Tuesday 20 October 2009

Royal National Park (2/6) - walking


Polonius, wasn't it, who was hoist on his own petard?

Surveying the photographs from the day's outing, I could see the posts quite readily and the titles, too. However, although the structure for the week was clear, I now find that a title like "Walking" nearly demanded a specific sequence - yet shot 2 makes a more arresting portal image than does shot 1.

Raise the petard ...


This bunch of twenty-somethings was taking the Coastal Walk from south to north - roughly heading across the beach at North Era toward Sydney. They were chatting animatedly and gesticulating wildly all the while. You know: the sort of bunch who meet late highschool/early university and are still good supportive friends 50 years later!

Martina gave me the idea for rescuing the next image. As you can see from above, I am in danger of over-exposure on the RHS. This occurred in image 4 both on the RHS and in the sky which was a sort of vomit-green! So I removed the colour and increased the contrast. Lost the warm honey of the rocks but you saw that yesterday and I know it is coming again on Saturday.

18 comments:

James said...

I just finished looking at this and the previous national park photos. It looks like a wonderful place and your pictures are excellent.

Btw It was late when I did the train post and at the time I was wishing that I took a picture of the guy who was shoveling the coal. Anyway they are called steam trains or steam locomotives or steam engines here. :)

Hilda said...

Like James, I looked at these and the photos of your previous post. Looks like a fantastic place for a hike. Love the photo of the ocean spray! Are those homes on the slopes or cottages to rent?

Lois said...

I have a friend like that! We met our freshman year of college and we are still best friends 38 years later. These are beautiful shots Julie.

brattcat said...

You really do have a knack for transporting us with your text and with your images. The idea of a vomit green sky. Aye yie yie. Last time I saw a sky that color I witnessed my first (and only) tornado.

BlossomFlowerGirl said...

Parts of it look rather desolate and wind swept.

Julie said...

Hilda: Not officially through the NP&WS, but maybe through the families although they don't seem to be advertised in the usual places.

BFG: The park is such a massive conundrum. There are sections that are tussock grass flattened by the gusty southerlies. There are other sections over the ridge that have large stands of trees over 100' tall. There are other sections in the gullies that are jampacked like bits of rain forest. Of course, it get burnt out regularly. I was told over the w/e that in 1994 90% burnout.

Lowell said...

How remote is this place? I know from nothing about Sydney, but is it a far distance? What about climate...is this area open year round.

And the houses...are these single-family homes where people reside all year.

Storms?

A wonderful place to investigate.

wilbo43 said...

I used to visit the Royal National Park with Diane in the 70s whenever we visited her parents who lived across the road and railway line at Loftus. It's a great place. Nice shots and story.

Jim said...

Great shots Julie. I haven't taken any photos in the National Park in recent years. In fact, I don't think I've been back there in recent times. Thanks for reminding me of the beauty and the vastness of the national park on our doorstep.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Julie said...

Jacob: It is not remote at all really. It is definitely open all year round. Glorious in winter. Hot in summer. No, people do not reside here all year. They are shacks that people use on weekends and for short breaks. Two beaches down, which I will show on Friday, at Burning Palms, people do live but usually old codgers. *grin*

Bill: I am off down to Loftus again in a couple of weeks to tour over the Tramways Museum.

Lowell said...

Thanks for answering my questions...that helps a lot...and I think I'd do really well at Burning Palms with the other old codgers!

Ken Mac said...

first shot looks like a large snake's head. Nice one that!

Julian Davis said...

Royal national park is especially a hidden gem I think . Excellent photography Julie .

I like the first and last picture most .

VP said...

A pity for the vomit-green sky, a staple of the Vogon poetry...

diane b said...

As Bill has said, I grew up in Loftus(7 Eighth Av) and spent many happy days in RNP. My friend and I used to cycle down to the river at Audley and hire a canoe and paddle up the creek as far as we could go and then carry the canoe on our heads over the rocks and paddle again and swim in the crystal clear water. We were only about 13/14.Like Ann my favourite beach was Wattamolla, there wasn't a road to Garie in those days only a walking track. I would love to walk along that track in your photos. You make it so inviting with the perspective. BTW "Bill" was Wilhelm or Willy, neither were acceptable to him after he learnt English and decided to become Australian, so now he is William or Bill. Good luck in retirement. I can recommend it if you can get used to living on a lower income. Looking forward to seeing more of my old stamping ground.

Luiz Ramos said...

Good walking.
Luiz Ramos

Banjo52 said...

Is it my imagination, or are your colors richer lately, especially in Tasmania, with those great people portraits?

Julie said...

My colours could be more varied lately. In my camera I have set up a range of styles (standard, portrait, landscape etc) with varying contrast, tone, saturation etc) that I choose depending on the subject and sometimes the light.