Entries by Robert

What a perfect evening for photos on the beach with a balmy warm breeze, serious clouds, golden tones and hints of a thunderstorm.

I'm not sure though if I was creating images or teaching my camera to swim.

Regardless of the stress, no real harm came to my camera short of a bit of exterior salt water though I know for a fact the manufacturer of my tripod will not want to know me anymore should I have any trouble.

Just perfect.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 809, My Perfect Beach ' 1/5s f/11 ISO160 15mm

Tonight we sat back on the beach and were treated to one of the most amazing shows on Earth.

Reds, and oranges and pinks and greens all rendered on a backdrop of land, sand and sea.

Some were tempted by front row seats. We were content to just sit up the back.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 808, Tempted' 1/125s f/11 ISO2500 200mm

Over the last year the train services have been badly disrupted by a major rails system electrification project.

The overhead power-lines are now a constant feature of the suburban train network but so far though I have not actually seen an electric train in action.

I guess if nothing else it makes for a more interesting perspective.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 807, Electric Perspective' 15s f/8 ISO400 15mm

As soon as I saw this old outhouse tucked away under the trees besides the police barracks horse pens I wondered how I might capture it in an unusual way.

Here lit by the floodlights of the the new Royal Adelaide Hospital construction site it has taken on an imposing perspective.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 806, Forgotten Outhouse' 15s f/11 ISO400 15mm

What a delight to stumble upon one of the most iconic vehicles in automotive history, the 1957 Chevrolet Belair 2-Door Sports Coupe, the '57 Chevy'. Perhaps even on its 57th birthday!

Everything about this vehicle was as close to perfect as I could tell right down to the original car radio antenna. The only give away that this was not an image captured in the late 50's is South Australian number plate which at least is small and unobtrusive.

I tip my hat to all the owners of this car over the years and its being here today as if it had just come off the production line 57 years later.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 805, 57 Chevy - 57 Years' 1/40s f/2.8 ISO1600 90mm

This image is about lifestyle. For me that's not about the lifestyle you might imagine associated with cruising but being connected to the ocean in a more visceral way.

When I see a boat out to sea I imagine divers suiting up, preparing their equipment, checking their air and performing the ritual buddy checks before dropping in off the back into the ocean and the adventures below.

Then again , they are probably only cruising!

Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 804, Cruising' 1/40s f/11 ISO160 200mm

Of all the big names in synths I think I am fondest of Roland.

Aside from the fact that the first bit of electronic music gear I ever purchased was a Roland (MPU-401), the name reminds me of a musician rather than an untamed beast or a noisy motorcycle.

It is all about personal opinions after all.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 803, X8' 1/60s f/2.8 ISO1000 140mm

These two heads were heading for being a black and white study.

I could not help myself though, I just love colour!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 802, Two Heads' 1/160s f/2.8 ISO100 200mm

Impressive at first but I am sure it would become tiresome if you actually lived here.

This is the entrance to an apartment block I encountered while wandering around 'The Rocks' in Sydney.

I guess the marble theme is in keeping with the location but then it really should have been granite.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 801, Marble Mayhem' 1s f/18 ISO160 15mm

There was a dark shape moving silently under the the surface of the calm water.

Suddenly a turtle popped it's little head up to say hello!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 800, Peek-A-Boo' 1/800s f/2.8 ISO100 200mm

There's a way of capturing movement somewhere between the fuzziness of a motion blurred shot and the ghostly surrealism of misty streaks.

The forms are real enough to have presence, to be certain they were real but indistinct and disconnected in the same way as perceived in a fleeting glimpse.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 799 A Fleeting Glimpse' 1s f/18 ISO100 15mm

I'm sure Noa Weiss has done this move enough times to be be sure her husband Uri will catch her.

Still I am sure there is always a little bit of apprehension ...

I got to see Noa and Uri of Cirque No Problem as they put on their show in the Adelaide Airport Plaza as part of the Fringe Festival.

This was a complete surprise and proved yet again that you never now when you will need your camera!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 798 Look Uri, No Hands!' 1/1250s f/11 ISO640 15mm

Normally considered to be one of the most majestic of the flightless birds, this Indian Peafowl is looking rather comical.

With head feathers cocked ungainly to one side and no tail feathers on display this peacock is clearly not trying to attract a mate on this occasion.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 797, Blue Indian' 1/400s f/2.8 ISO100 200mm

It's really only a waxing gibbous moon but it looks as if it could be full.

Far away in the Riverland the stars are bright and the sky clear, a real treat from the subdued stars in the city sky.

The odd little grouping at the water's edge in the distance is a distant campsite with it's own little universe of stars.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 796 Moon River' 6s f/8 ISO6400 15mm

It's easy to stare into a burning campfire. The almost hypnotic dance of light in the embers and flame flares into the night are always mesmerizing.

Despite it's appeal as a subject I am usually disappointed with images I capture as never really capturing that feeling.

Perhaps I never will but I'll never stop trying.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 795, Embers' 1/320 f/2.8 ISO1000 190mm

Nearly everyone who has experienced looking down on city lights from some high vantage has taken a photograph and then been disappointed how the final image never really captured the moment.

This view of Adelaide's twinkling lights however is full of the moment, a wonderful evening with family at Windy Point.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 794, Cityscape' 10s f/7.1 ISO1600 40mm

The logo emblazened on the side of this Italjet Torpedo 150 says it all; 'I'm fast!'.

Take a step back though and perspective reveals that 'fast' is relative. Scooters really don't go all that fast.

Still if I was going to cruise on one, the Torpedo would at least be a comfortable ride.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 793, Torpedo' 1/1000s f/16 ISO640 40mm

It seems appropriate to go from an empty bottle of Penfold's Grange to the unpicked fruit on the vine and these plump ripe Shiraz berries will soon make their way into one or more 'Cradle of Hills' wines for their 2014 vintage.

We met Paul and Tracy Smith on the first crushing day of their 2014 vintage. A small group of us started early in the morning and despite some difficult picking around stressed vines we had picked enough by lunch to crush the first batch. By the time we had bucketed the last of the Shiraz into the crusher we we ready for lunch.

Tracy put on an awesome spread with local McLaren Vale produce, their best wines from last year's vintage and plenty of beer for those not inclined to the vine.

Thank you Paul and Tracy for inviting us to be part of your 2014 vintage.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 792, Deep Purple' 1/200s f/16 ISO640 40mm

The termites tried their hardest.

They reduced the cardboard carton to a pulpy mess.

They etched patterns in the label as they sought in vain the treasured prize within.

Alas, despite the damage, this wine remained unblemished and was as awesome as the winemaker planned it to be.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 791, 1990 Grange' 1/60s f/2.8 Stack ISO200 100mm

Tulips are a beautiful flower but this beauty revealed is all in the detail.

Peering into the center of a single flower reveals a structure usually only paid attention to in text books and often only in the form of a monochrome line drawing with hard to remember names such as stigma and stamen.

Attention to detail is not only important but beautiful too.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 790, Attention To Detail' 2s f/8 Stack ISO400 100mm

There are more Old Wives (Enoplosus armatus) here than in the Imperial Harem of the Ottoman Empire.

Actually a harem is not the group of women but a sacred place reserved for them to reside protected from the perils of the outside world.

In some ways the 'T' of Rapid Bay Jetty jetty is just like the Imperial Harem. It offers the group protection from the open water predators and has it's own sacred feel.

I'm looking forward to revisiting this harem again soon.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 789, The Harem' 1/100s f/8 ISO320 15mm

The mystery of the Fantom has been solved!

The protagonist revealed is Mark Borgas of local band 'Silver Hair'


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 788, Fantom Keys' 1/60s f/2.8 ISO1000 140mm

We went to see 'The Darker', an Adelaide Fringe Festival play written and directed by playwright and poet Martin Christmas. David Daradan's performance in this one-hour show was honest, intimate and confronting.

David and Martin, you have set the bar high for the rest of the festival.

'The Darker' explores what it means to be 'a man' - the parts we are proud of, the parts we are embarrassed about, the parts we are afraid of and the parts we are ashamed of. David kept us captivated for the entire performance. Time stood still as David deftly and convincingly delivered Martin's insightful message.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 787, The Darker Side of David Daradan' 1/400s f/2.8 ISO1000 125mm

Suddenly their disbelief was gone and they found they really could fly after all.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 786, They Found They Could Fly' 1/400s f/2.8 ISO1000 125mm

The grape stained hands of a winemaker puts vintage aside for a little while to marry his beloved.

Congratulations Irina and Dudley, may it be a wonderful, long and fruitful union.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 785, Irina and Dudley' 1/400s f/3.2 ISO100 200mm

At a glance this could be a small shrub inside a glasshouse or behind some fence like grid.

The shrub in fact is 15 meters tall and the grid a high-rise office building.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 784, Framed Perspective' 1/1600 f/2.8 ISO160 115mm

Of all the times I have visited this big brash party town called Sydney I have not yet got to the centre of of it all.

To this day, Centrepoint, or Sydney Tower has eluded me. For one reason or another I have never made it to the top to experience what I am told are amazing panoramic views over Sydney, its harbour and the Blue Moutains in the distance.

Oh well, next time.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 783, Un-Centred' 1/500 f/13 ISO320 70mm

As much as I love natural landscapes I adore man made ones as well.

As solid as an urban landscape may seem however, time will eventually bring it down.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 782, What Goes Up' 1/320s f/22 ISO320 200mm

I loved the palatial feel of the DeNdY cinema so much that it deserved a snapshot.

Pity there was nothing on worth seeing making this definitely the better show!


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 781, DeNdY' 2.5s f/14 ISO100 15mm

Ash Gale hitting his stride on the Victoria Square stage as part of the Adelaide Fringe festivities.

We never never expected to find ourselves at the Adelaide Royal Croquet Club around midnight kicking back to the rock anthem sound of Ash and his band.

Wonderful things happen when you find yourself in the city with no agenda other than to have a great time.


Photo: Robert Rath, 'Day 780, Ash Gale' 1/200s f/2.8 ISO1600 155mm