Robert’s Ramblings

My parent’s tree was covered in fruit. Apples everywhere, the way nature intended with creases and blemishes and wormholes. And then I spied ‘them apples’.


Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 42 – Them Apples’. 1/30 secs at 105mm f/5.6, ISO 800

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 41 – Skycecream’. 1/5000 sec at 70mm f/4.0, ISO 100

If you met this guy down a dark alley on a moonless night you’d walk right on past. In fact if he was right in front of your eyes you’d still be pressed to notice him. This little creature is tiny, tiny, tiny at a mere 2mm across.

I first noticed this little fellow after I plucked some leaves from one of our trees to try and identify the tree species. I then noticed a white salty looking patch with a little grey blob in the middle. On close inspection it appears to be an insect in its pupal stage of development. The white powdery substance covering the pupa and surrounding leaf is most likely some toxic secretion for protection.

For now I have no idea what this guy is but will do my best to find out.

… Newsflash: It’s a Yellow Shouldered Ladybird Apolinus lividigaster (synonym Scymnodes lividigaster) FAMILY COCCINELLIDAE


Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 40 – Little Creature’. 13 secs at 100mm+Ext20mm (macro) f/22, ISO 400

For a couple of weeks now we have been entertained by little scratching noises coming through the wall. For even longer there had been a lead-up of diligent nest building. I had hoped to get a photo of these two new additions to our local wildlife while they were newborns but the parents would not have a bar of it!

Finally mum’s out doing the shopping leaving the little ones home alone. The Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis was introduced into Australia early into its history, originating from Asia.


Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 39 – Home Alone’. 1/100 sec at 182mm f/2.8, ISO 1600

There is something quite erotic about lilies!


Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 38 – Six Husbands’. 8 sec at 100mm (macro) f/16, ISO 100

No words today; just farewell …

Today the South Australia Kite Surfing Association held its annual Freestyle Title here at Grange Beach.

The fact that the competition was being held was great for kite surfing action but bad for photos as I was not allowed in the water with the competitors in case I interfered or came to some demise under their jurisdiction. So I went out close by and took a few shots.

After learning that this kind of photography requires me to learn a few new tricks and after eating a lot of saltwater I came to the conclusion that I’ll be back out there again soon!


Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 36 – Eating it off Grange’. 1/6400 sec at 20mm f/5.6, ISO 800

I love to stare at shiny things; things made of crystal will always attract my attention. When it comes to crystal I love Austrian Swarovski! As I look at a piece and marvel at the way it captures the light and colours around me it’s only natural that I want to capture its beauty in a photograph. … Easier said than done!

My initial attempts were a little dull, with little distinction between the the edges of the crystal and the faces. It really looked just like a fractured reflection of the room around me. I realised that part of the problem is that much of a crystal’s beauty comes from movement. Either you move the object or you move around it. In any case it is movement that accentuates a crystal ornament and brings it to life as the light and colours play on the facets.

With that idea in mind I really wanted the light to come from inside the crystal to light up the facets without lighting the edges. Here is my result with strobe backlighting, taken in full daylight with the strobe a few cm behind and diffused through tissue. I hope you like our crystal crab!


Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 35 – Crystal Crab’. 1/200 sec at 100mm (macro) f/11, ISO 50, Strobe Backlit

It’s just a wall so how hard could that be to photograph! Well perhaps not just any wall but the side of the public conveniences building in the little town of Murrayville. Waiting for the light to be ‘just’ right while walking around public toilets with a camera is likely to get one arrested in the city but out here I think people just thought it a little odd.

It was a beautiful and unexpected flash of colour to a dusty mute landscape and was as much a relief to the eyes as to other needs! Perhaps this cheerful mosaic will never be compared with the Mesopotamian masters but I am pretty sure the people who live in Murrayville and passers through in need of some relief all think it’s grand!


Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 34 – Toilet Block Mosaic’. 1/800 sec at 70mm f/3.5, ISO 400

I have enjoyed many sunsets with friends who tell me hand-on-heart that they have seen that famous green flash on at the last moment of a setting sun. I have also enjoyed many sunsets looking for that green flash which still eludes me. Not surprisingly, last night down at West Beach was no exception.

I spent time time researching on the web. The theory is sound, the observations authoritative and the images seem authentic. For the moment, however, I remain a skeptic.

At least I have a beautiful local beach I can enjoy sunsets on almost any night of the year. I’m grateful for that, green flash or not.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 33 – Gone in a Flash’. 1/500 sec at 400mm f/7.1, ISO 100