[Photo walk] Picnic at Coburg Lake Reserve

Nadia and I went for a picnic to Coburg Lake Reserve so, naturally, I took some photos :)

Reclining by the lake

Photo of two people in a park sitting on a wide, reclining bench with a small dog in their lap. The bench is facing part of a lake shore on which there are several birds, some of which are sitting on rocks in the water.

Keeping an eye out

Photo of a large, brown and white dog in a park. The dog’s leash is being held be someone seated behind a tree. The dog is looking at a couple of people with a small dog who are coming down the walking path towards it.

Ibis in flight

Photo of a white ibis (a type of bird) flying away from the photographer in a large park with a lake. The bird’s wings are pushing down to give it lift. Below this bird are several other birds, sitting on the grass.

You lookin’ at me?

Close up photo of three rock doves / common pigeons sitting on a rock wall, all of which are looking at the photographer.

Keeping an eye on the inquisitive human

Close up photo of two rock doves / common pigeons sitting on a rock wall, both of which are looking closely at the photographer.

Barbecue time at Coburg Lake Reserve

Photo of four people standing around several tables and a barbecue that have been set out in a large, grassy, public park with lots of large trees. A large volume of white, puffy barbecue smoke is blowing away from barbecue.

[Photo walk] Along the entrance to the Yarra River

You can get some really nice photos with a zoom lens at the entrance to the Yarra River in Melbourne.

The Yarra Queen from Melbourne River Cruises entering the Yarra River

Photo of flat-bottom, blue-and-white cruise boat making its way along a wide river. You can see people sitting in the boat looking at their surroundings through the large windows along the sides of the boat.

The Yarra Queen from Melbourne River Cruises enters the Yarra River

Photo of flat-bottom, blue-and-white cruise boat making its way along a wide river. You can see people sitting in the boat looking at their surroundings through the large windows along the sides of the boat. In the foreground of the photo, and in the corner of the frame, is a red navigational buoy.

The Yarra Queen from Melbourne River Cruises makes its way into the Yarra River

Photo of flat-bottom, blue-and-white cruise boat making its way along a wide river. In the foreground of the photo is the near side of the river bank. In the background of the photo is a massive bridge that spans the river. Next to near side river bank is a tall, red navigational buoy pillar jutting out of the water.

A Melbourne River Cruises boat makes its way along the lower reaches of the Yarra River

Photo of flat-bottom, blue-and-white cruise boat making its way along a wide river. In the foreground of the photo are several bushes and a tree, all of which are framing the shot. In the background is a massive bridge that spans the river.

A cruise boat makes its way along along the Yarra River, heading towards the West Gate Bridge

Photo of flat-bottom, blue-and-white cruise boat making its way along a wide river. In the foreground of the photo are several bushes and a tree, all of which are framing the shot. In the background is a massive bridge that spans the river.

A red, port hand mark on a navigational buoy marks the entrance to the Yarra River

Photo of a tall, red-coloured pillar jutting out of the water at the entrance to a river. On top of the pillar is a small platform on which there is a rectangular, bright red ‘port hand mark’ that indicates the direction of travel along this river. In the background of the photo is Hobsons Bay and in the foreground are several white-topped, wooden pillars built into the breakwater along the river's entrance.

Survey vessel John Norgate on its way to Hobsons Bay

Photo of a medium-sized, two-deck cabin boat named John Norgate making its way along a wide river. Just behind the boat is a green, ‘starboard hand mark’ that indicates the direction of travel along the river. In the background of the photo is a large container ship loaded with several containers.

Survey vessel making its way along the Yarra River to Hobsons Bay

Photo of a medium-sized, two-deck cabin boat traveling along a wide river. Just behind the boat is a green, ‘starboard hand mark’ that indicates the direction of travel along the river. In the far background of the photo is a large container ship loaded with several containers. These containers are being moved by several, massive, white coloured cranes on Melbourne’s Webb Dock.

Heading to Hobsons Bay

Photo of a medium-sized, two-deck cabin boat entering a large bay. Behind the boat are red and green lateral markers installed on navigation buoys that tell mariners which direction to travel along this channel. In the foreground is a breakwater that has white-topped wooden pillars jutting out of it.

The West Gate Bridge across the lower reaches of the Yarra River

Photo of a tall, massive bridge built across a wide river. In the foreground of the photo is the Yarra River and one of the navigational buoys installed along its sides.

Prepping his runabout at Williamstown Boat Ramp

Photo of a man on a runabout (a type of recreational boat) parked along the concrete pier next to a boat ramp. Parked on the boat ramp itself is a large SUV with a boat trailer attached to it. This truck has been reversed down the ramp so the trailer is under water, allowing the boat that was on the trailer to now float freely.

Navigational buoy 28 along the Yarra River, with the West Gate Bridge in the background

Photo of a tall, red-coloured pillar jutting out of the water at the entrance to a river. On top of the pillar is a small platform on which there is a rectangular, bright red ‘port hand mark’ that indicates the direction of travel along this river. In the background of this photo is a tall, massive bridge built across the wide river.

Skiff heading out to Hobsons Bay

Photo of a twin engine, single-deck skiff on which there are five people on board, all of whom are wearing yellow or orange high-visibility vests. The boat is travelling along a river. In the background of the photo are two large container ships.

[Photo walk] Birds (and one dog) at Riverside Spit in Newport

I was in the area so I stopped by Riverside Spit – a popular fishing spot in Newport – to take some photos.

The only animals I regularly take photos of are dogs, but there were so many sea birds in the area that I figured I might as well take photos of them too. Some of the photos even turned out alright!

Long-billed (or slinder-billed) corella digging around in the grass

Photo of a white bird (a type of cockatoo) with its beak in the soil underneath some grass.

Long-billed (or slinder-billed) corella hanging out on the grass

Photo of a white bird (a type of cockatoo) with bluish skin around its eyes and reddish feathers around its breast and eyes. The bird in standing on a patch of grass.

Long-billed corellas settling down at Newport Riverside Park

Photo of a flock of birds that are landing on some grass in a park. The birds, which are a type of cockatoo, are white with bluish skin around their eyes and reddish feathers around their breast and eyes.

Long-billed corellas landing at Newport Riverside Park

Photo of a flock of birds that are landing on some grass in a park. The birds, which are a type of cockatoo, are white with bluish skin around their eyes and reddish feathers around their breast and eyes.

Single silver gull among the corellas

Head-on photo of a single silver gull (a white sea bird) standing just outside a flock of long-billed corellas that are picking at some grass.

Birds on a fence – 1

Close photo of two silver gulls and one common sandpiper sitting on a metal fence along a popular fishing spot.

Birds on a fence – 2

Close photo of two silver gulls and one common sandpiper sitting on a metal fence along a popular fishing spot.

Silver gull turning to land on a fence

Photo of a silver gull (a white sea bird) turning to land on a metal fence. Two silver gulls are already sitting on this fence and this third bird is aiming to land between them.

Silver gull slowing to land on a fence

Photo of a silver gull (a white sea bird) turning to land on a metal fence. Two silver gulls are already sitting on this fence and this third bird is aiming to land between them.

Silver gull landing on a fence at the Riverside Spit fishing spot in Newport – 1

Collage of three photos showing a silver gull (a white sea bird) flapping its wings to adjust its speeds and trajectory as it lands on a metal fence.

Silver gull landing on a fence at the Riverside Spit fishing spot in Newport – 2

Collage of three photos showing a silver gull (a white sea bird) coming in to land on a fence between two other silver gulls. The bird on the left (which the bird in flight has to fly over) ducks its head in the first as it gets flown over.

Silver gull taking flight

Photo of a silver gull (a white sea bird) taking off from a metal roof. Another gull remains sitting on that roof.

Settling into a landing on the fence

Photo of a silver gull (a white sea bird) settling into a landing – wings up and one foot in the air – onto a metal fence.

Dog at the Warmies Off Leash Dog Area

I couldn’t not take a photo of a dog, right? :)

Photo of a man and his dog walking in a park. The dog is off-leash and man, who is talking on his phone, is holding the dog's leash in his hand. The dog is running alongside the man.

[Photo walk] Flinders Street, Melbourne

Overhead construction gantry on the corner of Collins and Flinders Street

Photo looking up at a large construction gantry erected two or three stories above the road. You can see the underside of the gantry and, above the gantry, is a tall, white construction crane with the Metro Tunnel project logo on it. Behind this platform is a wide hotel building.

Keeping an eye out for their friends at the steps of Flinders Street Station

Photo of two women at the top of a wide flight of steps that leads into a building. One woman is sitting on the metal hand rail that runs along the steps. The other woman is standing to the side, a few steps back from the top of the stairs. Both women are looking off-camera at the people walking towards the entrance of this building (which is Flinders Street Railway Station). In the foreground, and out of focus, is a woman on her phone walking across the frame of the photo

Flinders Street Station ready to be lit up for RISING festival

Photo looking up at the entrance to Flinders Street Railway Station. The railway station building is a brown, Edwardian structure with a large, green dome and a large clock above the main entrance. Affixed to the building, just below the clock face, are large, serif-font letters that read “RISING:”. These letters will be lit up as part of the RISING festival in Melbourne.

Keeping to herself on the banks of the Yarra River

Photo of a woman sitting cross-legged on the edge of a walking path along a muddy, brown river that runs through a city centre. The woman is looking down at her smartphone, and she has her backpack placed next to her.

Keeping to himself on a bridge across the Yarra River

Photo of a man wearing a jacket and backpack standing by the stone railing of a bridge that spans the Yarra River in Melbourne. The man has his back to everyone and is looking out across the river. Another man is walking across the frame behind the first one.

Dropped shoes at the entrance of Flinders Street Railway Station

Black and white photo of a pair of trainers lying abandoned on the floor, all by themselves, some distance from the entrance to a train station.

[Photo walk] Collins Street, Melbourne

Clouds reflected off Mövenpick Hotel

Photo looking up to a very tall, blue-glass covered building. The building has rounded edges and two large curves along its length, making it look like a fancy water bottle. There are white, puffy clouds in the blue sky behind the building, and two large clouds are also reflected in the windows of this building.

Road expansion joint in Collins Street, next to Southern Cross Station

Photo of a metal, zigzag shaped road expansion joint built into the surface of a road. A motion-blurred car is driving over this joint as is drives down the road. Across the road from the photographer is the entrance to a large metropolitan train station.

Maintenance work along Collins Street

Photo taken from close to the ground of a large maintenance hatch built into the footpath of a metropolitan road. The hatch is lying open and a large piece of equipment (electric or communications?) that’s attached to a pair of well-shielded cables is lying outside the hatch. In the foreground of the photo (and out of focus) is a silver coloured adjustable wrench. The open hatch is surrounded by bright yellow, temporary, safety fencing, and this photo has been taken from underneath this fence. A bunch of cables exiting this hole in the ground are snaking their way into the back of a while panel van that's parked on the side of the road.

Down-tools at this maintenance site on Collins Street

Photo taken from close to the ground of a large maintenance hatch built into the footpath of a metropolitan road. The hatch is lying open. In the background of the photo (and out of focus) is a large piece of equipment (electric or communications?) that’s attached to a pair of well-shielded cables and is lying outside the hatch. In the foreground (and in focus) is a silver coloured adjustable wrench. The open hatch is surrounded by bright yellow, temporary, safety fencing, and this photo has been taken from underneath this fence.

Driving a coach along King Street

Photo of a driver concentrating on the road as he drives a grey coloured Irizar/Mercedes-Benz coach along a metropolitan road. You can see reflections of tall buildings reflected in the front windscreen of this large bus.

Heading home from their worksite on a Friday afternoon

Photo looking downwards the footpath at the intersection of two roads. Several people are standing in a group, waiting for the light to change so they can cross the road. You can only see these people from the waist down, and they are all wearing work pants or jeans. Everyone in the photo is wearing tan coloured, heavy, steel-capped, work boots.

[Photo walk] Along the Yarra River #1

Every Friday after work I walk through the Melbourne city centre so I can take some photos. I took these ones on a walk along the Yarra River.

West corner of Melbourne City View Apartments

Photo of the top few storeys of the wedge-shaped end of a multi-storey residential apartment building. The photo is taken on a clear day with a deep blue sky.

Under the train lines crossing over Flinders Street

Photo of a man waiting at an intersection underneath several elevated train lines. The man is waiting to cross the street. He is wearing white shorts; a blue, short sleeve, button down shirt; black-and-white sneakers, and printed blue socks. To the right of the man is a massive, square rock pillar that’s holding up the elevated train lines. To the man’s left is a pole on which there is a pedestrian crossing sign and a painted sign that reads “Pedestrians watch for traffic”. On street in front of a man is a tram that’s waiting for the signal to turn green so it can cross the intersection. Across the street, coming towards the man, is another tram waiting at the intersection for its turn.

People walking down Oris Walk, next to Lamont Bridge

Black-and-white photo of two people walking across a walkway next to a road and tram bridge that crosses a river in the middle of a city. Behind the people are several tall buildings.

Helicopter taking off from Microflite Melbourne Heliport

Photo looking up at a dark-blue-and-white helicopter (an Airbus H135) that’s just taken off. Behind the helicopter (but below the helicopter in the photo) you can see three tall buildings against the blue sky.

Helicopter landing at Microflite Melbourne Heliport

Photo of a red-and-gold helicopter (an Airbus EC130) seconds away from landing on a helipad build in a pontoon on a wide river in the middle of a city. A sign on the side of the pontoon reads ‘Microflite Melbourne Helipad’. In the background of the photo are several tall and short buildings, as well as a bridge across the river.

That's Australia for you

Photo looking up at a set of red, yellow, and green traffic lights that are covered with cobwebs. These traffic lights are underneath a bridge. You can see the slice of a city in the background from underneath the bridge.

Yeah buoy!

Photo of three buoys – one red, one yellow, one green – on a river in the middle of a city. The photo is taken through the horizontal wires of a metal fence along the river. In the background of the photo there is a bridge across the river and lots of tall buildings that make up the city centre.

Train from Flinders Street Station

Photo of a train going down an elevated train line in the middle of a city. Below the elevated train lines are several cars waiting at a red light. In the background, above the train, are several tall buildings.

Stopping to check her phone where the bike trail widens

Photo of a woman sitting on a bicycle. The woman has stopped cycling, one foot on the ground, and is taking something out of her bag. The woman is wearing a bicycle helmet that has several zip ties attached to it, making the points of the zip ties look like antennae. These are to deter and protect her from swooping birds. The bicycle path the woman is on runs alongside a river, and the woman has stopped underneath a bridge that crosses the river because the path here has widened considerably. It is dark in the shade under the bridge. In the background of the photo, in the bright sunshine, you can see dozens of people walking along a pedestrian bridge that crosses the river. You can also see several boats traversing the river or moored along its banks.

Lime e-scooter delivery at Flinders Street Station

Photo of a large, white delivery van with its rear doors open. The van is parked in a delivery parking space next to a large train station. Inside the van are several green-and-white coloured e-scooters. A man in a high-visibility shirt is taking scooters from his van and is placing them along the sidewalk next to the train station.

Lady Justice watching over the Supreme Court of Victoria

Lady Justice above the Williams Street entrance to the Supreme Court of Victoria

Photo of the side of the historic Supreme Court of Victoria building, as well as some trees growing in front of the building. This bluestone building (completed in 1884) is built in the classical Renaissance Revival style. On the roof, above one of the building’s entrances is a large, bronze figure of Lady Justice. Unusually, Lady Justice is neither wearing a blindfold nor is she holding up the scales of justice. Those scales are resting on her knee. The Victorian state flag is flying on a pole jutting out from above the first floor of this two-storey building.

Bronze figure of Lady Justice atop the Supreme Court of Victoria building

Photo of the top of the historic Supreme Court of Victoria building, as well as some trees growing in front of the building. This bluestone building is built in the classical Renaissance Revival style. On the roof, above one of the building’s entrances is a large, bronze figure of Lady Justice. Unusually, Lady Justice is neither wearing a blindfold nor is she holding up the scales of justice. Those scales are resting on her knee.

[Photo walk] Melbourne buildings, part 1

Now that I’ve got myself a quality interchangeable lens camera, I’m looking for any excuse to walk around somewhere I can take interesting photos.

So one thing I’ve started to do is walk through the Melbourne central business district every Friday afternoon after work.

Here are some photos of buildings that I took today. I expect I’ll be taking many more building photos in the future, hence the ‘part 1’ in this post’s title :)

Reflections of the city (Docklands, Melbourne)

Photo taken from a higher vantage point of streets, cars, and buildings reflected off the side of a tall, shiny building on a bright sunny day.

Telco base stations at Media House in Melbourne

Photo of three mobile service base stations (that is, antennae) mounted at the top of a white, modernistic building.

Sun shining off Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne

Photo looking up from the ground of a very tall, blue-glass covered building. The building has rounded edges and two large curves along its length, making it look somewhat like a fancy water bottle. Next to this building, and much shorter in height, is a colonial-beige coloured building inspired by Art Deco archicture.

A slice of the Supreme Court of Victoria

Photo looking down the length of a narrow alleyway. At the end of the alleyway is a large, domed building in the classical Renaissance Revival style of architecture from the 1880s.

Out and about in the city

Here are some photos I’ve taken with my new camera. They’re nothing particularly exciting, but taking them has given me a chance to play around with the camera and its settings.

Wide angle

Walking by platform 1 on a sunny day:

Photo of a suburban train station platform taken from the level of the platform floor. Across from the track are are row of tall trees. A sign on the platform tells you this is platform 1 at Gowrie Railway Station.

Burst mode

Pair of pushy seagulls at Federation Square:

Photo of two seagulls, walking forward side-by-side, eyeing something off camera.

Low angle

Watching a movie at Federation Square:

Photo of two people sitting in foldable deck chairs watching a movie being shown on a large screen in a public square. Behind the funky, off-angle building on which the screen is mounted you can see the tall buildings of the city centre.

Zoom

Letting the world pass them by:

Black and white photo of a couple taken through a gap in the trees. The couple are sitting on a park bench facing a river, while a cyclist crosses the walking/cycling path behind them.

Food court, 4pm

I love a good liminal space, and I walked by one my way home from work today.

Overhead photo of a mostly empty corner of a food court. There are empty tables and chairs neatly lined up, with only one person sitting and eating and a couple of others walking by.

Also this café, that’s now closed till breakfast.

Photo of a food court café named Lily Li that’s closed for the day. The lights have been turned off and all the chairs have been placed upside down on the tables.

Daily walks with Maggie

We walk.

Photo of a red/brown dog on a red leash being walked down a residential street on a sunny day.

We check our pee-mail.

Photo of a red/brown dog on a red leash sniffing the grass at the base of a tree on a residential street on a sunny day.

We ask for a treat (when we’ve walked by another dog and haven’t reacted badly to them).

Photo of a red/brown dog on a red leash on the footpath of a residential street. The dog is looking back at its human expectantly.

We take a selfie. (Optional.)

Selfie of a man walking a red/brown dog on a sunny day. The man is wearing a black printed t-shirt, black hat, and sunglasses. The dog is sniffing a patch of grass next to the man.

Lovely day in Melbourne for a walk too!

Photo of a lovely looking residential footpath on a sunny day. There are picket fences to one side of the footpath and a line of trees on the nature strip on the other side.

Not. Happy.

Melbourne’s recent, super-humid heatwave finally broke when several bands of thunderstorms rumbled through the city.

Maggie Does Not like thunderstorms. She ran to Nadia when the thunder started.

I responded to Nadia’s tweet with my own freaked-out-Maggie photo a short time later.

Close-up photo of a stressed looking red/brown dog underneath a desk. The dog’s ears are pulled back and its mouth is open, with tongue hanging out.

Fortunately, playing Midnight Oil’s ‘Diesel and Dust’ album rather loudly helped – with the music easily masking the ongoing thunder as the storm system rumbled along. [x]

Selfie of a man sitting on a chair in a carpeted room. Sitting on the carpet behind him – alert, but not scared – is a red/brown dog.

Pixel 6 Pro photos in the city

It’s been ages since I’ve ridden a tram. At least I got to see one when I went into the office today.

Photo of a classic tram turning into a street in front of some office building. Everything but the tram is blurred in the photo.

Zippy cyclist is zippy.

Photo of a motion-blurred cyclist exiting a curved bridge onto a paved, inner city riverbank.

Please be awesome

Sure, why not? Who am I to deny requests from a random sign in an alley in Kensington?

Photo of a sign pasted on the wall of an alley off a main road. The sign has black, all-caps text on a plain white background. That text reads: PLEASE BE AWESOME.

Speaking of that part of the city, the Flemington post office is in such a gorgeous building!

Collage of two photos of the same historic building from the 1880s.

Commuting life

Back on the commuting life at Southern Cross Railway Station.

Photo of a train approaching its platform at a large train station. You can only see the lights and vague outline of the train that has just entered the covered portion of the station building. Another train is parked on the tracks next to the approaching train. A man in a silver puffer vest stands in the foreground, looking at his phone, while he waits for the train.

Stunning Melbourne graffiti

Ah Melbourne. Your graffiti and wall art never fail to impress. Especially with art like this.

And not only is this gorgeous, you can really only see from the train just before you reach Footscray Station!

Photo taken from a train window of a large exterior wall of a double storey warehouse. Spread across the wall is a vibrant painting for a futuristic city and an astronaut above that city who is reaching out to touch a bird that’s flying into the starry night. The painting’s background colours are those of the rainbow: going from the red of the city to the violet of the night sky.

Stretching to get away

That feeling when you’re in the same field as you parent (in this case, literally) and you have to lean farther and farther away to get out from under their shadow!

Photo of two trees growing in a field behind a residential property. The younger tree is growing too close to the older one, so it has had to bend its trunk and extend its branches sideways to get the best direct access to sunlight. The end branches of the younger tree have bent so far away that they are literally touching the ground several metres away from the root of the older tree.

Returning to the cinemas

What better way to return to the cinemas in post-lockdown Melbourne than by watching TENET at IMAX Melbourne in the original 1570 film version?! That was so worth it.

Selfie of a man standing in front of the IMAX cinema building in Melbourne, Australia.

I must watch that film again soon too. TENET is one of those juicy, complex, adult science fiction storylines that genuinely warrants a re-watch (plus a Blu-ray purchase).

There’s so much happening both story- and film-making wise throughout that you don’t want to miss anything. Overall a superb filmmaking achievement!