Robert's Ramblings

I watched the dappled gold light of sunset on the choppy water for some time wondering how I could capture the feel and texture there.

With shutter too fast I got a frozen ice look, too slow and it was a mushy blur.
With aperture too wide there was no depth to the image, too small and there was not enough light.
With ISO too high the image was full of noise, too low and I could not stop down enough.

It seemed that light and my vision had conspired against me until I notice something about the surface of the water.

I simply panned my camera with the speed of the rippling golden wavelets and it all came together.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Panning for Gold' 1/160s f/5 ISO640 155mm

Out beyond a watery horizon two container ships make a silhouette against the almost sunset.

It seems they have half sunk but their massive hulls are hidden behind ocean and the curvature of the Earth.

I was hoping for a the sun to backdrop these ships outward bound. Not to disappoint a rent appeared in the clouds and the sun gave a final wink to send them on their way


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Two Ships' 1/1000s f/2.8 ISO320 200mm

What better way to acknowledge the winter solstice with a kind-of self portrait under the auspicious light of the Moon, Jupiter and Venus.

Jupiter is directly beneath the Moon while Venus is the same distance below again and a little to the left.

Day by day Venus and Jupiter are getting closer and closer together. They won't quite make a conjunction in a weeks time but will get pretty close before they wander off again.

I never planned this image tonight. I was drawn to beach, spent some time there and as I was leaving this opportunity presented itself demanding attention. It got it.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'The Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Me' 1/200s f/11 ISO100 17mm

Moody skies descend on old and new Jetties on the pebble strewn coastline of Rapid Bay.

A few hardy fishermen braving a wintery day, a far cry from the summer hordes.

Looking forward to coming back soon.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'In The Mood' 1/200s f/11 ISO100 17mm

In Leigh Street there is a building with windows covered in these strange tubular cylinders like some crystalline lattice suspended in a void.

Step back a little and this strange feature transforms into a gracious old stone building; the State Records Building of South Australia.

I just like the tubes.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Tubular' 1/50s f/2.8 ISO100 200mm

Such a strange name for a strange creature; Goniocidaris tubaria.

Actually this odd looking ball of spikey arms is one of our local sea urchins. There really is nothing typical about the appearance of a sea urchin. They all have a hard body called a 'last' but the 'last' is an internal structure and not like the exoskeleton of crustaceans such as crabs and crayfish. There after their diversity of appearance is amazing with countless combinations of body shape, arms and arm structure.

Surprisingly sea urchins are quite mobile as they cruise over rocky or coral reef eating algae by scraping it off with the five sharp teeth surrounding their mouth.

As for the strange name, and true to form in the natural world, if you can't eat it or it has no commercial value it only ever gets called by an unpronounceable utterance of Latin, Goniocidaris tubaria.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Goniocidaris tubaria' 1/100s f/7.1 ISO320 15mm

Perhaps once or twice I may have mentioned how much I love Rapid Bay.

I personally believe this part of our coastline is a somewhat forgotten treasure with so many people opting for more commercial places to visit on the weekend within that 1-2 hours drive radius around Adelaide.

The first time I explored the western coastline of the Fleurieu Peninsula from Sellicks Beach down to Cape Jervis and around to Deep Creek I was taken by its rugged beauty and minimal human development. The imposing Kangaroo Island across Backstairs Passage and the Pages jutting out from that treacherous waterway completes a magnificent seaward vista.

I am so lucky to have such a beautiful part of the world so close to home. Too bad I spend most of my time there underwater!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Rapid Bay Morning' 1/400s f/16 ISO100 15mm

Ok so it's the start of winter and as the water gets colder the neoprene gets thicker, the gloves get donned and the hood gets worn in a kind of claustrophobic sufferance.

By now thoughts of exotic warm dive locations are distant memories and the shine of the idea of being a diver is starting to dull. Ten seconds later and as the sky disappears behind a choppy curtain so do all those little reasons why it is no fun to dive in winter.

Onece I am down there in that alien world I have forgotten the preparation, forgotten the hours driving, forgotten the weight of all the gear and even forgotten the cold. It is a privilege that I treasure.

Now I wonder what the gentleman looking down from above is thinking. Is he wondering what it's like to dive?


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Wondering What It's Like To Dive' 1/125s f/11 ISO320 15mm

Leafy Seadragons are extraordinary creatures and we are privileged to share our part of the world with them.

This little youngster is only about 10cm in length and at that size can range from bright orange to deep red making them quite spectacular.

Regardless of size or colour, getting to hang with a dragon is always special.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Hang'n With A Dragon' 1/100s f/7.1 ISO320 15mm

Alexius armed and ready with his new toy.

Today's Rapid Day dive was wonderful and the the visibility has mostly returned after two weeks of milky broth. Armed with his macro and close up lenes Alexius left nudibranchs and other critters now ordering sunglasses for next time.

Now all I need to do is convince him that you can do wide angle photography in South Australia, even photograph nudibranches.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Armed and Ready' 1/320s f/11 ISO320 15mm

In Cafe Assiette in the main street of Hahndorf there is a back room covered in messages.

There were a few posted notices asking patrons not to 'add' to their 'beautiful words'. I could not help be amused at the irony.

Looking and reading deeper most messages were frivolous, personal and light hearted and nothing like the messages out the back door...


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Someone Your'e Not' 1/50s f/2.8 ISO320 70mm

Cheap hanging baskets don't usually attract my attention but I liked the feel of these as they hung from the gutter at eye level the entire length of this Handorf main street shop.

The shop sold chocolate strawberries and you really needed to stoop if you wanted to peruse inside.

Hanging baskets have nothing to do with chocolate strawberries so what about the title. Well they are 'All in a Row'!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Pretty Maids' 1/800s f/2.8 ISO320 200mm

I am not a cat person as such unless we are talking about big cats. I mean really big cats and Jaguars are one of my favorites!

While out hunting I encountered this beautiful big cat resting on the side of the road. Carefully I approached from down wind ever so cautious to avoid attention, took aim and made my shot.

It's always good to come home with a trophy from a successful hunt!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Purrfection' 1/3200s f/2.8 ISO320 200mm

Henley Beach has put on its winter cloak with piles of dead seaweed washed ashore and piling up in massive dark drifts.

Much of the finer sand has been scoured away leaving a course shellgrit underfoot though most will not feel it through their winter shoes.

Soon enough there will be the unmistakable smell of rotting seaweed mixed with fresh salty air and rain.

The swimmers and sunbathers are gone and the beach is mostly deserted.

Winter is here and I like it!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Winter Is Here' 1s f/16 ISO100 15mm

There's a certain time of the evening; long enough after sunset for the twinkle of street lights and and transmission towers; not yet late enough for the first stars to appear.

A time when silhouettes are backed by the fading blue hues of the day tinged with green, orange and grey.

Welcome to the twilight zone.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'The Twilight Zone' 10s f/14 ISO160 15mm

'Air Time' might seem an odd name for this image but it seemed appropriate as I come up for ,air so to speak, from my underwater images.

We are fortunate here in having the diversity of weather which helps in creating dramatic images. Sunsets are obvious of course but when ever there is heavy but patchy cloud and the sun low in the sky the light will be gorgeous and everything looks wonderful.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Air Time' 1/4000s f/11 ISO160 200mm

I spy with my little eye something that starts with 'e'.

It's really not that hard to guess it's looking right back at me.

Mosaic Leatherjacket, Eubalichthys mosaicus

Port Hughes Jetty, South Australia.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Eye Spy' 1/125s f/14 ISO320 100mm

Another first for me. Finally after years of diving I have finally found Veronica.

I called her Veronica as it is an anagram of Verconia verconis, her real name.

She has no common name as is the case with most of our beautifully weird and wonderful sea critters. Unless they are commercially significant or in the popular mind then creatures like Veronica never get a simple name, forever to be known only by some tongue twisting phrase of Latin.

Another wonderful find under Port Hughes Jetty, South Australia.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Veronica' 1/125s f/13 ISO320 100mm

Tucked away safe and sound in a previously owned razorfish shell is a cute little girl octopus.

I know she is female as just outside her protective hideout there are two very enthusiastic males battling it out to join her.

When all was done and the looser vanquished she did not however bow to the victor's octpusly prowess.

Instead she chose to stay in her cosy nook and make him wait.

If you have not seen the battle you can find it on Youtube, Octopus Love Triangle


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Octohideout' 1/125s f/13 ISO320 100mm

This little guy has me beat. At first I thought it was a spotted grubfish but after seeing the beautiful coloured markings I am not sure anymore.

Captured ( photographically speaking) under Port Hughes Jetty.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Curiousity' 1/125s f/14 ISO320 100mm

Filmed under Port Hughes Jetty, South Australia this amazing display of octopus mating behavior with one male defending his access to a female against another male's advances was an unexpected surprise.

I shared this extraordinary encounter with diving friends Alex Sutandio, Mike Rowlands and Robert Paton.

Sound thanks to 'Bensound' www.bensound.com

The trouble with photographing people is drawing attention to myself.

All eyes on me this time!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'All Eyes on Me' 1/60s f/2.8 ISO640 168mm

The moon is waxing again and soon will be full. The pattern repeats over and over but the sky is always different.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Lunar Layers' 1/25s f/4 ISO1600 200mm

I love what I do in the corporate world, expressing my creativity with solutions to problems painted in ones and zeros and control structures and and arcane languages.

I love what I do in my visual world painting with light and tones which I have gathered as images from my local environment.

I am lucky and grateful to be immersed in both.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Painted by the Light' 8s f/16 ISO200 15mm

Trapped behind a protective screen or a caged treasure?

Constrained indoors does not mean no photo opportunities. There's always something interesting to create with objects, light and imagination.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Caged Treasure' 0.4s f/22 ISO100 100mm

I called this image 'Reception' for no other reason than it is the main reception entry to Mount Lofty House where a few of us spent a very pleasant afternoon with local photographer Hilary Hann sharing insights into her images, her travels and her thoughts on the 'art' of photography.

I first noticed Hilary's work a couple of years ago and while not a big fan of wildlife photography, her images moved me with an other-worldliness feel. As if raised from the mundane to some mythical status it was easy to imagine I was looking at a landscape lost in time, remembered as something precious and perhaps even lost. In her work I felt feelings of awe, admiration, wonder and even loss and grief.

Hilary's work can be found at her website http://hilaryhann.com.au/ but nothing beats a real printed and framed image.

At the end of the afternoon I did what any self respecting photographer enthusiast would do... click


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Reception' 2s f/8 ISO160 15mm

This afternoon while photographing sunspots a favorite Pink Floyd song came to mind.

"While you were hanging yourself on someone else's words
Dying to believe in what you heard
I was staring straight into the shining sun"


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Staring Straight Into The Shining Sun' 1/640s f/16 ISO100 400mm filter 400ND + Long pass hydrogen alpha

What can you do with a mobile phone and a marble? ... This!

If I told you the image conveyed the book cover of a collection of short stories by one of my favourite writers you might just be able to work it out.

The author's name appears across the top while the collection title can be seen in the center.

Sorry, toy box marbles were never really designed as optical devices. You might just have to use your imagination.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Marble Vision' 4s f/9 ISO100 100mm

A moment later I was wet, my camera was wet and my evening on the beach was over.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Salty Bathtime' 1s f/20 ISO100 15mm

The afternoon sunlight caught my germinating chili plants in the window sill and I just had to capture it!

It's silly of course. Light can't be captured but hopefully you get the same feeling I did.

Now looking forward to the hot fruits of these little beauties in the months ahead.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Hot New Life' 1/400s f/2.8 ISO100 100mm