Entries by Robert

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

Autumn is a very special time of the year for many who appreciate the colours of 'the fall'.

I'd always wondered why they called it that when most of our trees are evergreen and not really with the program.

Still there are a few places around where the leaves turn through colours such as yellow, orange, red and crimson.
Where they fall to the earth to create a coloured three dimensional carpet perfect for little children to bury themselves under or for photographers to add an extra dimension of 'romantic' into their themed portrait images.

So if you are into 'the fall', enjoy it while it lasts because
...
winter is coming.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 863, Totally Autumn' 1/8000 f/2.8 ISO640 100mm

Tucked away down a side street off Jetty Road in Glenelg is yet another extraordinary piece of street art by the Toy Solders Crew.

I can't be absolutely certain of the individual artist's identities but the names 'Fredrock' and 'Benzo' keep popping up.

I have seen examples of their work all over Adelaide but this piece with its undercurrents of a dark version of 'The Little Mermaid' would have to be my favorite.

For those in the know it reminds me how important it is to always be blowing bubbles.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 862, Toy Solder Crew' 1/160 f/16 ISO320 29mm

Red, red sky
Goes to my lens
Makes me forget that I
Can't shoot to long

Red, red sky
It's up to you
All I can do, I've done
I 've shown up to you
Yes, I have shown up to you

I'd have thought
That with time
The ocean view
Would leave my head
I was wrong
And I find
Just one thing brings me back

Red, red sky
Stay 'till the twilight goes
Don't let me miss your show
It's filling with art
My blue, blue heart.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 861, Red Red Sky' 1/13 f/16 ISO320 15mm

There's a story here on this hidden wall in suburban Adelaide.

Who is the man with briefcase and folder and who are the two figures in the window watching him leave? Or is he leaving?

Is the woman begging or perhaps offering something, and to whom?

Are there learned men walking the halls of some hallowed place oblivious to the personal stories all around them.

There seem to be many stories here though I have been told none of them.

For now I will imagine my own.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 860, Untold Story' 1/100 f/7.1 ISO160 33mm

There are two places in the world I am drawn to. In some sense they are complete opposites but really they are all just aspects of our amazing planet.

One is, obviously enough, the ocean. The other, and sadly I have not spent enough time in them , the mountains.

Many times I peer out to the clouds on the horizon and image tall beautiful capped mountainous or fiery volcanic lava flows.

This time a pelican all alone against the sunset is as gorgeous as it gets.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 859, All Alone' 1/8000 f/4 ISO100 200mm

Farewell Tin Tin. You were an amazing friend to us nearly 16 years until you slipped away from us in your sleep today.

This image of Jennifer and Tin Tin was taken only four days ago. It was his last day on the beach sniffing rotting seaweed, other dogs backsides and shying from the huge Henley Beach surf.

We are so lucky you lived so many years strong, healthy, often ditsy, always food obsessed and never quite grown up.

Thank you Tin Tin for your gorgeous nature, your beautiful temperament and for being our family's best friend.


em>Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 858, Farewell Tin Tin' 1/500 f/8 ISO320 120mm

With autumn nearly over and winter on its way our beach is starting to take on a disheveled windswept look.

Clumpy, patchy, pools of water where the ocean has scoured the sand and piles of seaweed heaped here and there.

No longer the postcard place of summer but still as beautiful as the seasons change.

Winter is coming ...


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 857, Winter Is Coming' 1/320 f/8 ISO320 200mm

The autumn tones are indeed beautiful but while meandering through the garden I found I became more enthralled with shapes rather than colours.

Among the crimson leaves of the liquid amber tree were a few pods still hanging on from summer.

This spiky pod now well shriveled will fall off eventually but for now I am glad to capture its profile against the autumn sun.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 856, Liquid Amber' 1/8000 f/25 ISO320 100mm

I love how we have held on to the romance of tall sailing ships. A symbol so ancient in the travel of humanity for every reason imaginable.

No longer needed for exploration of uncharted lands or even escape from humanitarian tragedies, sailing ships today really belong to the world of maritime romantics, sailing enthusiasts and big boys toys.

South Australia's own sail training ship, the 'One And All' has been used teach sailing, to host youth training and mentoring programs as well as public recreational cruising.

Though I have admired her and photographed her many times I have never been on board. A situation I hope to remedy.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 855, Come One Come All Come One And All' 1/400s f/5.6 ISO400 200mm

Another day comes to an end and our 'Sol' hovers on a watery horizon.

It might be 'so long' for now but as sure as as anything can be, we will see you in the morning.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 854, So Long Sol' 1/4000s f/16 ISO100 200mm

At first I thought it was unnatural. I Imagined stone shapes cast in some exotic mix of concrete, sand and and gravel.

On closer inspection it appeared to indeed be real granite. I left with this image and a puzzle.

Later I learned that this new Adelaide Airport water feature is actually a complex sculpture made up of over six hundred individually carved granite pieces designed by artist Mark Stoner (what a great name) .

So real as that granite may very well be, its still all a little unnatural.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 853, Unnatural Watercourse' 10s f/22 ISO320 21mm

This recent addition to Port Adelaide's waterscape is actually a pair of bridges, one rail and one road.

The two are unusual not only for being single leaf drawbridges but also for the history of how they came to have their current names, the Mary MacKillop and Tom 'Diver' Derrick Bridges respectively.

Both were originally called the 'Prexy Bridges', short for Port River Expressway. Next the road bridge was changed to the 'Power Bridge' to honour the local football club while giving the new name of the rail bridge over to a public competition. The public never got their say and the rail bridge was named by the government after Saint Mary MacKillop instead.

Meanwhile the public were never really happy about the road bridge being called after a football club and with the agreement of the Port Adelaide Football Club, the road bridge was finally named after local WW2 hero Tom Derrick.

Call the two what you will, they're still bridges and do what bridges do best!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 852, A Bridge By Any Other Name' 15s f/5.6 ISO100 17mm

Pan is normally associated with green fields, mountains, wild places and the shepherd of flocks.

The grey indistinct void, the ethereal light and the strange indistinct background artifacts somehow seem out of place.

I am sure though Pan's melody would beguile no matter where he was.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 851, Pan's Melody' 1/4000 f/3.2 ISO100 200mm

So white, so clean, so empty.

This concrete helix provides access to the various parking levels at the Adelaide Airport terminal.

I like the fact that vertical traversal has been separated from the congested maneuvering of car parking space. Not that there is any mayhem this time of the morning.

For now at least its just clean, white and empty; the way a car park should be.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 850, Concrete Helix' 13s f/22 ISO320 17mm

Colour, colour, colour. I think that's why I liked this so much. That and those big bug eyes!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 849, Bug Eyed' 1/6400s f/3.2 ISO100 200mm

Just because you have control does no mean you are in control.

What does it mean to be 'in control' anyway?


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 848, In Control' 1/50s f/2.8 ISO3200 200mm

What an odd name for a watch I thought; 'Pebble'.

I find it curious how with the advent of phones and computers providing time keeping more and more people are wearing watches less and less.
You can almost spot a technophobe now by the fact they are still wearing a wristwatch.

Things are however changing and the once humble wristwatch may indeed be making a comeback under the headline of 'wearables'.

Watch this space (pun unintended)!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 847, Pebble'. 5s f/8 ISO100 100mm

They were selling jars of stuff.

Hundreds of them all filled with some off-white coloured cream.

I did not ask what was in them. I did not read the labels, in fact I did not even notice if they had any.

I simply loved the repeating pattern and the reflections in the glass lids.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 846, Glass Jars'. 1/1600s f/8 ISO100 200mm

I first photographed this bridge when it opened in 2012 and have traversed it many times since.

I've crossed it meeting people from abroad or delivering friends and family embarking on or resuming their own journeys.

I've crossed it as a single man and returned with my bride.

I've admired its design of glass and concrete and steel. I will however always lament the one thing missing from this beautiful structure; ... colour.

To me this will always be a grey, grey walk.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Days 845, The Grey Walk'. 5s f/22 ISO320 17mm

Here's a place I have seen many times but never actually been to, the Birkenhead Tavern.

Seen here from across the Port River it looks alive and buzzing and perhaps even warrants a visit for a a meal or even drink or two.

I must say I am a sucker for anything waterfront so that alone is enough or a draw. Throw in some live music and we will be there!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 844, The Birkenhead Tavern', 1/5s f2.8 ISO320 200mm

I often hear wine punters discuss vertical tasting events.

Despite the fact that this actually means tasting the same wine from a series of successive vintages I find it amusing to imagine it simply being the normal state of a glass of wine held in the hand.

So what would a horizontal tasting event be like? I'll let you imagine that one for yourselves.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 843, Horizontal Tasting', 1/15s f11 ISO100 100mm Lighting 2 x Inon LE720

Many times it's not enough to 'see' an image and capture it.

'Well seen' is an expression often used when the composition of an apparently ordinary scene brings it to life but this idea really only applies to lenses and apertures close to our own vision.
There is a different kind of seeing that you know will only be possible after the fact. Images with shallow depth of field, extreme perspective, flares or bokeh simply don't exist in our human vision.

Who would guess that this pretty pattern of coloured transparent dots between two bollards is actually the Adelaide Bright Cement works.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 842, Between Bollards', 0.3s f2.8 ISO320 200mm

Henley Beach jetty has many moods. In fact they are as varied as ours.

Often they are not so obvious, as subtle nuances of the changing tides and weather. This is especially so on our many mild days.

Bring in the clouds and the wind and the rain and put the sun to bed and the mood is not so subtle any more.

I'm sure it's brooding over something, ... again!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 841, Brooding', 10s f14 ISO160 15mm

We have a lot to thank popular culture for the way it changes our thinking in the most bizarre ways.

Here I am looking at a fountain that just isn't doing its thing with any sense of enthusiasm. Half measures I thought!

The moment that thought entered my head I was thinking of Walter White from Breaking Bad when he stated "no half measures'.

Well that line of thinking leads to either very good or very bad depending on the measures you take.

Now to find the control valve and show them what that fountain should look like!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 840, Half Measures', 1/8000s f4 ISO320 70mm