I tried hard to take a picture this morning. The day was glorious … one of those Canberra winter days where the air is still, there's not a cloud in the sky and the warmth of the sun balances the chill in the air. I love days like these. I wanted to take a photo (it does happen sometimes!) and so I packed my light camera bag with a couple of lenses and headed out on into the late morning on my bicycle. I'd heard there was a car concourse over on the lawns of Old Parliament House to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Leyland P-76 … not that I'ver ever owned one or even aspired to … my first car was an automatic Triumph 2000 MkII and being manufactured largely by Leyland replete with apalling quality control and ridiculously dodgy wiring I always felt a kind of sympathy for these … they were known as lemons and I recall a house in my suburb when I was growing up that had six of these cars in various states of decay on the front lawn. My Triumph or 'Tilley' as I called her was my first venture into the world of seventies British automotive engineering … I ended up trading her for beaten up but gorgeous brass body Canon New F-1 camera and a couple of lenses (did I ever mention I have a lens habit?) … I miss that car, it's smell and the way it lurched underpowered into corners but I think I got the better deal … after all I still have that camera and it still works as well as the day I received it.
There are some times I'm simply not interested in taking photos and wandering around the concourse this morning was one of those times. There were many gorgeous colours … repetition of theme … curly cables … eccentric characters but it was all Meh! I had a bag of excellent photographic gear and I watched other people taking snapshots and with various cameras and mine stayed in my bag and I just lugged it around for the fun of it. It was funny I thought … I'd come here with the express notion of taking some photos … and now I'm here I find none of it inspiring … at all … so I simply sniffed the engines, remember my Tilley and get back on my bike and ride toward home. On the way I pass a bit of decay … the old Police & Citizens Youth Club … closed for years now … and see a little something … it's a busted fan set into a brick wall but it appeals to me … the first thing today. Not enough to be arsed taking my camera out mind you but enough to snap it hastily with my phone to remind me to go back and take it properly… I continued on my searching way…
So I keep on riding toward home and I come through Haig Park in Turner … a long avenue of trees … I used to live in a house (now long redeveloped) directly opposite the western end of the park … and I see the light. Here's where I'm supposed to be … there's the photo I'm looking for … I roll my eyes … at least I got some exercise riding across the lake first up π
I had my oculus with me and it captured the scene perfectly … it's spherical fashion refracting the vista into it's tidy and tiny world.
And … just because I like you lots I took a picture of the setup … I found a small fallen branch and stuck it into the soil to create something to rest the oculus upon … that's bushcraft that is … lol π
And how about you? Do you ever grab your gear and go for a walk and leave the camera in your bag … or take absolutely nothing except exercise?
Perhaps this method is simple and common to you now, but it is like photography magic to me. These scenes are enchanting. Thank you for sharing them. Now I really want to go for a walk.
Thanks Yousei … It’s still photographic magic to me and though I improve with each one I create … there remains much for me to learn. Hope your walk was an enchanting one π
Oh wow, that looks very beautiful and the light is just so lovely. Like a miniature world caught in a soap bubble. The view through the oculus is always a little miracle and very inspiring. Those clear and sunny winter days are my favourite, there can be so much calm in them.
I do know those times when you go out to take pictures or even to photograph at a special location or event and then find yourself just watching without any urge to get the camera out. Sometimes I would take the camera out, look through the lense and find it just won't do. Other times I wander around and take a picture here and there, something that might have potential and then suddenly stumble over something that really catches my eye and wants to…has to be captured. Those are the best moments.
I love the view through the oculus (does it show?) and every time I look through it I think it’s been a long time since I last held it up to the world … that I need to do it again soon … LOL
Yesterday had the makings of a blue funk … that dissatisfaction with my art that creeps in from time to time … thankfully the oculus was there to save me from the self-indulgence of the non-creative mood π
Wasn't yesterday glorious? Crisp, clean and beautiful. And sometimes those days need to just be savoured for what they are, rather than trying to capture pieces of them.
Just the same, I am so very glad that you found your way to Haig Park <b>and</b> that you had your oculus with you. That photo epitomises the magic of our city at this time of year. Thank you so much.
I ride through Haig Park most weekdays and the light has a certain quality in there … everytime I ride through I think I must bring the camera down here π
I take walks daily and traverse the town and the country in the same jaunt. It's a meditative process and needs to be. I do so like the world through your lens. Thanks for showing your clever set-up. I've used a loupe, and am longing to explore other ways to see what can be re-imagined with just one addition to our photogrpahic tool kit.
Thanks Sally, it’s a small object but it radically changes my perspective without fail and I love that it does that for me.
Oh, yes, she says! You have totally gotten me into that oculus, Geoff, and now I want to get it out again to take some more pics. I love your make-shift prop and will have to remember that. HA!
One has to make do with what’s available π
Go on then … get that oculus out!
WoW!
Creativity at it's very best! I'm going to try it…
Let me know when you do! I want to see π
just gorogeus.
& yup, I have taken the camera with me sometimes, just to give my shoulder a bit of a work out beacause I end up forgetting/not feeling like taking any photos.
Thanks Vickie … sometimes our shoulders just need to feel that the camera is there π
can you please not use the word 'winter'… otherwise, yes, I often go for a photowalk and end up taking no pics, or I go for a run and end up doing nothing but taking photographs… it's a tough life π
Life does seem particularly hard for you I’ll admit π
Winter! Bloody Winter! It’s beautiful but it gets cold … I don’t mind the Winter(!) cold … keeps things fresh … like fresh frozen π
xx
hey geoffrey, did you get my email? maybe it is in your spam. hope i get ya for a feature in my shoot! mag. greetz // karsten
Karsten, I thought I replied … perhaps I’m in your spam? Sounds great – I’m in!
G
The oculus was obviously calling you!
It’s calling me now!
wow! wow! WOW!! JUST SO FANTASTIC!!
Thanks Marialla π
You just reminded me I need to haul my oculus more often with me on my walks (besides my camera gear!). Beautiful image!
‘Haul’? How big is it? π
OMFG, this is GREAT i LOVE it!!
Thanks, I got the steady impression that you did! LOL π