S T R A I N I N G !
Photo of a red/brown dog staining on its red leash to reach a mince meat Lebanese pizza that’s lying on a grassy nature strip by the side of a residential street.
[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] Melbourne buildings, part 3
Walkway between apartment buildings
Photo looking up at a covered, third-floor walkway that connects the Melbourne City View Apartments to the City Lights Apartments at Flinders. In the background of the photo, behind these two apartment blocks, are elevated train tracks on which a train is travelling.
Walkway connecting apartment buildings
Photo looking sharply upwards at a covered, third-floor walkway that connects the Melbourne City View Apartments to the City Lights Apartments at Flinders. The building across from the photographer is sixteen floors tall.
Looking up along Northbank Place
Photo looking upwards along the outside of a ten-storey office building. This glass-covered building (Tower 1 at 525 Flinders Street, Melbourne) was built in 2008 and is curved to allow sunlight to reach the street below. Its design includes a bronze painted, steel girder, skeletal structure wrapped around the outside.
No thoughts, just vibes
Photo looking upwards at the top of a tall building on an overcast day. The glass-covered building has a large, blue coloured sign affixed to the top that reads ‘vibe’, which is the name of a hotel chain.
Awning at the Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne
Photo of one of the entrances to the Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne. This entrance leads to Mr Tompkins, a restaurant named for Harry Tompkins who was the architect that designed this Edwardian Baroque style building in 1913. A man carrying a bag in one hand is talking on the phone as he walks down the steps inside this entrance. A large, curved awning above the entrance is held up by two thick metal cables. Two large stone heads have been built around the place where these cables are attached to the building structure, with the cables coming out of the mouths of these stone figures.
Flinders Street station flags at half mast for Father Bob’s state funeral
Photo of the Australian and Australian Aboriginal flags being flown at half mast on top of Flinders Street railway station in Melbourne. The railway station building is a brown, Edwardian structure with a large, green dome and a large clock above the main entrance.
Father Robert (Bob) John Maguire AM RFD (1934 – 2023) was a much-loved Catholic priest whose state funeral was held in Melbourne on 5 May 2023. Flags in the state of Victoria were flown at half mast all this day.
Layers of Melbourne on an overcast day
Photo of a city showing several different layers of greenery and buildings. Along the left of the photo are several tall trees, with some palm trees in the background. Along the right of the photo are a brown, historic building; a white modern building; a few glass-covered office buildings; and one tall skyscraper (the Rialto Towers).
[Photo walk] Transport, part 4
Checking the Melbourne tram network map
Photo of a tram stop in the city, with plexiglass shelters on both sides. On the side closer to the photographer is a woman reading the Melbourne tram network map that’s attached to the inside of the shelter. The woman is visible only from the waist down, with the rest of her hidden behind the map. On the reverse of this map is a sign that reads “STOP. Your gran could be stopping off the tram today. When a tram stops, you stop.”. On the side further away from the photographer is a man sitting on a bench and looking at his smartphone while he waits for his tram.
Elevated trains along Flinders Street
Photo of two electric trains in blue-and-yellow Metro-branded livery running along a set of elevated train tracks. Two cars are parked below the elevated tracks. Buildings, several trees, and a bridge are visible from below the elevated tracks, in the background of the photo.
Waiting for the tram doors to open
Photo of a woman standing at a tram stop. A tram has just pulled up to the stop and the woman is waiting for the front-most doors of the tram to open.
Zipping along the elevated train track next to Flinders Street
Photo looking upwards of a blue, yellow, and silver coloured train running along set of elevated train tracks. A large sign affixed to the tracks warns motorists: ‘low clearance, 4.0m’. In the background of the photo are several skyscrapers.
This is not her tram
Photo of a woman sitting on a bench under a plexiglass shelter at a tram stop. At tram has stopped at this tram stop, but it is not the tram the woman is waiting for.
[Photo walk] Along Flinders Street
Taking off her coat so her friend can take her photo
Photo of two women standing in the shadows beneath an elevated set of train tracks. One woman is in the process of taking off her winter coat as she walks away from her friend. The other woman is holding her phone up, waiting for her friend to pose for the photograph that she is about to take.
Food hall, open 24 hours
Photo of a free-standing, single-storey, glass-covered shop sandwiched between a tall building and a set of elevated train tracks (on which a train is running). A large neon sign on top of the building reads, in all-capital letters ‘food hall’. A smaller sign next to this, also in all-caps, reads ‘24hr 7 days open’. A couple with two children are crossing a small laneway that next to the building, heading towards this door of this shop.
Tags on a no-smoking sign outside Melbourne Aquarium
Photo of a no-smoking sign affixed to a brick wall. The sign has been thoroughly defaced with several graffiti tags and stickers.
Chilling in Enterprize Park along the Yarra River
Photo of a man sitting on a bench next to a park that runs along an urban river. The man is wearing a warm, brown coat and appears to be looking at his smartphone.
One of the scar trees in Enterprize Park
Photo looking up along a ‘scar tree’ installed between a park (with tall, growing trees) and a metal gantry along an elevated train line.
Enterprize Park commemorates the spot where the first settlers aboard the ship Enterprize went ashore on 30 August 1835.
Today, it is the site of the Scar Project, a collaborative installation by Aboriginal artists who used original wharf poles from Queens Bridge to engage with the tradition of tree scarring.
Traditionally, Aboriginal people would take pieces of bark from trees to make canoes, shields or baby cradles. The resulting ‘scar trees’ would also serve as signposts for other clans to know they had entered the land of another community. These trees are rare today, but for Aboriginal people they are very precious.
Read more about this artwork: Scar – A Stolen Vision.
Walking through the scar trees in Enterprize Park
Photo of a man carrying his shopping in a couple of large plastic bags walking through the Scar Project artwork installation in Enterprize Park in Melbourne. This photo was taken from inside a brick archway next to this artwork
The City of Melbourne commissioned eight indigenous artists to create a relocatable permanent public artwork for the city.
Initially placed in the city square, the 24 poles that form the work “Scar – A Stolen Vision” are now permanently located in Enterprize Park adjacent to the Melbourne Aquarium.
The works, by eight indigenous artists, are all vertical timber poles, somewhat like trees, and reflect various interpretations of the relationship between the artists culture and the modern western city.
Read more about this artwork: Scar – A Stolen Vision.
Underneath the elevated train tracks that run along Flinders Street
Photo looking upwards at a set of elevated train tracks. The top half of the photo shows the metal girders underneath the train tracks. The bottom half of the photos shows the large pillars on which the elevated track rests. The pillars have a slate and red brick façade around them. A road that runs underneath these elevated tracks has a few cars on it, as well as a person riding an e-bike.
Looking down at a broken uplight
Photo of a commercial uplight that lights the underside of a set of elevated train tracks. The light is build into the asphalt, but its glass front has been shattered. Inside the light are several brown leaves. The photographer’s white sneakers and the cuffs of his black jeans are visible in the bottom of the photo.
No road next to this pillar
Photo of a faded yellow sign with large, black, all-capital letters that reads ‘no road’. This sign is painted on a large, red-brick pillar that is holding up a set of elevated train tracks. Behind the pillar is a road with cars on it. Across this road, and extending in the background, are several buildings.
There’s a bin literally just around the corner
Photo of a large, brown, take-away coffee cup that’s been left next to the green railing of a set of stairs that leads down to a walkway along an urban river.
Picnicking on the Yarra River
Photo of a large bridge across an urban river in the middle of a city. Several people are standing along the bridge railing, taking photos. A rented ‘Go Boat’ motor boat with picnickers on it is about to cross under this bridge.
[Photo walk] Collins Street, Docklands
Cyclists along the Yarra River
Photo of a group of ten cyclists cycling in single-file along the boardwalk next to an urban river.
Trying to make it in the urban jungle of Docklands
Photo of a plant shoot with a dozen or so green leaves. The plant is growing through a crack between the paved footpath that’s next to a flight of steps that runs alongside a glass building.
It's only Friday afternoon and a third of the red neurons are already down
Photo of twelve ‘neuron’ branded e-bikes parked along the sidewalk in a city centre. Four of these bikes have toppled over and are lying on their sides.
Yellow sneakers on a grey day in Melbourne
Photo of a figure wearing dark blue casual pants, light grey socks, and bright yellow sneakers that have pink accents on them. The person is waiting to cross the road at an intersection on the road.
Don't ask for my mood, just look at my nails
Photo of a glass-fronted nail salon with a pink neon sign in the window that reads ‘NAILS’. A black sandwich-board sign next to the door has stylised, hand written text written on it with neon coloured pink, yellow, and green marker. The sign reads “Don’t ask for my mood, just look at my nails”. A dim reflection of the photographer is visible in the glass salon door.
Sleeping with both ears open
Maggie, sleeping with both ears open.
Close-up photo of a red/brown dog asleep inside a fuzzy, orange dog bed. The dog's head is resting on raised edge of the bed. The tip of one of the dog's ears is folded along the side of a cabinet that's next to the dog bed.
You can’t let sleeping dogs lie, you have to take their photo.
Close-up photo of a red/brown dog asleep inside a fuzzy, orange dog bed. The dog's head is resting on raised edge of the bed. The tip of one of the dog's ears is folded along the side of a cabinet that's next to the dog bed. In the foreground of the photo, and out of focus, is one of the dog's forepaws, which is also resting on the raised edge of the bed.
[Photo walk] La Trobe Street, Docklands
There’s a bit of La Trobe Street in Docklands that goes over the Southern Cross rail yard.
This would be a great spot to take train photos from, except that there’s a tough metal grate/mesh that runs along the full length of the bridge (for obvious safety reasons).
Fortunately, there are little square cut-outs in this mesh that let me take a bunch of interesting photos. #FrameWithinAFrame
V/Line train out of Southern Cross Station
Photo of a silver-and-purple diesel engine train going along its tracks next to the Southern Cross rail yard. The photo is taken through a square hole cut out of a large metal mesh. This mesh is installed along the side of a road and pedestrian bridge that crosses the rail yard.
V/Line train heading from Melbourne to Geelong
Photo of a silver, purple, and yellow coloured diesel engine train going along its tracks next to the Southern Cross rail yard. The photo is taken through a square hole cut out of a large metal mesh. This mesh is installed along the side of a road and pedestrian bridge that crosses the rail yard.
Train lines crisscrossing outside Southern Cross rail yard
Photo of about a dozen individual train lines intersecting each other next to a rail yard.
Alstom West Melbourne Depot
Photo of a large building at a train depot with a sign on it that reads ‘Alstom’. The building has a couple of trains parked inside it, and there are several other silver, purple, and yellow coloured trains parked around the depot.
Yep, that’s locked
Photo of a single metal loop attached to a large brick pillar that’s next to a building. Five sturdy, brass locks have been locked onto this loop.
Pointing out birds in Flagstaff Gardens
Photo of two people standing on a path in a public garden containing several large, old trees. Both have white hair and are wearing trousers and warm jackets. One of them is showing the other a bird that’sin the trees.
[Photo walk] Along Harbour Esplanade, Docklands
I took a walk along Harbour Esplanade in Docklands on my way home from work. It was a grey, overcast day, but I think I got a couple of good photos.
Meeting rooms with a view
Photo of a section of a colourful office building that’s jutting out from the main building. This six storey section, which itself is two storeys above ground level, has floor-to-ceiling windows on all three sides. Through the windows you can make out office tables and chairs arranged inside the rooms. The photo is taken on an overcast day, with most of the sky full of grey clouds and only one patch of blue sky peeking through.
Marvel Stadium from Harbour Esplanade
Photo of a stadium with a large sign on it that reads ‘Marvel Stadium’. The stadium is next to a harbour, and the photo is taken from a walkway along one side of this harbour. In the foreground is a grid of several old, wooden, white-tipped pillars sticking out from the water.
Reflection of a bright sky on an overcast day
Photo of an office building wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows. The photo is taken on a grey, completely overcast day. However, there is a patch of blue sky peeking out from behind the clouds. This patch is behind the photographer and you can see its bright reflection on the windows of the glass-covered building that’s in the frame of the photo.
Geelong Flyer catamaran ferry parked at its Docklands terminal
Head-on photo of a 35m wave piercing catamaran ferry (Incat Hull 095) parked at its berth at the Port Phillip Docklands Terminal in Melbourne, Australia. This large ferry has two slender hulls connected by a bridging section, which is where all the passengers sit.
Geelong Flyer catamaran ferry, with the Bolte Bridge in the background
Photo of a 35m wave piercing catamaran ferry (Incat Hull 095) parked at its berth at the Port Phillip Docklands Terminal in Melbourne, Australia. This large ferry has two slender hulls connected by a bridging section, which is where all the passengers sit. In the background of the photo is the Bolte Bridge. This is a large, twin cantilever road bridge with two 140m tall towers that hold up the roadway that spans the width of the Yarra River and Victoria Harbour.
Blue buildings by Docklands Harbour
Photo of several residential towers of varying heights (ranging from four to over twenty stories), most of which have blue-tinted, floor-to-ceiling windows. The photo is taken on an overcast day, but the various shades of blue are still shining through despite the flat light. In the foreground of the photo is a grid of several old, wooden, white-tipped pillars sticking out from the water.
Reflections of a photographer
Photo of a man taking a photo of his reflection in a large, dirty window. The man, who can’t be seen very clearly, is wearing dark clothes, white sneakers, and dark driver’s cap. The man is looking down at the camera that he is holding just below chest height. The man is standing in a commercial area, with several buildings around him – including one that is under construction.
Looking up along the Melbourne Water building
Photo taken looking upwards next to a glass office building. The outside of the building is decorated with several metal shade-plates with various sized holes drilled through them. These are attached using metal supports and wires. Above the building is a grey, overcast sky with bits of blue sky peeking out from between the clouds.
Construction of the Seafarers Residences
Across the street from where I work in Docklands, Melbourne is the Mission to Seafarers – a worthy charity and volunteer-run organisation.
Right next to the Misson’s heritage-listed building, however, a luxury residential building is currently under construction. They’ve called this building ‘Seafarers Residences’. Weird flex, I know. But there it is.
I was able to take some interesting photos of the construction in progress with my new long lens (Fujinon XC 50-230mm).
Crane operator at the future Seafarers Residences
Close up photo of a crane operator inside the cab of a tall, white/red/blue crane above a construction site. The operator is looking down and to the left since that’s the direction his load is moving in.
Crane at the future Seafarers Residences
Photo of a tall, white/red/blue crane above a construction site next to a river. You can see a crane operator sitting inside the cab. And, far below at ground level, you can see a three construction workers in high visibility vests.
Crane-supported concrete pour
Photo taken from a tall building, looking down at several construction workers on a construction site. The workers are standing around a large, yellow concrete container that’s being held above a section of the foundation by a tall crane. One of the workers is guiding the flow of the concrete from the container into the area around a large wooden cast.
Pouring concrete
Photo looking down at several construction workers on a construction site. The workers are standing around a large, yellow concrete container that’s being held above a section of the foundation by a tall crane. One of the workers is holding the concrete container and is guiding the flow of the concrete from the container into the area around a large wooden cast.
[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.
Avalon Airshow 2023: Super Galaxy
There were a bunch of cool civilian and military aircraft you could walk into at the air show. One of the coolest was the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy II.
Super Galaxy whale tail
Low-angle photo of the tail of a massive military transport aircraft (the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy) at an air show. There are lots of people walking around the event, and several dozen people are making their way into the aircraft from its rear loading ramp.
Walking into the Super Galaxy
Photo of dozens of people walking up the loading ramp of a massive military transport aircraft (the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy) at an air show. The aircraft’s cargo space is large enough to carry tanks and helicopters.
Walking through the Super Galaxy
Photo of dozens of people walking through the cargo space of a massive military transport aircraft (the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy) at an air show. The aircraft’s cargo space is large enough to carry tanks and helicopters.
Walking out the front of the Super Galaxy
Photo of dozens of people making their way through the cargo space of a massive military transport aircraft (the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy) at an air show. The aircraft’s cargo space is large enough to carry tanks and helicopters.
USAF Super Galaxy flight crew ready to take questions
Photo of two US Air Force flight crew of the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft wait at the front of its cargo area. They are ready to answer any questions that visitors to the air show might have.
USAF Super Galaxy flight crew talking to the visiting public
Photo of a US Air Force flight crew member standing in the cargo area of a Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft during an air show. The crew member is answering a question that he’s been asked by one of the air show visitors.
USAF Super Galaxy flight crew taking questions from the visiting public
Photo of a US Air Force flight crew member standing in the cargo area of a Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft during an air show. The crew member is answering a question that she’s been asked by one of the air show visitors.
Explaining the intricacies of the pumps along the Super Galaxy nose door
Photo of a man in a Federation University (Ballarat, Australia) cap points to a series of hydraulic pumps attached to the nose door of a military cargo aircraft (the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy). The man is explaining the intricacies of this pump to another man standing next to him.
Open nose door of the Super Galaxy
Photo of the open nose door of a massive military transport aircraft (the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy) at an air show. The entire nose section at the front of the aircraft has been separated from the rest of the airframe and raised up on massive hinges. There are dozens of visitors walking out from the cargo space at the front of the aircraft. There are also hundreds of people walking around the event, looking at the dozens of aircraft parked at the air show.
Avalon Airshow 2023: Black Eagles flying display
At this year’s air show we were treated to a aerobatics flying display from the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team. Here are some of the photos I took of that display.
Black Eagles in diamond formation
Photo of eight black-and-yellow jet aircraft (specifically, KAI T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainers) from the Republic of South Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team. The aircraft are flying in a diamond formation across the sky.
Black Eagles looping in formation
Photo of eight black-and-yellow jet aircraft (specifically, KAI T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainers) from the Republic of South Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team. The aircraft are flying upside-down towards the ground as part of a loop manoeuvres they are performing. The aircraft are all emitting white aviation smoke to show their flight path.
Black Eagles breaking their loop formation
Photo of eight black-and-yellow jet aircraft (specifically, KAI T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainers) from the Republic of South Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team. The aircraft have just broken formation after completing a loop manoeuvres in the air. The aircraft are all emitting white aviation smoke to show their flight path.
Two Black Eagle jet aircraft flying at each other
Photo of two black-and-yellow jet aircraft (specifically, KAI T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainers) from the Republic of South Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team. The aircraft appear to be flying in to each other head-on, as part of an aerobatic manoeuvres. Both aircraft are emitting white aviation smoke to show their flight path.
Two Black Eagle jet aircraft that have just flown past each other
Photo of two black-and-yellow jet aircraft (specifically, KAI T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainers) from the Republic of South Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team. The aircraft have just flown past each other head-on at close range, as part of an aerobatic manoeuvres. Both aircraft are emitting white aviation smoke to show their flight path.
Avalon Airshow 2023: Behind the scenes
I took a few ‘behind the scenes’ photos at the air show.
Washing the wing of his aircraft
Photo of an older man in a large field with white room-sized tents, buses, trucks, and a few general aviation aircraft parked in it. The man is wearing black chinos, a blue casual button-down shirt with its sleeves rolled up, and a black cap. He is standing next to the waist-height wing of a white airplane parked in the field (technically a Diamond HK36 Super Dimona motor glider). All the aircraft parked here are behind areas roped off by blue traffic cones with blue pennant flags on strings attached to them. The man is holding a blue bucket in his left hand. With his right hand he is washing the dirt off the wing of the airplane.
Gotta keep your plane clean
Photo of an older man in a large field with white room-sized tents, buses, trucks, and a few general aviation aircraft parked in it. The man is wearing black chinos, a blue casual button-down shirt with its sleeves rolled up, and a black cap. He is standing next to the waist-height wing of a white airplane parked in the field (technically a Diamond HK36 Super Dimona motor glider). All the aircraft parked here are behind areas roped off by blue traffic cones with blue pennant flags on strings attached to them. The man is holding a blue bucket in his left hand. With his right hand he is washing the dirt off the wing of the airplane.
Aircraft Ground Operations for the air show
Photo of four people sitting around a desk in a second-story room of a white, semi-permanent building. On the table are computers, radios, and other communications equipment. This corner room has floor-to-ceiling windows on both exterior-facing sides. A sign attached to the corner of one of these windows reads, in all-caps “aircraft ground operations”.
Air traffic control tower at Avalon Airport
Photo of the air traffic control tower at Avalon Airport. This is a wide, 14 metre tall, white tower with dozens of communication antennae installed on its roof. There are large, darkened, floor-to-ceiling windows around the top of the tower.
Avalon Airshow 2023: Lots to do
The biennial Avalon Airshow is back after four years! (The 2021 show got cancelled due to the pandemic.)
Here are some of the photos I took at the event.
Display aircraft
No push
Black-and-white photo of the nose of a medium sized, turbo-prop aircraft (a Beechcraft Super King Air). Printed in all-capital letters at the very tip of the aircraft’s nose is the phrase “no push”.
Beware of blast
Photo of a jet engine mounted below the wing of a transport aircraft. A large sign with red, all-caps text on a white background painted on the back of the engine reads “beware of blast”.
Do not grab
Photo of pilot’s seat of a Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The cockpit canopy doors are all open. On various surfaces around the inside of the cockpit are signs in all-caps text that read “do not grab”.
Do you want to touch the nose too?
Photo of a man at an airshow carrying a little girl in his lap. The man is standing in front of a military transport aircraft and both the man and girl have one hand placed on the aircraft’s nose. The man is looking down at a child who you can’t see because there is a woman standing between the girl and the photographer. He is asking the child if they too want to touch the nose of the aircraft.
I want to touch the nose again!
Photo of a man at an airshow carrying a little boy in his lap. The man is standing next to the nose of a military transport aircraft. On the ground, next to the man, is a little girl (from the previous photo) who wants to be picked up so she can touch the nose of the aircraft again.
CH-47 Chinook
Photo of the front half of a large, dark olive coloured, twin-rotor military transport helicopter (specifically a CH-47 Chinook) at a public air show. The helicopter has ‘Republic of Singapore Air Force’ written in large, all-capital letters on its side.
Checking out the inside of a CH-47 Chinook
Photo of the inside of a military transport helicopter at a public air show. Several people are walking into the helicopter from its rear ramp, while several others are walking off.
Taking a peek at the belly of the A400M Atlas
Low-angle photo showing the underside of a large military transport aircraft (the Airbus A400M Atlas) at an air show.
Watching the show
Watching the flying program
Photo of several people standing in a line at an air show looking up at an airplane doing aerobatic manoeuvres. The aircraft in the sky is leaving a trail of white aviation smoke as the pilot performs manoeuvres. There are several other people walking around, including a group of Royal Australian Air Force cadets in their blue fatigues.
Capturing the take-off
Photo of a man taking a photo with a camera that has a very large lens attached to it. The man is at an air show, and the aircraft he is photographing is somewhere off-camera to the left of the photo. In the background of the photo is a massive military transport aircraft (a Boeing A400M), while everywhere else there are people walking around the event. A group of Royal Australian Air Force cadets in their blue fatigues are also watching the aircraft that this man is taking a photo of.
Puppies!
Belgian Malinois puppy-in-training
Photo of a Belgian Malinois puppy chewing on a blue, fuzzy toy while sitting comfortably on some astroturf behind a portable, white picket fence. The puppy is part of a litter being fostered for potential training to be a air force protection dog.
Avalon Airport
Sign at Avalon Airport eastern apron
Black-and-white photo of a large sign that reads “Avalon Airport / LAT S 38.01-8 / LONG E 144.28-4 / EAST 1”. To the left of the photo is a man with an air force tote walking across the aircraft parking apron. Jutting into the photo from the right is an aircraft wing with a jet engine mounted under it.
This was part one of four, so more photos to follow…
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 2
Here are some photos of buildings and cranes that I’ve taken over the last few days.
Trees on the level 29 balcony
Photo of a balcony that goes around the entire floor of a tall building. Planted along the edges of this balcony are several small trees in a row. The green of these trees contrasts with the blue of the sky that's reflected in the multi-angled glass windows of the floors above this balcony. This photo is taken from a neighbouring tall building.
Mr Cart at work
Photo of a very tall building-construction crane taken from below. The crane is framed between two buildings. The one on the right is under construction. A large sign attached to the back of the crane reads “Mr Cart”.
Media house entrance next to Southern Cross Station
Photo showing the length of an under-cover corridor of an office building. A large sideways sign that is taller than the door next to it shows the logo of the newspaper ‘The Age’.
Living in the Melbourne CBD
Photo of the very tops of two tall buildings taken from below some trees at street level. The two buildings are located in the Melbourne central business district (CBD), with the Liberty Tower Serviced Apartments building on the left and the (much taller) Melbourne Sky High Apartments building on the right.
A crane named Janet
Photo of a very tall building-construction crane taken from below. The crane is framed between two buildings, an older building on the left and modern building on the right. A large sign attached to the back of the crane reads “Janet” next to a painting of a large sunflower.
The dilapidated Sir Charles Hotham Hotel building
Photo of the tops of two buildings taken on a bright, sunny day. On the left, and in the foreground, is the round, domed tower of a dilapidated, four storey, 111 year old building. The pale yellow paint on this building is cracked and peeling. This is the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel building. On the right, and in the background, is a more modern building. This building is many storeys taller and has a metal and glass exterior. The building is designed with an exoskeleton on its outside: specifically, tall metal ribs going up and down its length. This is the Melbourne City Apartments building.
[Photo walk] Transport, part 3
Here’s a bunch of transport-related photos I’ve taken over the last few days.
Elevated train along Flinders Street in Melbourne
Photo looking up at a blue-and-silver electric train going along a set of elevated train tracks.
Tram going up Spencer Street in Melbourne
Photo of a green-and-yellow tram travelling on tracks laid down on an inclined road in a city centre. A motorcyclist is also proceeding up this road, to the left of the tram.
Passenger carriages waiting for their locomotive
Photo taken between the horizontal slats of a white fence. Through the slats you can see the Southern Cross Rail Yard, which is next to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne. In the centre of the photo are several purple-and-yellow train passenger carriages without an accompanying locomotive. These are parked at a two-sided train platform. A little behind this platform you can see a tall, narrow building, which is called the Yardmasters Building.
Passenger carriages at Southern Cross Rail Yard
Photo taken between the horizontal slats of a white fence. Through the slats you can see the Southern Cross Rail Yard. In the centre of the photo are several purple-and-yellow train passenger carriages without an accompanying locomotive. These are parked at a two-sided train platform.
Platforms 2A and 3A at Southern Cross Station
Photo of two purple-and-yellow V/Line trains parked at platforms 2A and 3A in a large, high-roof train station – which is Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, Australia. The rear and side walls of this station are all-glass, so through them you can see the city centre in which this train station is located.
Waiting for instructions on Platform 2A
Photo of a V/Line train service employee waiting on an empty train platform. The man is wearing a purple high-visibility vest and is holding both a clip board and a handheld radio. A sign above the man tells us we are on platform 2A and that the train to Ararat will depart from here in 31 minutes.
Heading into Southern Cross Station on its way to Flinders Street
Photo looking down at a rail yard that a train is driving through. The front of the train is painted yellow and blue, and the digital sign above the front windscreen reads ‘Flinders Street’.
Metro train waiting to depart
Photo of a blue-and-yellow train taken from outside a suburban train station, with a shrub and wire fence in the foreground. The train has a large ‘METRO’ logo painted on its side.
Travelling past Fawkner Memorial Park
Photo taken from inside a train that is travelling along a large park, which you can see through the large train window. The park has lots of different types of trees in it, and also a road with some street signs. Inside the train are two empty sets of seats, with blue-and-black and orange-and-black seat covers.
Oblong bird graffiti at Southern Cross Station
Photo of a grey, oblong-shaped, cartoonish bird drawn on the wall along the train tracks inside a large train station. In the background a technician stands waist-deep inside the mechanism at the bottom of a set of escalators. A yellow safety fence has been placed around the area where this technician is working.
Waiting for a train at North Melbourne Station
Photo of a wide, red-brick pedestrian overpass built over a pair of train tracks. The photo is taken on a sunny day and the tracks under the overpass are in shade, making this look like a short tunnel.
Maggie being Maggie
Maggie, majestic
Striking, low-angle photo of a red/brown dog framed against a clear blue sky. The dog is looking at something off camera with a faraway look in her eyes.
Maggie, noticing
Photo of a red/brown dog standing in a residential garden looking up at the photographer, who she has just noticed is taking her photo.
Maggie, chilling
Low-angle photo of a red/brown dog framed against a clear blue sky, with the sun behind the dog’s years. The dog is sitting comfortably on some grass.
Maggie, straining
Photo of a red-brown dog on a wide nature strip by the side of a road. The dog is wearing a walking harness and is pulling on a red leash that’s being held by the photographer. On the grass in front of her are a few dozen pieces of torn-up bread, which she is staining to get to.