Robert's Ramblings

This river is all meant to be underwater but the very low river level has created this stark contrast between the running stream and its dry bed. I desaturated the colours in the rocks to create a further contrast with the rich brown tannins of the river.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 413, Wet and Dry' 1/1000s f/6.3 ISO640 70mm

Friday evening's parade heralded the opening of the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2013.

I captured this burning effegy, a celebration of the Chinese year of the snake, just moments before the stormy wind all but blew out the flames. Fortunately they were able to relight it again.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 412, The Year of the Snake' 1/1000s f/2.8 ISO3200 200mm

A dark Valentine rose to remember...

Last year on Valentine day I posted an image of a rose. The 14th of February 2012 was the last day I got to spend with my dad, the next morning he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

This year I am posting a rose again but with dark muted tones. It is still a symbol of love for me and my family but it will now always be a reminder of that last day a year ago.

We all miss you Dad.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 411, A Valentine Rose for Dad' 1/5s f/32 ISO250 100mm

One of the things I love about 'the golden hour' are the unexpected surprises.

While waiting to catch a bus around sunset I was struck with the soft yellow glow of everything around. Then I looked up.

The normally boring alloy silver street lamp above shone with the most beautiful orange gold colour I am sure I have ever seen and then framed by a magnificent sky it was a sight I needed to share.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 410, The Golden Hour in Turmoil' 1/1250s f/9.0 ISO640 200mm

This cheeking little Adelaide Football Club mascot wannabe was all smiles and squawks for the camera;

... that is until I got too close for comfort and let the poor little raven know in no uncertain terms he could never be a crow!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 409, AFC Mascot Impersonator' 1/640s f/2.8 ISO800 155mm

There is something creepy about shop mannequins.

Dressed in the latest styles, flawless bodies, chiseled features and perfectly lit for effect. In a busy shop they blend into the surrounds, ever present and watching behind your back. But come night time window shopping on a lonely street you can easily convince yourself they are conspiring something uncomfortable.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 408, Did I See Them Move' 1/200s f/2.8 ISO1000 135mm

I'd thought the sunset was over when I looked into the sky above. The glint of reflected sunlight and a golden ice trail tell of another sunset moments into the future.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 407, Last Rays of Sunset II' 1/250s f/3.5 ISO320 200mm

Here is a building I would have walked past or driven past hundreds of times and oddly never noticed.

Perhaps there is nothing really odd about this as all too often we are preoccupied with one one thing or another and don't really get to see what is around us with any more attention than the briefest of glimpses.

The Grand Lodge building of the Freemasons on North Terrace was constructed over the thee years 1925-1927 and stands as one of many beautiful examples of grand Adelaide architecture from the early 20th century.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 406, Home of the Freemasons' 25s f/7.1 ISO500 15mm

The Grand Lodge. What more can I say.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 405, The Grand Lodge' 15s f/20 ISO500 15mm

The first time I tried to photograph this tree I was foiled.

I had just setup the camera on a tripod for a long evening exposure when the sprinkler system burst into action. Both camera and tripod were retrieved with no water damage other than wet clothes.

This time I got a perfect evening, the last of the evening's twilight and not more than the gentlest breeze.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 404, Trees Are Complicated' 2.5s f/7.5 ISO500 15mm

There is so much carry on how government at all level seeks to put in place rules and measures to protect ourselves from ourselves.

The truth is they do not care for our safety at all, just their own skins from being sued. This make all the more amazing the paradox of skate parks. These floodlit constructions of steel, wood and concrete pack a wonderful mix of play and danger, almost like being the in the real world again!

Here is a place our safely conscious, litigation averse, mother state government authorities have given responsibly for well being back to us. Letting us decide on what risks we are prepared to make and giving us the chance to literally fly by our own endeavors.

I love skate parks. I love watching the tricks and the stacks, hearing the yelps and the woots, seeing the courage and the guts; ... from my relatively safe little spot on the side!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 403, BMX Erosion' 1/5s f/8 ISO2500 40mm

The wee hours between midnight and sunrise used to be when Adelaide slept.

It seems now that Adelaide is starting to come alive during these hours. Not with party revelers and late night clubbing but with road crews and construction workers.

It makes sense to keep this kind of work out mind, sight and inconvenience by bringing in the night crews. Just drive around the city after midnight and you will be dazzled by bright floodlights, slowed down by 25km/h limits, corralled into single lanes by traffic cones and crew in high visibility vests and have to wait for trucks completing impossible turns in tight places. It's all little surreal actually.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 402, The Night Crew' 1/20s f/2.8 ISO1600 200mm

Adelaide is full of interesting architecture. Some of it obvious, some of it hidden and some of it lost in familiarity.

The Adelaide Railway Station was built in the 1920's and was a grand building by all measures at the time. In the 1980's most of the building was redeveloped into Adelaide first and only casino. As a child I remember the beautiful dome above the great hall but now it is enmeshed in the glitz and carry on of a gambling house.

There are still parts of the original building just as they were 80 years ago. They are in plain sight and all you have to do is see them.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 401, Above The Trains' 1/30s f/22 ISO1600 200mm

The night's not yet over and the bar is still open but the canned music which now permeates the venue has no comparison to night that was.

Some instruments are still standing, waiting for their pilots to take them home. Others have since left the building. Soon we will do it all again and I can't wait!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 400, Five Strings To Heaven' 1/100s f/2.8 ISO3200 15mm

Chino and Flex doing their thing on stage at the Metro tonight.

Liquified grooves debut appearance went off!!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 399, Liquified Grooves' 1/80s f/2.8 ISO3200 200mm

The Lodge on King William road is an aged care facility and as such is well lit all night creating a dramatic presence not so noticeable during the day.

While taking this image I was approached by security, advised I was on private property and ask what I was doing. Being private property I understood the image was in the balance and how I responded would mean the difference between being able to show this image or not. I simply stated that I was creating a private collection of images depicting important local architecture. Without waiting to be challenged further I went on to describe the technical difficulties in creating an image like this. I guess my earnestness and enthusiasm paid off. Convinced I was doing not harm I was allowed to finish taking this image without further protest.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 398, The Lodge' 6s f/7.1 ISO800 15mm

Blooming hot!

For more than a year I have been tending to a little chili plant I had grown from seed, the Bhut Jolokia, also known as the Naga Ghost Chili and reported to be the hottest chili in the world.

My ghost chili plant is now thriving and covered in bright purple fruit! I have pulled back the reds, oranges, yellows and greens in this image to emphasize the amazing colour but the purple fruit really are that purple!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 397, Bhut Jolokia' 1.3s f/22 ISO800 36mm

In the quiet early hours these cold steel bollards stand silent.

They will never known the strain of a heavy berthing line under tension as they stand well back from the edge of the wharf only to watch both ships and people as they pass by.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 396, Bollard Sentinels' 6s f/14 ISO1600 32mm

Last night was the last night any of us would enjoy the company of well known and loved Adelaide poet John Pfitzner.

This image is dedicated to him. The last rays of the last sunset he will ever know come streaming in through the stained glass skylight of Christ Church Wayville. The Adelaide Poet's Corner group had readings there last night and John along with others came along to listen to poetry by guest readers. After the poetry I had a wonderful conversation with John about finding the muse and finding ones own unique voice be it with poetry or with pictures.

John passed quietly last night in his sleep. Rest in peace John.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 395, Farewell John' 1/250s f/7.1 ISO800 102mm

If you thought this image was about architecture you have been misled. Intentionally so.

So did the title give a clue? This is an image of one of the most extraordinary objects in our galaxy. A star as big as half of our solar system, a dying star in its death throws and on the brink of exploding in one of the most remarkable events of the universe.

We have not seen a supernova in our Milky Way galaxy for over 400 years. Statistics seem to suggest we should observe one every 100 years so we are long overdue and Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion could explode at any moment. It could already have happened and we are just waiting the 640 years the light will take to reach us.

So which one is it? The red one of course!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 394, Betelgeuse' 13s f/7.1 ISO800 15mm

The first sign of life once the seed tears open is a tiny white tendril like a tongue testing to see if the air and the ground are good.

Into the earth it goes until it is is certain it can be sustained. It begins to grow, pushing the arch of its stalk into the light. The final act of a new beginning is to pull two perfect new leaves from the cracked husk of its abandoned first home as it welcomes the new.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 393, New Beginnings' 2s f/32 ISO320 200mm

As precious as water is I sometimes wonder why we are always told to save it. Like money kept under a mattress, water achieves nothing if not used.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 392, Precious' 1.3s f/29 ISO320 200mm

Concrete, steel and straight line geometry. This is a prison on a grand scale.

Trapped in her corporate world one prisoner takes a moment to check her messages, do the rounds on Facebook and Tweet about something mundane in the peace and quiet of this concrete and steel place.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 391, Urban Prisoner' 1/25s f/11 ISO320 15mm

There are spaces between the buildings. Clean and windswept places with towering walls imposing perpetual shadow.

These are the familiar canyonlands which trace the boundaries of owned and ownership in all our cities. It is almost magic how the serenity of nature's own constructions is echoed in these very man made places.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 390, Canyonlands' 1/10s f/11 ISO320 15mm

If you into surfing then Adelaide's local beaches might be a bit of a disappointment.

If on the other hand you enjoy your beachside experience without getting wet then there are plenty of opportunities to kick back with a coffee, a meal or a stroll along the beach and take in the sunset.

This couple might not be planning to get wet as they enjoy the 'non-surf' but I am sure at some stage they will.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 389, Beachside Meandering' 1/320s f/11 ISO400 15mm

I wanted to convey the cosiness of a candlelight dinner party but the animated state of everyone made capturing a moment without blur difficult.

Not that blur is a bad thing but not what I thought wanted for this image. Later when working with the image I decided I wanted the guests to be indistinct and really wished I'd captured more 'blurred' images. To achieve the indistinctness I wanted I ended up using quite a strong vignette. The strong vignette by the very nature of a candle lit setting seems quite natural and got the look and feel I was after.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 388, By Candlelight' 1/40s f/2.8 ISO2500 160mm

At first I thought this flower was the Scots Thistle, the national Scottish flower. I was incorrect, or was I?

Looking more closely I discovered that this thistle is actually Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare. This is where the etymology and history of this plant becomes confusing. Most references I came across to the Scots Thistle name the Cotton Thistle, Onopordum acanthium as the plant actually stated to be the Scottish emblem. On reading little further into the old stories of how this flower came to its status of Scottish nation emblem I discovered that the Cotton Thistle was only a recently introduced species and that Spear Thistle was the native plant of the region at that time and most likely species to have been the plant responsible.

So is this thistle the Real McCoy after all? Maybe.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 387, The Real McCoy' 1/320s f/11 ISO1250 200mm

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There has been quite a lot of discussion lately about the use of vignetting as an artistic tool.

Originally the vignette was a technically undesired featured of an image caused by limitations in optics during capture, printing or both. An unintended but desirable side effect was to draw attention into the middle of the image. Modern lenses still create a natural vignette when used wide open but most applications for digital post processing provide tools for intentionally putting in a vignette.

So now it is a matter of taste and art. This is how I saw the reed flower and how I chose to present it.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 386, Tall and True' 1/1600s f/2.8 ISO640 120mm

This old car had been hidden away for years and was only just discovered before Christmas.

I can't help wonder at its story and how it came to be where it is today. Not just how it came to be where it is now but from the very ores mined from the ground from which it was made.

If I had a time machine I imagine I'd follow it back; years, perhaps decades. Curiosity satisfied I'd let nature reclaim that which had originally been hers.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 385, Reclaimed' 1/20s f/8 ISO160 15mm

After the sun dips below the horizon the sky transitions through beautiful hues before becoming black and filling with stars. Throw in some dramatic cloud and a bright waxing crescent moon and this the delightful evening we enjoyed.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 384, Afterglow' 15s f/11 ISO100 15mm