Robert's Ramblings

As the strange blue light light shone up from below the surface the bridge above was cast in an otherworldly glow.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 893, Overwhelmed With Blue' 1/20s f/2.8 ISO2500 88mm

As the soft filtered light shone down from above the clouds the ancient temple grounds began to glow the most amazing fluorescent green.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 892, Overtaken with Green' 1/125s f/2.8 ISO160 200mm

I often see couples long after sunset still standing at the waters edge lingering, watching, musing.

In this image, almost like a nudge at us grown up's seriousness, I love the way the young child is too playful to contemplate in stillness but so wanting to be like mum, or perhaps older sister.

Perhaps the young lady is imagining the joy of being like a child again.

I think it must be a universal truth that what ever we feel or see looking out to that watery horizon, hope is out there also.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 891, Hope Is Out There' 1/80s f/2.8 ISO640 200mm

Diversity is what makes life here interesting. I'm sure every one of these people were praying in their local temple or shrine only hours earlier!

Party on dudes (and dudettes)!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 890, Prayer To Party' 1/10s f/2.8 ISO2500 135mm

These three devout Balinese worshipers in prayer could just as easily be in any recent century except for one small little sign of modern technology.

I'm sure if you checked their pockets you'd find smart phones and Facebook as well, on silent of course.

Seriously though we were impressed with how important spiritual life is to the Balinese people and how intertwined the rituals and festivals are to their everyday lives.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 889, Hindu Prayers' 1/500s f/2.8 ISO800 200mm

I really have no idea if the baby is male or female, I just liked the title.

Actually the title is an interesting lead into the world of the long-tailed macaque monkey, Macaca fascicuiaris

The long-tailed macaques have a created a matriarchal society with 'the Mother' being its head.

Females macaques stay with the group their entire lives, their acceptance being automatic while they males leave as they reach maturity and wander until they find a new group where the females have the last world on their acceptance or rejection!

Perhaps we could learn a thing or two from the these residents of the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 888, Mother and Daughter' 1/500s f/2.8 ISO640 75mm

Of all the pools in Tirtha Empul there was one guarded by shoulder high walls and no obvious way to reach the water.

The colour of the water was a gorgeous turquoise fringed with green. Longs thin strands of dark green algae as fine as angle's hair held tenuously to the bottom as the bubbling water gushed from a rent in the centre of the pool.

Dark sand bubbled and broiled as the bottom shifted and moved with the flowing spring. No wonder this place was made sacred centuries ago, now off limits to mere mortals

At least the birds still have the freedom to swoop in on sacred wings and drink as they please.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 887, Sacred Wings' 1/1600s f/2.8 ISO3200 200mm

Although I have been drinking coffee all my life this is the first time I'd seen the fruit responsible for my addiction, Coffea arabica

To my surprise the coffee fruit tasted sweet, almost like dates . There was not much flesh though with the two beans halves inside taking up most of the volume.

I chewed through the raw beans but they tasted nothing like the coffee I have come to enjoy which really highlighted the role roasting has on coffee flavor.

I'm not sure I can say I got a caffeine hit from the raw fruit but I did experience a buzzy tingling effect in my mouth for some time after.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 886, Arabica Addiction' 1/200s f/2.8 ISO100 125mm

There are some very cool DJs out there and there are some DJs out there mixing some really cool sound.

This guy might not be a pioneer in his craft but he certainly knew how to make his Pioneer bend the sound the way he wanted it.

Yep, we like it, we liked it a lot!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 885, Bending The Sound Bali Style' 1/5s f/2.8 ISO3200 15mm

I wonder what secrets remained hidden from me at the top of the stairs?

I could have continued on and up. I had already explored some distance beyond the boundaries we had originally thought existed.

It was here I chose to go no further, to head back.

It's not that I wasn't up for the adventure, I was. It was simply that I had no one to share it with.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 884, Secrets' 1/13 f/2.8 ISO800 70mm

When I first saw the brightly lit logo of a popular Seminyak nightspot 'Cocoon' I was reminded of the 1985 movie of the same name.

As we kicked back with drinks and took in the atmosphere here I glanced over to the glowing blue swimming pool and wondered what was in there!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 883, Cocoon' 1/50s f/4.0 ISO160 200mm

In the modern western world this truly ancient symbol may evoke negative emotions but the true meaning is the complete opposite.

Here withing the walls of holy Tirtha Empul the swastika, as a Hindu symbol represents the Brahman in its energy manifestation; Shakti.

For more than 8000 years this image has symbolized goodness. It still does for most of the world. Hopefully it will again for all.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 882, Ancient Symbol' 1/160s f/2.8 ISO800 168mm

The world's most important food and there is also a good chance you have never seen it like this before.

In a total contrast to a previous 'rice' image this time the harvest has all its husky goodness still intact.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 881, Worlds Most Important Food - Part II' 1/125s f/8 ISO100 15mm

Like strip lighting guiding the way to your seats in the theatre, the Balinese equivalent guides tourists and locals alike from the shoreline back up to the bars and restaurants of Seminyak.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 880, Lights On The Sand' 1/100s f/2.8 ISO2500 200mm

From the bars to the temples the breadth of diversity in Bali is amazing.

Our time wandering through the ancient Hindu temple of Tirtha Empul brought that all together in one place where tourists and locals mixed, bathed in the purifying waters and took time to pray.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 879, The Holy Spring of Tirtha Empul' 1/125s f/4 ISO6160 200mm

Imagine coming to the edge of a 60m cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Imagine looking out to the the incoming sets, following them in to the rocky shore below.

Imagine looking down and seeing one of those rocks jutting out into the ocean all lit up and turning the crashing spray into a million diamonds of light.

We did not have to ... there it was, the Rock Bar!

A funicular took us down from the clifftop to the coolest bar we have ever been to. A DJ was bending the sound from a grotto midway up the cliff face and cocktails just kept coming ...


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 878, The Rock Bar' 8s f/7.1 ISO640 15mm

With the World Cup just days away now Balinese beaches are seemingly more like opportunistic soccer fields with impromptu teams than a place to relax.

It's good to see fans just as enthusiastic about playing as they are about their favourite teams. So what about Indonesia's team? Best not to mention it.

Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 877, The World Cup a World Away' 1/160s f/2.8 ISO640 200mm

As the sun dropped lower and lower towards a bidding horizon the sky, still filled with microscopic volcanic ash, was painted the most amazing hues of orange and green.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 876, Seminyak Sunset' 1/3200s f/7.1 ISO160 200mm

This is a place I am so used to flying directly over and looking down on from 8000 meters. Now I can finally cite the 1980s Redgum lyrics, 'I've been to Bali too'.

The sprawling palatial Ayana resort overlooking Jimbaran Bay is nothing short of extraordinary. With its modern interpretation of traditional Asian building and landscaping it is an amazing place to explore.

We only spent an evening here but it was nothing short of amazing.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 875, Ayana Welcome' 6s f/11 ISO160 15mm

It could very well be an office in space as I imagine the deck of some futuristic starship.

Lit brightly like some luminous edifice amid the grey steel I think I'd feel more exposed in this space than cocooned and the white apex of pillars is such a visual reminder of the great weight above.

I like the novelty but I think I'll pass on this SAHMRI office space.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 874, Office Space' 1/8 f/11 ISO400 15mm

Strummer is over and winder is coming!

I could not think of anything seasonal about picking rather than strumming but with winter indeed moments away I did not really think it mattered.

So strumming, picking, falling or waiting on winter it really doe not matter. A mean guitarist sounds great in any season.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 873, Strummers Over' 1/320s f/8 ISO320 25mm

Fedrico's mermaid is just a small part of a very large mural I absolutely adore by the Toy Solders Crew on Rose Street in Glenelg.

She is just one of a number of really cool underwater characters juxtaposed against a suburban backstreet landscape.

Forget the corporate head shots, these guys are much more fun.

Thanks for the gorgeous work Federico.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 872, Federico's Mermaid' 1/320s f/8 ISO320 25mm

When the sun sits right on the horizon and the sky is full of grey cloud the colours and tones are so surreal as to almost be alien.

Here the shadows do not just creep but are hurled into the distance and the sharpness of light against dark is palpable.

In less than 60 seconds it will all be over ...


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 871, Alien Light' 1/125s f/11 ISO320 15mm

Perhaps not as these instruments are made of stainless steel, not brass and do nothing other than blow hot and cold air!

Still it's easy to imagine some momentous fanfare bellowing from their gaping bells.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 870, The Four Trumpeteers' 8s f/11 ISO400 150mm

No matter the fact that I have not consumed a beer or two.

No matter that fact that I am respecting the speed limit.

No matter that fact that my car is in good order.

I still feel uncomfortable pulling into a police testing station.

There really is nowhere to hide!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 869, Nowhere To Hide' 2s f/11 ISO320 200mm

Another weekend, another sunset, another day over.

No matter how often I watch the sun set into the west I never tire of the scene unfolded.

The colours are always different,
the tide is always different,
the clouds are always different,
the sea is always different,
the beach is always different,
the people are always different,
and my experience is always different.

For a time at least the jetty will not change nor will how much I enjoy this place.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 868, Always Different' 1/4 f/16 ISO320 15mm

I first noticed these didgeridoo like sculptures opposite the Adelaide Police Barracks on Port Road about 12 months ago.

During the day they are almost invisible to passing traffic but at night with their internal lighting they are both striking and poignant. Capturing them has been on my to-do list ever since.

I have tried and tried to find out more about them but so far I have not been able to find any reference to them of any kind.

Please comment if you know more, I'd love to hear.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 867, Didgeridoos' 15s f/11 ISO1600 200mm

Who says Adelaide doesn't do awesome?

Two years ago I photographed the early scaffolding for this amazing building and since then have watched it transform into this extraordinary craft on the Adelaide skyline.

The design of the SAHMRI (South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute) building makes a strong statement in this city more renowned for its churches rather than its progressive architecture. This building along with a host of other bold and controversial constructions in recent times surely indicates we are doing something good.

Yes we do do awesome!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 866, SAHMRI' 1.6s f/16 ISO400 15mm

Sometimes it's nice to experience a little colour.

There was colour in the sky, colour in the rocks, colour on the walls, colour in the sand, colour on the water and there was probably even colour in the air.

Too bad an image could not do any of it any real justice.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 865, Henley Beach In Colour' 1/160s f/16 ISO320 15mm

This dark elongated mass lying on the beach looks like it could have been left behind by some land based creature.

I am sure however that it some form of algae washed ashore and left to dry in the sun.

Still I was not about to prod it to make absolutely sure.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 864, Not What It Looks Like' 1/125 f/14 ISO160 100mm