Treasury Casino

This image was taken a little while ago however until now I have never been happy with the post production editing I have undertaken. After experimenting with various Photoshop filters, it was originally posted to Flickr as what might be called quasi photo-art, however I got sick of looking at it and so deleted the image from that site. I think a minor curves adjustment and the application of a little soft focus allows the image to retain its integrity as a photograph but still allows for surrealistic feel that I think I found attractive in the first place.

Peace Fair

The International Day of Peace - Peace Fair celebrations, held in the Brisbane Square on the 21st September 2007 included a number of multicultural dancing and singing activities. Unfortunately I missed the introduction to this performance, however the kimono and fans suggest something Japanese. The movements were slow but stately, full of grace and I suspect extremely meaningful from a cultural perspective.

Nuclear? - No Thanks!

It isn't often one sees an elephant in the city at the best of times, thus I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to photograph this well behaved example which stood quietly in Queens Garden today. Part of a public awareness campaign organised by the Friends of the Earth in partnership with The Wilderness Society, to raise public awareness of the nuclear debate that of late has been touted by our politicians as a means of managing global warming and climate change.

I have to say, I wholeheartedly agree, "No Thanks!" One only has to look at the ongoing horrors as a result of Chernobyl. Can we really afford to take that risk? Let alone the issues around the disposal of spent uranium and its potential for conversion into weapons grade material.

The 2007 Ekka

Ask a local about the significance of August and as likely at least two things will be mentioned. The first is the presence of bitingly cold winds and the second would be “the Ekka”, (or as it is more officially reported, “The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland - RNA”). For the most part this month, the cool wind has been remarkably absent, however the 2007 RNA Show, or Ekka as it is known by most kids, kicked off on Thursday last and will be in full swing until this coming Saturday.

Monday evening saw the brother-in-law’s and our family wandering around sideshow alley, looking at displays, buying sample bags and watching the fireworks, along with thousands of others. A good time was particularly had by our kids, now old enough to appreciate what’s going on around them. Colour imagery was the order of the day however one image, the “oh-so” typical shot of the Ferris Wheel, received a monochrome treatment that will enable me to finally post something to Monochrome Brisbane.

Dedicated to the memory of Anton Donkers 30/3/1930 – 16/08/2007.

Music Lesson

Music Lesson, originally uploaded by Martin~.

Wandering up to Brisbane Square, as I often do most lunch hours, I came across these gentlemen with what appeared to be an end blown flute. Having dabbled with Irish penny whistles and and an old school fife (circa 1970), curiosity got the better of me and I was politely informed that the instrument is a Turkish ney. Kindly consenting to be photographed during their music lesson I learned that the gentleman on the right was responsible for both crafting the instrument and was also providing his pupil (on the left) with instruction on its use. From what I could hear of the sound it reminded me of the lower range of notes my daughter produces on her traditional flute, low, haunting, but beautifully melodic.

At the time I thought this would be a tricky exposure given the dark coat worn by the subject in the foreground and the back lighting from the sky, thus the image was exposed by spot metering the subjects' hands. The original image has been mildly sharpened and converted to monochrome using a third party pseudo channels plug-in compatible with Photoshop Elements.

Book Signing

Book Signing, originally uploaded by Martin~

I can imagine that as an author it could be quite a daunting experience, attending to one's own book signing with what is likely to be a highly personal and significant piece of work. Answering the querying public's polite and possibly not so polite, sometimes inane and other times intelligent questions, concerning something into which one has poured heart and soul. This cheery author however expressed a quiet confidence in the timelessness of her message and its widespread applicability. Whilst initially cautious about being photographed, she readily consented after I explained my interest in street photography and desire to document her book signing.

FYI "Shafts of Light" by Elizabeth Weston is a fictional work and available through the Angus & Robertson bookstore in Post Office Square, Brisbane.

Tympani

Tympani, originally uploaded by Martin~.

The Warwick State High School band performed in the Queen Street mall today, and a highly polished performance it was too. Of all the instruments, on hand, I have to say that these beautiful kettle drums were the most impressive.