submerged Sunset', 1/2000s f/7.1 ISO800 15mm

Take a close look at that speedometer and you can make a pretty good guess that this car goes really, really fast!

Don't just believe those numbers on the dial because they are there. The Audi logo on steering wheel and that intimidating R8 are really all the credentials needed.

So how fast then? How about well over three times out legal limit of 100K/hr!!!

I sure however this beast has only ever done that on a race track!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'How Fast Can You Go?', 1/15s f/1.4 ISO100 50mm

Spending time with my 50mm lens is like learning to see all over again (not that I ever stopped).

I think that I had become lazy with zoom lenses, enamored in the impact and drama of extreme wide angle and in many cases was relying on extreme perspective to draw attention to a scene.

The 50mm lens is forcing me to rethink what gives a scene impact or where a visual story is being told. I have to move around so much more to frame that I spend more time thinking about way I am capturing and in some ways I am developing a new respect for the really good iPhone image makers.

There will definitely be more 50mm to come.

Brighton Jetty, South Australia


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Lenswork', 1/2000s f/11 ISO100 50mm

I'm convinced fireworks are something that need to be seen and not photographed.

Last night we were fortunate enough to experience the OzAsia Moon Lantern Festival including the fireworks finale to the evening.

I started watching with camera to my side and felt like I was missing some great images so I quickly pulled off the lens-cap and started capturing some shots.

I realised I was now missing the full experience of fireworks so I put the camera away again and just enjoyed the show.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Just Enjoy The Show', 1/400s f/2.8 ISO1600 50mm

Four billion years from now our sun might look a little like this except for one striking difference.

It will not have those ever changing sunspots that dance across the face of the sun as we see it in the sky today.

Well at least you would if you were looking at it through welding google strength sunglasses.

It's red in this image because I've used a filter to remove most of that yellow white light we would normally see and turn it into that future red giant we really don't want to see any time soon.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Red Giant', 1/320s f/25 400mm + filters

I emerged from the local shops with supplies for the evening in hand and there it was in all its V10 glory.

Suburban carparks are not really conducive so photogenic car shots so here is just a close up teaser.

Those of you not familiar with Audi's R8 might not be so impressed but I was!!

Would it be too much to ask for one for Christmas!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'R8', 1/250 f/1.4 50mm

They could just keep the glassware in the freezer. That would be more efficient, more practical and save time but ...

It's all about the ice, about the ice, about the ice. It looks cool (pun intended) in the glass and is part of the ritual of authentic cocktail making.

I just wish they did not have to throw it away!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'It's all about the Ice', 1/30s f/1.4 ISO640 50mm

The expression 'on the rocks' can be good or bad depending on whether you are in a bar or on a boat.

In this building there are both and being on the rocks just adds to the effect for both. The recently rebuilt (from the rocks up) Henley Surf Life Saving Club is welcome development from the old 'shed' that once stood there and continues to play a valuable part in the local community regardless of whether you are into boats or bars or beaches.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Surf Club on the Rocks', 13s f/18 ISO160 15mm

Out for dinner or my play time with the 50mm lens?

I like to think I can always combine the two but enthusiasm has its limits and sometime it's best to take a quick shot and then put the camera away.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Out For Dinner', 1/80s f/1.8 ISO640 50mm

It was ugly, imposing and interesting. The clouds where right out of an old Spiderman television cartoon and that 'not' yet architecture could be imagined into anything at all.

And I did ...


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Gotham Constructions', 1/200s f/1.4 ISO1600 50mm

It's not everyday you see a Mini parked on the side of a building.

Unless of course it's bolted there and going nowhere.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Going Nowhere', 1/200s f/1.4 ISO1600 50mm

For all of Winter I have missed Orion in the night sky and until Summer the hunter will remain out of sight for all but the most dedicated night owls.

This is image of the hunter is quite special for me and realises, albeit only just, a goal I have had all my life. Gazing at astronomy books as a child I particularly remember one book in the school library with the amazing Horsehead Nebula gracing the front dust jacket. I have always wanted to see this Nebula for myself.

Now you have look carefully because it is only a few pixels across but there off the end of Orion's belt in pink haze is that distinctive shape I have always wanted to see.

Technically this image is far from ideal. To the left there is significant light pollution from nearby Adelaide but it also quite visibly shows Barnard's Loop (an unexpected surprise), the Fire Nebula and the Great Orion Nebula. Worth all the effort to setup and capture at three o'clock in the morning.

Now I am looking forward next time to getting a little closer.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Welcome Back Orion', 30x60s f/2.8 ISO1600 50mm

We are into the waxing crescent stage of the lunar cycle and moonlight photography is getting easier with more available light for those evening beachscapes.

Bring on the lunar light.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Lunar Light', 2s f/10 ISO800 15mm

I am not a huge motorcycle enthusiast but I recognise a beautiful piece of machinery when I see it.

I came to be under the Morphett Street Bridge checking out the latest art and looking for something I really liked.

What caught my attention instead was not the bespoke blues and reds on a painted wall but the green and black of the machinery parked there.

The rider can't have been too far away, a jacket and helmet were just sitting on the seat so a grabbed a few shots and went on my way.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Green and Black' 1/1250s f/1.4 ISO640 50mm

The days are getting longer, and warmer and more and more people are heading to the beach after work, school or a day just chill'n.

It's late now, the air is chilly and nearly everyone has gone home but the tell tail signs are right there in that well trodden sand.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Well Trodden' 1/10s f/17.1 ISO800 15mm

Ok so it isn't the TED Stage but it's not hard to imagine this Ted talking.

As for that motley crew in the background I'm sure that one of these those Teds belongs somewhere else.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Ted Talks' 1/100s f/1.4 ISO800 50mm

I have been spending some time now with just a simple 50mm prime lens.

The only way to zoom is by moving into a new position to frame an image the way I want it. Many times I find I just can't go back any further due to roads or buildings to get a wide view. Often I am thwarted in getting closer to the detail by fences, walls or windows. 50mm means having to work a little bit harder than I am used to.

Limitations aside I have a new found freedom in that simple 50mm prime lens. No wondering about my choice of lens or zoom. No concerns over missing a shot changing lenses and no bag of gear to lug around with me.

So when I looked up to capture this image of the new Adelaide Convention Centre extension, walked backwards over the North Terrace tram lines to frame my shot, all I really thought about was the composition and the one white car driving by.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'One White Car Seen Heading West' 1/800s f/4.0 ISO640 50mm

These beautiful flowers in my mums garden suddenly appeared one day in an unused flowerpot outside her back porch.

We can only speculate how these Mesembryanthemum came to be there. Perhaps a bird left a little gift behind a while back.

However they came to be in that vacant and unattended flowerpot they are an unexpected and beautiful gift.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Mesembryanthemum' 1/3200s f/1.4 ISO150 50mm

At the Lotus Lounge watching the talented bar artists craft their intoxicating creations.

By the look of those olives on ice someone is about to get one dirty martini.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Getting Dirty' 1/40s f/1.4 ISO640 50mm

Finally the winter gloom is beginning to fade, the days are getting longer and the temperature beginning to edge up.

Little by little Spring is making its way into into our world giving tantalizing hints of a Summer to come.

Not that you can tell any of this looking out into a Henley Beach sunset.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'It's Getting Nicer Now' 1/15s f/14 ISO100 15mm

After a while looking at this image I lose track of which side of the wall I am.

Am I on the inside of a darkened room with the light pouring through or on the outside looking back in.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Inside or Out' 5s f/16 ISO160 15mm

Ignoring the carriages and peering straight through the steelwork it's easy to forget this structure is an amusement ride.

A giant steel spiderweb or perhaps some archaic antenna searching for extraterrestrial life. In fact anything but the fun and games of a show.

I must admit however some deep and primal part of me would rather climb a structure like that. Now that would be fun.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'The SETI Wheel' 1/640 f/7.1 ISO100 15mm

Excited murmuring ran up and own the queue as they waited apprehensively in line.

Above them yelps of joy, shrieks of horror, wailing fear and cries of exhilaration filled the sky. Soon they would know ...

They had all dreamed to fly. They were all about to find out what it just might be like.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'They All Dreamed To Fly' 1/1250 f/7.1 ISO100 15mm