Friday, 16 October 2009

Skywatch: washed from Pedra Branca


Pedra Branca is one of a pair of of white-tipped outcrops 22 nautical miles to the south-west of the Cape Bruny light-house - to which I introduced you via last week's Skywatch. The white tips are the droppings of generations of sea-birds. It was this barrenness, this isolation, this very bleak communing with nature at its most elemental that attracted Hamish Saunders during Easter 2003.


Come! Sit on this bench and ponder the immensity of the natural world. Squint toward the horizon. Unshackle your mind. Imagine that you see distant ragged outcrops betwixt the swell. Feel the sharp southern squalls burrow into your exposed cheeks. Then, rejoice!



Hamish Saunders June 1976 - April 2003


Check to see what Skywatchers around the world have been looking at this week.
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38 comments:

  1. JamesOctober 16, 2009 3:06 am

    That looks like my kind of place. What a wonderful view.

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  2. brattcatOctober 16, 2009 3:57 am

    Beautiful shots, Julie. Powerful commentary. Hamish Saunders packed so much life into his 26 years. He saw more of the extreme beauty and diversity on this planet than most of us see in a long lifetime. Thank you for introducing him to us.

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  3. SeanOctober 16, 2009 4:46 am

    Julie... fantastic photos....

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  4. Sylvia KOctober 16, 2009 4:48 am

    Breathlessly beautiful shots, Julie! And I loved the words of Hamish Saunders! He did indeed pack a lot of life into 26 years!

    Thanks for the beauty!

    Sylvia

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  5. ArtloverOctober 16, 2009 7:14 am

    Glorious views to look at.

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  6. Bill S.October 16, 2009 7:29 am

    Fantastic, especially the shot of the lighthouse. Thanks.

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  7. JimOctober 16, 2009 7:42 am

    Great shots, Julie.
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

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  8. sonia a. mascaroOctober 16, 2009 8:04 am

    Very beautiful photos, Julie! Fantastic view!

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  9. Kilauea PoetryOctober 16, 2009 8:16 am

    Gorgeous!The bench and wow that lighthouse- Stunning!

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  10. ArijaOctober 16, 2009 10:42 am

    Julie, thank you for finding me, which enabled me to have an absolutely orgiastic feast seeing some of my favourite bits (NOT Port Arthus) through your eyes.

    Tassie surely is a great place.

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  11. AmandaOctober 16, 2009 12:03 pm

    gorgeous shots!! I love the serenity of the first, and that spooky dark sky in the lighthouse photo!!! I wish I could travel there and avoid the snow =) happy skywatch

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  12. Joan ElizabethOctober 16, 2009 1:44 pm

    Today's photos capture that blowy restlessness of the sea for me.

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  13. Victoria TsavdaridouOctober 16, 2009 4:44 pm

    Very relaxing view, I wish I could have been there, thanks for sharing

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  14. Julian DavisOctober 16, 2009 4:50 pm

    Stunning pictures ! I love the light house picture surrounded with beautiful puffy clouds most.

    I love your blogs Julie , Right now I am following you blog.

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  15. StephanyOctober 16, 2009 5:21 pm

    Gorgeous captures! I'm partial to lighthouses (have a collection of miniatures at home).

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  16. JulieOctober 16, 2009 5:39 pm

    Me, too, Steph. But I am also partial to shipwrecks. And old cemeteries. A pattern in there, methinks.

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  17. ninjaOctober 16, 2009 5:56 pm

    Thank You for Your lovely comment. I admire Your series too.

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  18. HildaOctober 16, 2009 6:30 pm

    A perfect place for some reflection and contemplation. Gorgeous!

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  19. EaglesbrotherOctober 16, 2009 7:34 pm

    Great place to ponder life and it's experiences...and commune with Nature.

    Great Capture.

    Eaglesbrother

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  20. AnonymousOctober 16, 2009 9:56 pm

    Super sky and water!

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  21. EricOctober 16, 2009 10:23 pm

    Some breathtaking views, stunning, nice color too!!

    Have a great SWF.

    Eric, Holland

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  22. Gerald (SK14)October 16, 2009 10:28 pm

    what a well placed bench for a great view

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  23. marianneOctober 16, 2009 11:11 pm

    nice lighthouse photo! they're all good, but that's my fave-

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  24. UnknownOctober 16, 2009 11:40 pm

    Love the photo of the lighthouse. looks like an amazing place. Peaceful...

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  25. diane bOctober 16, 2009 11:46 pm

    Nature at its wildest down there. The dramatic sky behind the lighthouse is well shot.The words of the young Hamish are inspiring.

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  26. BeckyOctober 17, 2009 12:36 am

    Thanks for joining my Blog Julie. I can't believe what a gorgeous country you live in, and I hear it's just Spring there now. That bench is perfect for enjoying that beautiful blue sky, something we haven't seen in a while. We got 2.5" of snow over night!
    B.

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  27. Lori SkoogOctober 17, 2009 1:13 am

    Julie...I just checked out your photographs and they are ALL beautiful. You have a great sense of composition and the subject matter is fabulous. I would give my eye teeth to play those drums!

    Thanks for following my Journal...I'm honored that you would take the time.

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  28. kazuOctober 17, 2009 1:31 am

    What a beautiful view.
    I'd like to sit down on the bench.

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  29. Susan EllisOctober 17, 2009 1:35 am

    oh my - How beautiful and such a fitting place for Hamish to linger. Thank you as well for signing on to my blog - I've enjoyed my visit to yours as well.

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  30. AnonymousOctober 17, 2009 2:18 am

    I'm glad I now know the Hamish Sauners story. Sounds like he was a lovely man who died while working at something he loved.

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  31. mjOctober 17, 2009 3:36 am

    Your world looks wonderful from your camera lens. Looking forward to seeing it in person one day!

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  32. Margaret Gosden October 17, 2009 5:07 am

    Great views, a sturdy, weather worn seat for meditation!

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  33. Max-eOctober 17, 2009 6:26 am

    Nice shots Julie - I can imagine sitting on that bench enjoying the view. Have great weekend

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  34. rafOctober 17, 2009 3:37 pm

    Beautiful post, Julie. I've loved all your excellent coverage from your Tasmanian journey. I feel I know this land deeply from my years spent in similar places along the Alaskan coastlines and yes - I rejoice!

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  35. LewOctober 17, 2009 3:59 pm

    Beautiful spot! Sea and sky together make wonderful images.

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  36. JillyOctober 17, 2009 6:12 pm

    Your photography and of course your writing is just fabulous - too many memories for me! I lived for three years at a place called Tinderbox opposite Bruny Island.

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  37. VPOctober 17, 2009 6:24 pm

    Incredible images. I just checked the strange Portuguese name and the story of Hamish Saunders. The lighthouse and the bench are stunning, the view breathtaking.

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  38. lisa mertinsOctober 18, 2009 4:16 pm

    i really enjoyed visiting your blog julie. thanks for the peek at australia!

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