Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Post 75, Walking wounded fund raiser

Reuben - injured 
Doctor Declan
The other week our children's school ran a coin donation fund raising event based on a dress-up day with the theme "Walking Wounded".

The idea was to come dressed as either a member of the medical profession or someone who has been injured.

The kids hopefully took to heart that at the moment and certainly this year there have been many natural disasters resulting in a large amount of suffering around the world.

Reuben was the injured party and Declan the doctor, with Reuben being lucky to by picked out by the Red Cross representatives for a prize for his costume.


I understand that the money raised was going towards those suffering at the moment.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Post 74, More on last weekend

Hillarys - Seagulls
Ivy at Under the
Sorrento Stars event
A class mate from Declan's
Grade 1 class
Out side of the school function on Saturday night as posted in the last post which finished Sunday morning, we had an active Sunday also but with fewer photos from that day.


Breakfast at Hillarys Marina, and an afternoon at the beach rounded the day off.

We were all ready for a wonderful Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni before heading to bed for the kids, and to the computers for the adults.
Breakfast at
Hillarys


Ivy - simple fun on
the grass

   Hope you also had a great weekend.


Dinner
Publish Post

Post 73, Under the Sorrento stars - or - overnight camp out on the school oval

On the oval for Under the Sorrento Stars
Reuben sits in the tent looking
like he did all the work
It was a very busy weekend, especially for the little ones with activities starting Friday night and continuing all the way through to Sunday afternoon.

Max - the big kid in this photo
Friday night activity included dinner out, followed by a movie (Rango), then half an hour at a games arcade, with many games being played by all.

Julia came along for the afternoon
 early evening this year but
had to take Ivy home later
Saturday's most awaited activity was the School organized fundraiser Under the Sorrento Stars, which was an overnight sleep out on the school oval.

Tim plays to his old school
Declan and Reuben were at last year's event and loved it, so there was no way we would not be doing it again this year.

In the main the program is; get to the oval, pitch your tent, run around and play with all your school friends if you are at school; and the parents get together watch and chat.
Tim Montgomery

It is a great event for the kids and a catch up chat for parents, it also provides a great fund raising opportunity for the school at $45 per tent and $5 per meal deal.

An ex student of the primary school who has now released his own album, Tim Montgomery was there to entertain everyone, and we purchased one of his CDs after listening to him play at the school.


Reuben in the tent again - this time out for the night
 

I am going to post some additional photos from the day on the next post just to split the photos over the two posts.

Sorry for not putting up any posts over the past few days.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Post 72, Nambung National Park - The Pinnacles Part One

Pinnacles - ripples 
Typical scene at the Pinnacles












I must say that I am enjoying this opportunity to post my photos through this blog, and whilst I try to make the posts relate to the day or the week it is not always possible, without boring you all that is.

Native Grass Trees
So today whilst I do not have time to make this a lengthy post, I do want to at least place a few images up from our trip to Nambung National Park.

Sand dunes
The trip was made last December and was only a day trip, but in the next post I will also include some photos from some of our previous trips to the same area.

Have a great day,

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Post 71, Burying Kids in the Sand

Now what
Is that a Nikon D700 with a 24-70 f2.8 zoom?
Buried in beach sand 





















I had an opportunity to relive some of my childhood at the weekend when we decided to bury some small kids in the sand on our morning at the beach.

Sand, sun and fun by both the adults and the kids was had; (although snot also needs to be on that list for a few).

Ivy's mothering instinct came out and she starting digging everyone out with great concern to the adult's amusement.

Great spot, Mullaloo Beach.



Help me get out

Monday, March 21, 2011

Post 70, Sunday was a Fair day, Just snaps of the kids

Sunday we headed down to a local fair, and in the main it was all about rides and a little bit of side show alley.

We were surprised that Ivy was into trying a ride again especially as last time she spent the entire ride with Mary crying, but this time she loved it.

Prizes were won in the pluck a duck fishing game and then more rides, this time on a pony for Declan, Reuben, and Ivy.

I can't seem to get away from taking photos of the children at the moment, as you can see.


Things are busy at home with a lot of preparation going in for our potential US move so I can't see myself getting out and away from the vicinity of the house and suburb any time soon.

I will get back to some of my original post topics soon, like the film which I put through Peter's old Film SLR and some more on Ireland and also Colin Smith.

All the best.
















The trip finished with fairy cakes and fairy floss.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Post 69, Perigee Moon

Perigee Moon
Moon rise colour being affected by it's low position






With tonight being a Perigee Moon we all decide to take a little time out to look at the moon.
Moon rise 19th March 2011

We watched it from rise to about an hour after rise and all agreed on it's beauty and brightness.

I used my wife's Nikon D90 as it is a cropped censor and therefore was going to add to the range by a factor of x1.5 on top of my 1.4x Teleconverter and the 200mm f2.8 lens.

The Teleconverter always has an impact on sharpness but there is always a compromise.

I am sure that many photographers will be posting images of tonight's moon, hope you enjoy them.


All the best.
Perigee Full Moon

Post 68, Declan receives a Merit certificate

Declan is handed his certificate
Sorry I didn't get you that hair cut
in time for the assembly Mr Declan
Declan received a merit certificate for his high level of work in grade one on Friday.

It was handed out at his school assembly and he joined other merit award winners on stage.

Busy reading his certificate instead of holding it up :)


He had a great day with all of us there to see him be presented his certificate and then later in the day I came back to help out in the classroom with some maths, specifically measurements.

Well done Declan you make us proud.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Post 67, St Patrick's Day

View from the front door from our favourite location in Ireland
Pint of the Guinness in London 1999
Kilkenny pint in Kilkenny Ireland 2000





















In celebration of St Patrick's day on the 17th March, most of us wore something green and we had a chance to speak with our relatives in Ireland (Peter and Mary).

 The photos today come from some old cameras and the panorama was from the Nikon D200.

Take care.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Post 66, More sail boats, the moon, and police cars

Leeuwin II this evening against Rottnest Island and Nautical twilight 
It was getting late in the day and I had not taken any photos today, I was starting to think that I would be posting some more from my library, then Chris phoned (Fat Frog Foto - www.fatfrogfotography.com ).

Tonight's Moon
He said that the Leeuwin was at anchor and could be seen from Trig Beach but was a fair way out. I knew I wasn't going to make it before sunset but Nautical twilight with a tripod could still work. So we packed the kids into the car after dinner and headed out.

Julia took the three little ones down to the beach whilst I set up my tripod, changed to the 70-200mm lens and attached the wired shutter release and set the D700 to mirror lockup before setting exposure.

After taking the shots of the Leeuwin I did the old photographer trick of looking at what was behind me and deciding to take a few shots of the moon.

I then returned to taking more shots of the Leeuwin when a Police car pulled up next to me and the friendly officer came over to have a chat.

Reuben and Declan - at least they are
not in the back of the Police car
We were talking away as the Julia and the kids returned to the car park from the beach, and soon Reuben and Declan were sitting in the Police car with lights flashing - adding to the adventure of their evening.

For more info on the Leeuwin II you can go to www.sailleeuwin.com/ and for the island behind the ship www.rottnestisland.com

Have a great day.

Leeuwin II this evening against Rottnest Island and Nautical twilight 

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Post 65 Hair cuts, sail boat, and more art

Mr Bushy Head
Mr Reuben
I am posting some photos from today and some additional photos from the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition which was a great place for photographers.

Reuben or Mr Bushy Head went to see the hairdresser and is sprouting a new spiked look, my cut was less exciting, and Declan's is scheduled for Thursday.

Sail cat - one day it will be us
Travelling home along the coast (as always when ever possible) we spotted a sail cat at anchor close to shore and I had to stop to take a photo.

I have been listening to the issues with radiation leakage from Japan's troubled nuclear power station and hoping that we have heard the worst of it.

All photos on today's post taken with the Nikon D700, 24-70 and 70-200 f2.8 lenses.

Stay safe everyone.
Glass sculpture
Sculptures by the sea - a place for photographers




Someone really likes their Range Rover