First sunsets from Randwick

As stated in an earlier post, I have come to Sydney for my university education. Finding a place to stay took some time, but finially, I did, renting an apartment together with a friend from Singapore.

Our place was in Randwick, not far from the university. And fortunate for me (in my inexaustable quest for more photos), we got a few days of pretty nice looking sunsets on the first few days after we moved in. (In July - this is a delayed post.)

#1 - Fields of Sunset














#2 - Violet Stormclouds














#3 - Evening Clouds














#4 - Sunset Silhouettes











Hoping for more great sunsets!

Trip to the Blue Mountains

Before the semester started and after I had finally settled housing issues and most of my uni admin stuff, my parents and I, along with Samuel and his dad, felt that it was time for an actual 'holiday'.

So we thought about it, and decided to go for a day trip to the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves, west of Sydney. And we did so, on 18 July (The weekend before sem started).

We went by tour coach, and the drive out west took several hours, passing suburb after Sydney suburb (This is where I first realized how spread out Sydney was). Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of this part of the trip...

Our stop in the Blue Mountains was at Katoomba, the major town and tourist destination of the area. The photos in this article (above and below) are mostly taken at this stop (unless stated otherwise).

Scenic World, Katoomba. The place where we stopped for views and for toilets. We also went for two short cable car rides, a steep mine train, and a short walk through the forest.

Two of the views from the cable car that went over a deep valley:

We also saw many white Cockatoos in the area. Apparently, they were quite common in the wild.

On the way back to our coach, I saw some buds on a leafless tree - I couldn't really decide if they were going to turn into leaves or flowers...

The journey to the Jenolan Caves from Katoomba took quite some time more, as the caves were actually beyond the main range of the Blue Mountains, which meant that we actually were crossing the mountains to the inland plains.

Views along the way to the caves included giant wind turbines:

And some traffic along the long, long, roads.

We arrived at the caves in time for lunch, and while we were doing so, we saw several wild parrots of some sort, perching around. They must have been hungry too...

We had a tour of one of the cave systems there, which was not too bad. Unfortunately, caves are absolutely difficult to photograph (for me anyway) so I didn't manage to get many good shots at all.

Here's one of them:

After the tour, we returned to the coach, and went on the long drive all the way back to Sydney...

Fireworks and Rain

Several days before I was due to fly to Sydney, a friend called and asked if I wanted to catch the NDP preview and shoot some fireworks. I, already having the desire to do just that, agreed.

So on 11 Jul 09, one day before I flew, I met up with my friends to shoot the fireworks of the NDP Rehersal that was held that evening.

The sky was overcast long before it got dark, but there was no rain. In fact, by 745pm or so, the sky had started clearing up somewhat.

Our relief, however, was shortlived.

The very moment the fireworks start, not too long after 8pm, so the the dounpour. Yep, Downpour. As people started dashing for the nearest shelter (Which wasnt all too near, for we were at the middle portion of the Esplanade Bridge), my friends and I used our umbrellas, in a rather hopeless attempt, if I might add, to shelter our cameras while we continued to shoot the fireworks.

After most of the fireworks were done, we too, dashed for cover. The end result, we got pretty wet, our lenses got a little wet, but at least we managed a few shots worth putting online.

Here are mine:

#1 - Colours of the Nation






















#2 - Vivid Green






















#3 - Fireworks and Rain














#4 - Rain of Joy






















This photo makes me think of "Feu de joie" for some reason...

#5 - Light Sparks






















Some of the blurred parts and the bokeh like bits in the photos is actually rainwater that had gotten onto my lens.

Of course, the above are not my only shots. I have several other shots that were mostly too blurred to be posted.

Settling Down

It's been more than 2 weeks in Sydney.

My internet has finally been set up, and I'd start updating the blog again soon.

Stay tuned, as I clear up my backlog of photos...

Off to Sydney...

By the end of today, I'll be on my way to Sydney, starting my university education at UNSW...

There'll be lots of things to miss about Singapore, but hopefully, I'll have a good time there studying (And taking photos, of course).

I probably would not have time to update for a while, and I already have a pile of stuff that's backlogged...

Sengkang Skyscapes

Old post alert!

Walked around Sengkang several times a few weeks ago, and took some skyscapes.

Not my best efforts by far, I'll have to say.

#1 - Purple Sunset









(A pano shot)

#2 - Shades of Sunset




















(Colours are natural)

#3 - Cloudscape over Sengkang












May update with more clouds if I can...

APAD and other matters

My APAD thread (Here) recently surpassed the 10000 view mark. It's an accomplishment, I guess, and a good one.

Maintaining a constant flow of daily photographs for the thread, whether taken or edited on the day, is no easy task. Well, I found it okay most of the time, especially after I had left NS and had more free time to concentrate on my photography.

Now, however, I seem to have come to a bit of a block. My recent photographs aren't of my usual standards; Blurred shots, photos with no proper composition, etc. In addition, I'm a little short of ideas as well.

Maybe the fact that I'm starting University soon (In a foreign country too...) is causing me more worry than I really know (I'm feeling anxious/nervous/excited/confused?).

I really do hope to improve and take better photos, not just so that I can maintain my APAD, but so that I can show people (and myself) that photography is something that I can be good at.