One Hundred Strangers

Cara (65) 5 guys drinking coffee

2011-07-19T20:54:00.001+10:00

You should have seen me. It was like being back at number 1 again as far as nerves went. It's been far too long. I walked past and thought how great they all looked and I really should get their picture but I was too nervous to ask. And they were all deep in conversation in a different language. I walked past them and killed some time reading a review posted in the doorway of the cafe. Still too chicken. Walked another 10 metres and had another internal debate. You always remember the photos you don't take, don't you? I knew it was difficult light so took some test shots into a similar shaded shop front and then went up to them with a big smile. I made eye contact with the one who was wearing normal glasses and he said no problem. I explained that they were for a blog but I don't think they were particularly interested in it.

Five guys in total but I couldn't get them all in one shot because of the car behind me. Could have done with a fish-eye!
I think two big mistakes were that firstly I took only 3 photos and secondly they were all from this boring standing angle! (Have I not learned anything??) I should have got right up close, knelt down on the ground, taken shots of them individually.... but I was on a narrow, busy footpath and I was worried about disturbing them for too long.

Peter 094 - Elvis

2011-07-15T04:52:00.000+10:00

He smiled and told me he was the King.

A prince in a sea of brass instruments on the streets during the Renaissance Festival, Bar-le-Duc.

Peter 093- Tuppence

2011-07-14T20:13:00.002+10:00

When she was born her father, who would have preferred a boy, said something along the lines of "she's not worth tuppence" and even though her mother gave her a lovely girly name, that's how she's been known ever since.

I can vouch that her value by any measure, as she sits in her tiny well loved (if slightly battered) yacht loaded with her worldly possessions, is considerably more than her father's original estimate. She's currently pottering through the canals and rivers of Europe before returning south to pick up her mast and then who knows where she'll head.

She certainly doesn't have any firm plans, and that is what cruising is all about!

Peter 092 - The Farmer

2011-07-03T04:13:00.001+10:00

I asked his name. Perhaps he didn't understand my accent or perhaps he simply preferred to remain in his role as a silent farmer, but he smiled gently and pointed to the sign on his van : http://www.theatre-toupine.org/.

He had a stunning mechanical organ, a carousel of cows constructed in the most ingenious and impossible to describe manner, powered by the fathers of the children aboard by tugging on the udders of yet another mechanical bovine creature.

As they rode, he followed silently blowing feathers on them to the joy of all.

Peter 091 - Al

2011-06-30T21:52:00.001+10:00

We travelled in company with Al and his wife for a few days. That's enough time to get to know a person reasonably well, and I had to bide my time waiting for a portrait that didn't reflect the Al most people meet, the happy go lucky guy who's fun to be around. Pictured here, quietly and efficiently concentrating on tending his boat in a lock we get a glimpse of the Canadian veterinary surgeon whose skills have doubtless saved a thousand cows.

Peter 090 - Paul and Cara

2011-06-13T05:49:00.000+10:00

Paul has in his hand, the electrical cord for his boat, removed just a few seconds ago as they prepare to continue their journey through summer, in a minute or two they will have vanished into another world. It's hard to imagine that a happier, more content couple exist in all of Holland, let alone the rest of the world.

Perhaps that's what happens when one lists one's hobbies as the study of languages, reading (in all of the languages one studies, and the observation of wildlife, to say nothing about talking at length with great enthusiasm about them all.

Peter 089 - "Our" Tony

2011-06-13T05:38:00.001+10:00

On waterways around the world, a sailor is better known by his boat, than by his face, which is in the stereotype covered by beard and hat perhaps dark glasses. The dark tan gives Our Tony's lifestyle away. He's from the midlands in England and he spends as much time as he can in France deftly single handing his boat between dalliances with his wife when her work allows.

We shared our innermost thoughts as only lovers and people who have little chance of meeting again can, then went our separate ways, friends for life.

Peter 088 - Di

2011-05-23T16:18:00.000+10:00

For fifty years Di has been Tam's partner in life and boats. She even married him four years ago, although she didn't explain why. Her sons were born on a barge, she can lassoo a mooring bollard from fifty paces blindfolded in a gale in the middle of the night, and is the most extraordinarily patient and skilful teacher of her craft that one could hope to meet.

Here, typically she is holding down two separate conversations while watching every move of a trainee foredeck crewman, ready to intervene in a split second should that be necessary.

Peter 087 - Grahame

2011-05-22T16:01:00.003+10:00

Graham is nervous.

As Tam watches on gently, Grahame is nervous, staring intently thirty metres or so down the deck of a mid-sized Dutch Barge and oblivious to my presence as he manouvres into a river lock for the first time. The feeling is something akin to driving one's boss's Mercedes into a garage that is only big enough to fit the car if the rear view mirrors are folded flat. Kiwis are made of stern stuff though, and he got there without a scrape, by the end of the first day.

Grahame has done been many things; electrician, builder, shoe designer, forklift maintenance guy, and now: Barge Captain.

Peter 086 - Tam

2011-05-21T04:42:00.002+10:00

Tam has been living boats for as long as he can remember, from running coal and lime juice on the canals of England, to small coastal freighters carrying gravel, to his present day occupation as a trainer.

His eyes are constantly aglow at the joy he gets from simply being on boats. Here his eyes are everywhere as a novice takes his eighty ton home into a lock less than a metre wider than the boat.

Peter 085 - Harve

2011-05-07T16:40:00.000+10:00

Somehow it got to be nearly three in the morning, and the music is mellowing to a selection of classics from the forties.

By day he is a senior executive in a moderately sized publishing organisation, speaks several languages although modestly denies that unless pressed to respond in something other than his native tongue. By night, he just as modestly sings sublime harmonies across the dinner table.

Peter 084 - Jean-Dominique

2011-05-06T18:53:00.001+10:00

Jean-Dominique was hiding on the vacant top floor of a chateau in Orleans, playing somewhat etherial music which filtered through the building to the gallery spaces below.

He's a retired journalist who has spent the two weeks of the exhibition alone with his music, performing at no charge, because he thought the exhibition would benefit from the music.

He was right.

Peter 083 - Phillipe

2011-05-04T18:48:00.001+10:00

It is a coincidence that two photographs in succession are of gentlemen who serve their communities as Mayor. Phillipe lives 600 kilometres from Maurice and seems to be the sort of person whose talent and energy is endless.

This photograph was taken at precisely 2:18 am, during a longish dinner and about three quarters of the way through a bracket of singing that lasted for four hours without a break.

The composition is deliberate, although my own mind was not as tidy at that time of the morning as the subject's.

Cara (064) Josiah

2011-05-04T07:00:00.001+10:00

I'm dipping into my BDP blog for this one although the post was in black and white; this is the original. He was, as Ann pointed out at the time, a "chugger"; a charity mugger. One of those clipboard-weilding super-friendly folk you find on the street who get you to part with your money on a regular basis by signing you up for direct debits straight to the charity from your bank account. In Brisbane (compared to London) there aren't that many and they aren't as pushy. They don't even wear hi-vis vests. I didn't even realise he was a chugger until the very end. We had a good chat and he even asked me to take his picture cos I had my camera hanging around my neck. I love it when people ask.

Peter 082 - Maurice

2011-05-03T18:41:00.001+10:00

Maurice is the mayor of a small community in Alsace.

He heard us discussing the notices posted on his Mairie (Town Hall) and invited us into his office. He unlocked the glass doors of the case behind and showed us the records of his town dating from the late 1700's. The records were written variously in French or German depending on which particular country was in control of the place at the time, until about the mid 19th century when someone gave up, and began recording in both languages "just in case".

Most families in the region to this day, can communicate in either language, once again highlighting our own particular ineptitude!

Peter 081 - Jo

2011-05-02T18:40:00.001+10:00

Why should we not be surprised that the only other person on the entire top floor of the building on the other side of the world, should be an Australian?

Jo is staying in Paris for a few months, refining her language skills and no doubt thinking of her family back home.

Cara (063) Eva

2010-11-27T10:18:00.000+11:00

Beautiful Eva with her husky Spanish accent, travelling Aceh independently.

Cara (062) Yvon

2010-10-17T16:07:00.000+11:00

What a character. Yvon and his partner are from Brittany in France and just prior to me meeting them had travelled across West and North Africa in a 2CV van. You can imagine the funny stories. They were half way through their 18 month travels with Nepal and Thailand still to go WOW I was so jealous. My lasting memory of him is starting a chant ("Allez Mary! Allez Mary!) to encourage my daughter to get over her shyness and wish the restaurant owner a happy Id Ul Fitr in Indonesian - in return for the lollipop she had been eyeing for about half an hour. After such unyeilding support, she uncharacteristically caved into the pressure, recited it perfectly and got her reward.

Cara (061) Carol

2010-10-13T06:50:00.000+11:00

Carol, from Cork in Ireland, was taking time out from her never ending medical degree to travel Asia by herself. She's a great story teller and, from our experience, quite accident prone. Even with the life jacket on, coming away from a gentle snorkelling session in calm waters with all sorts of cuts and bruises after scraping herself on some coral and then getting out at the wrong spot and having to hack her way through the rainforest. Luckily, as with her other adventures, she always saw the funny side.

Cara (060) Babysitting

2010-10-05T07:49:00.001+11:00

I didn't get their names - the older girl didn't speak any English but she understood the photo request and gave a modest head tilt in permission.

It's another instance where I really could have done with auto-focus - that plastic on the left is absolutely spot on!

Better start saving.

Cara (059) Abdul Rhassad

2010-09-28T17:56:00.000+10:00

I didn't want to get too chatty with Abdul Rhassad as he was holding a cut-throat razor to the neck of my beloved. We came to a mutual understanding whereby I took photos whilst trying to not get in his way and he went on with the business of giving the Darryl the shave of his life. It was a comprehensive treatment... including a haircut, shaving and reshaving, potions, lotions, face and neck massage... I reckon it took about an hour and cost less than $2 Australian.

all together: shave and a haircut... 2 bucks!

Cara (058) Ladies at a restaurant during Onam

2010-09-26T12:46:00.000+10:00

Onam is the festival of Kerala. It is celebrated over the course of a couple of weeks but for me highlight was the day when people go out in all their fine clothes and after offering a banana leaf with all sorts of traditional morsels on it to King Mahabali and his wife, everyone gets stuck in themselves.

These ladies were at the restaurant where we were having our feast. They were chatting to the owner and looked a bit bewildered when I asked if it was OK to take their picture as they all looked so beautiful.

Cara (057) Shihab

2010-09-24T21:47:00.000+10:00

Shihab was laughing at Kassim in a "you asked for it" type of way. Then Kassim suggested I take one of Shihab. He was gracious and patient, letting me sort myself (and the camera settings) out. The bottom shot was my first attempt. It looked great through the viewfinder! Actually despite it being over exposed and out of focus, I quite like it. I didn't notice the pink and the blue in the background when I took the pictures but I quite like them too.

Cara (056) Kassim

2010-09-23T20:33:00.000+10:00

I went for a walk through the Muslim quarter of Mattancherry. Despite it being 3 weeks into Ramadan, where you would forgive folks for perhaps putting their feet up, shops were open and the streets were lively and energetic. As I walked past the aluminium works, I heard someone call out "one photo!". It was only supposed to be a joke as it's something kids often shout out to westerners so I think he was a bit embarrassed when I took him seriously.

Cara (055) Clemency

2010-09-22T19:33:00.000+10:00

Clemency is a mathematician from New Zealand who was traveling in Kerala for a couple of months with her young family before taking up a sabbatical in France. She had these beautiful silk clothes made up that drew appreciative glances from tourists and locals alike.

Despite the fact that I am in love with that little 50mm f1.8 lens, it doesn't do Auto-Focus on my little D40 so I have found some of my shots are a bit soft to say the least. I think it likes to be closer to the subjects.

Cara (054) Mariuppam and Jaya

2010-09-21T18:09:00.000+10:00

Jaya was sitting on the steps outside a shop and when I smiled at her she smiled right back. I came over and introduced myself but with her non-existent English and my even more non-existent Malayalam, it was a tough enough job just pronouncing one another's names. A man who worked in the shop came out and attempted to translate for me. It turned out she didn't work at the shop - she lived in an alleyway next to it. The shopkeeper then called her husband over - Mariuppam - and told me how they had been married for many years but they still loved eachother like newlyweds.

After I took their pictures I offered them some money which they refused, preferring instead a piece of paper with my name written on it in my hand-writing.

Peter 080 - Kurt

2010-08-06T18:28:00.000+10:00

We travelled more or less in company with Kurt for a few days, nodding and "bonjouring" at first, each unsure of each other's native tongue. Then he spotted our flag and knew that he could speak English better than we, and the communication didn't stop. We now have the benefit of his decades of trawling the waterways close to his home on the Saar.

Kurt is German, who with his wife Ursula travel the rivers at every opportunity on their somewhat rustic vintage police boat, and like so many water travellers, the term "affable" comes to mind by way of description.

The downside, if there is one, with our lifestyle is that every few days we are saying farewell to people with whom we know we will be in contact for a very long time. Like Kurt.

Cara (053) Guys in the park (2)

2010-07-21T07:00:00.003+10:00

Cara (052) Guys in the park (1)

2010-07-20T14:06:00.002+10:00

I was wandering around New Farm Park last Saturday with my camera dangling around my neck when this table of 4 Aboriginal blokes jokingly called out and asked if I was going to take their picture. They were in great spirits, asking where I was from and somehow knew that I had Irish parentage. Must be the famous Gartland Charm. When I showed them the pictures I'd taken they laughed at eachother and insisted on getting a picture with Darryl, my fella, who was looking on with increasing amusement.

In all the excitement I forgot to get their names.

Peter 079 - Gacinto

2010-07-10T09:38:00.001+10:00

Gacinto and his wife Karin had just sold their house and we managed to be quite coincidentally at the party to mark the occasion. Actually the party was hosted by the couple who had bought it.

He is Spanish/French and speaks little English, which, given the dirth of languages other than English in our repertoire meant conversation between us was lively and full of laughs during a very very long night.

He's a bit of alright on the guitar, and there wasn't a sad song sung all night.

This photo was taken at about 8:15 on a brilliant Orleans summer evening, with light that seems at first glance a lot like home, but look again!

Peter 078 - Garry

2010-06-18T17:40:00.001+10:00

Garry is a snake handler, who "performs" for the public, this time at the Nambour show. His manner with people was, dare I say it, "charming". Coaxing them and putting them at ease while they nursed one of his pythons.

He had eyes that the hypnotist over on the main stage would have killed for.

Cara (051) Kirsty

2010-04-30T09:23:00.000+10:00

This was down at Christmas Creek over Easter. Kirsty was playing cards with her daughter. Because I do a book and a blog with photos of our trips there, taking pictures is sort of expected of me. I can snap away and people patiently live with it.

I don't know much at all about Kirsty ... there were over 100 people camping there over Easter and it's hard to get around to meeting everyone. Next time, I reckon. Her (gorgeous) daughter goes to the same school as mine but in a different year.

Peter 077 - Lee

2010-03-25T09:45:00.001+11:00

When Lee isn't busy keeping tabs on Jeff's sartorial efforts, she's also a dab hand with a hand full of printed cardboard. Today's results perhaps indicate that she's better off playing with someone other than her life partner if she wants to win!

I confess, I've broken the rules: She hates seeing photos of herself, so asked me to delete this photo from my computer. Out of consideration for her I did that, but I liked it enough to post it first.... hmmm, that's probably not cool is it?

Peter 076 - Glen

2010-03-24T14:50:00.000+11:00

Another camping ground cardshark, in the absence of a fair dinkum smoking jacket, Glen cuts a dashing figure in a Chenille dressing gown as the warmth of the sun disappears. His sartorial elegance is perhaps personified by the fact that he's chosen a Jackie Howe singlet in a shade which matches both the colour of the tarp overhead, and his jeans on the line behind him, setting up my photograph beautifully I thought.

Another day and he too will be returning to Albury after a week at the beach.

Peter 075 - Geoff

2010-03-23T20:30:00.000+11:00

Playing for sheepstations.
Geoff has driven to Kiama from Albury Wodonga to brush up his Canasta skills under the shade of a tarp in the camping ground.

In between modest quantities of home brew, bouts of fishing and just plain hanging around, there's high tension each afternoon, under the big blue tarp.

Cara (050) Defying Gravity

2010-03-23T20:15:00.003+11:00

The Adelaide Street end of Albert Street, near Rocking Horse Records, is a hangout for those with fantastic hair and interesting piercings a la these three. I didn't get their names but they were happy for me to take their picture. Lovely, wholesome punks!
Had they been old-school punks, they probably would have trod on my camera, told me to sod off and flashed me the 2-finger salute so I feel quite happy about this one.

Peter 074 - Scott

2010-03-04T13:12:00.000+11:00

Scott is an apprentice working in Naracoorte which is just close enough to Robe to allow him to get down to check his crayfish pots after work. The photo was taken as he and his father cruised by the jetty on the way back to the boat ramp with the day's catch.

Cara (049) This Is Spinal Tatt...

2010-02-16T22:50:00.000+11:00

He was about 7 or 8 rows infront of me but but by that stage all the people in our section seemed to be extremely "relaxed" so I called out and asked him to stand up and pose for me.. and he happily obliged. It's great, what a bit of Dutch Courage will do.

Peter 073 - Joe and Rachael

2010-02-16T21:53:00.000+11:00

Once again I've stooped to photographing an "easy introduction".

Rachael is my niece and she brought Joe up to introduce him to us, so he was definitely a stranger at that point! He was her dance partner before becoming her partner in life as well.

Born in the Phillipines, he's been an Australian for a decade, is a talented dancer, musician and photographer by night, and carpenter by day.

Cara (047) Keri and (048) Darren

2010-02-15T19:52:00.003+11:00

Keri and Darren were seated next to us at the cricket on Sunday. As soon as we sat down, Keri warned us she was prone to getting a bit animated which suited us down to the ground. Throughout the day they laughed hard, chanted, waved, clapped, cheered, chatted and (especially Keri) egged on other members of the crowd. You could tell they really enjoyed eachother's company. You wouldn't have guessed they'd only just got back in contact after leading seperate lives for 12 years.

On a technical note... I love my 55-200 lens but chopping and changing between that and the wider angle 18-55 gets a bit boring after a while... so I got a bit lazy here, sticking with the 55-200 on auto-focus. Which is why it's a bit out of focus.

Peter 072 - Samantha

2010-01-26T17:20:00.001+11:00

Samantha's cultural name is Nyawurra Nyadbi, she's an Aboriginal woman from the Kija/Jaru and Woolahnga tribes in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia, and performed a traditional "smoking" or cleansing ceremony at today's Australia Day function on the Sunshine Coast.

She was rather busy welcoming 180 new Australian citizens so I didn't get to ask her permission to publish this photo, however given her profile I'm sure she won't mind. You can check out more information about her here: Samantha Martin

Oh, and see that yellow blur in the top left hand corner? I was trying desperately to get the Australian coat of Arms in the shot (and the coloured feather in her head dress as well) but with a busy subject, I'll take what I can get!

Peter 071 - John

2010-01-24T14:14:00.000+11:00

John is trying to decide whether to buy a piece of spruce for a new guitar top. He builds fine Jazz guitars to order, although his son does most of the custom work these days, but he's always got a boat or an aeroplane project on the go as well.

Peter 070 - Priscila

2010-01-19T13:31:00.002+11:00

I forgot Priscila's name almost as soon as I heard it, but I wasn't too concerned as she was going to send me her email address so I could send her this and a few other photos.

She, like Peter 068 is from Cuba, but lives on the Gold Coast with her Australian husband. She was very keen to point out the (very slight) difference in skin tone and body shape between herself and Peter, telling me they were very much typical Cubans, as were their three other friends who could have come from any other corner of the planet as well.

They were trying to get one of those everyone jumping photos and asked me if I could do the honours, so despite my better judgement, lack of flash and a backlit subject, I did my appalling best. Note to file: pictures of people jumping always look much better if you take them from down low.

Peter 069 - Ralph

2010-01-16T09:15:00.001+11:00

Ralph isn't a stranger, but he is an eminent Architect, Landscape Architect and author, which perhaps explains a bit of what this photo is about. I snuck up on him while he was working at his dining table, and I thought the reflections of the front lawn, the trees from the creek visible through the kitchen window beyond, the drawings on the table and the signature corrugated iron wall were just all too conveniently placed to waste. So here's Ralph, a somewhat ghostly apparition in his socks, loving what he's doing.

(Thought I'd use a different mould for this one)

Peter 068 - Peter

2010-01-14T22:22:00.000+11:00

Peter is from Brazil and living on the Gold Coast with friends for a time. He was on a day trip to Noosa when I found him watching the setting sun at National Park.

Everyone who knows about this stuff speaks of the evils of blown highlights, but I think in this shot the harsh light serves to tell just how much really reflects off the ocean, even in the last half hour of daylight.

Homage paid where homage due

2010-01-01T12:10:00.001+11:00

Have a look at this!

http://quierofotografiar.blogspot.com/2009/12/prueba.html

Astounding in clarity, composition and probably patience and speed of reaction.

Peter 067 - Celine

2009-12-29T08:19:00.002+11:00

Having just spent four months in France taking almost no photographs of people, it seems it was a call from destiny if that's possible when Celine and Dume, visiting Australia from France passed by our home.

Celine is Dume's partner in life, crime and all things generally.

An actress, writer and PR person who travels Australia for fun while it's snowing at home. She markets drinking fountains for livestock when she's not writing her next show or demonstrating their rooftop trimaran.

She too, is off to Beachport South Australia shortly, to manage the public sculpture collaboration with Dume.

Celine says this is a lovely photo, but she is not "coming out of it", and if you take the time to visit her personal website (in French) think you'll see what she means.

Peter 066 - Dume

2009-12-24T00:15:00.001+11:00

Dume, despite having a perfectly good boat of his own, kept eyeing off mine.

He is French, a sculptor and a terribly nice bloke to boot, so we swapped boats for the afternoon. After a bit more time on the Sunshine coast, it's back in the campervan to South Australia where he'll be working with the community on a large art installation in Beachport in the early part of next year.

Some of his work can be found on the web at Dume Sculpteur.

Cara (046) Diana - not Marilyn

2009-12-19T20:40:00.003+11:00

I'm very excited. It's been 2 years of friends telling me about "Marilyn" walking the streets of Brisbane and today I finally came across her, resting her tired feet in the Myer Centre. I told her she looked great and she thanked me with wide-eyed innocence, insisting that she wasn't Marilyn Monroe. I wanted to get a much more glamorous shot but she wanted the shoes in shot (fair enough - fantastic shoes!). Her name is Diana and is one of Brisbane's real characters.

The time has come the walrus said ...

2009-12-17T11:00:00.004+11:00

Other horizons beckon folks, and it is time for me to turn this page. This has been a momentous year for me in many ways and the confidence and friendships that this blog has grown are a treasure to me. I am ever so glad that we shared the same compartment for this journey.

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes and ships and sealing-wax
Of cabbages and kings
And why the sea is boiling hot
And whether pigs have wings."

I have been rummaging around in my upstairs attic trying to decipher what direction I am to follow during 2010. The answer is quinessential moi: I am going to undertake a pre-Masters-by-Research year investigating the growth of merchants and shop-keepers in colonial Sydney from 1788 to 1842. If I last the year, and if I find the skill to both research and write at that level, I will endeavour to enrol in the School of History at UNSW for 2011 & 2012.

So, I bid farewell to strangers who became friends.

Ann - John

2009-12-04T08:00:00.000+11:00

Here endeth the travels.

Julie (227) - Jan & Marg, history buffs

2009-12-04T07:00:00.001+11:00

Jan spent her working life as a journalist for SBS so knew many of the useful haunts for obtaining historical information. Marg, who has also recently retired, urged me to join the Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG), and I encouraged her to join the City of Sydney Historical Association.

Ann - Nairobi

2009-12-03T08:00:00.000+11:00

David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Julie (226) - Wendy, another collector

2009-12-03T07:00:00.003+11:00

Wendy, having no chldren of her own, was getting her Family History collection in order to hand on to her brother's children.

She had the largest most ornate "bible" I had ever seen.

Ann - Nairobi

2009-12-02T08:00:00.000+11:00

Once I took one, all the kids wanted their photo taken. Unfortunately very few came out. Taken in the National Museum of Kenya.

Julie (225) - Judy, a collector

2009-12-02T06:00:00.000+11:00

I chatted with Judy prior to the session. She is a dedicated collector and went on a tour of the State Archives during the week. So much to do and so little time.

The thing is with going on courses: you hear about all the OTHER seminars that a range of people have attended. As you can see, we are all very engrossed in our hobbies.

Ann - Botswana - Take Away Chicken

2009-12-01T08:00:00.000+11:00

Julie (224) - Nicole, another conservator

2009-12-01T06:00:00.002+11:00

Oops, I meant to focus on Nicky here, not on the bloke whom I did not actually meet.

Nicky gave the second presentation which covered the best ways to preserve Family History. The cost is not going to be as much as I had first surmised. The biggest cost will be getting two books rebound, but they advised to always get quotes. They provided lists of conservators who work with the general unwashed joe.

This seminar cost $40 for 3 hours and 4 conservators which I thought was fairly good value. They said there was a limit of 25 to the course but I thought there could have been more than that. Attendees were overwhelmingly female. I think maybe 3 blokes were interested enough.

Peter 065 - Aussie

2009-12-01T06:00:00.001+11:00

I didn't get her name, but I waved my camera at her and she nodded as she looked past me, scouring the member's stand for signs of celebrity.

Greasepaint and 35°C, humidity 85%.

"Green and Gold Malaria", Rupert McCall called it in his poem of the same name.

Ann - Zambia/Botswana

2009-11-30T08:00:00.000+11:00

Julie (223) - Nichola, a conservator

2009-11-30T06:00:00.001+11:00

On Friday, the State Library held a 3 hour seminar on how to conserve documents and items within a Family History. About ten years ago, my daughter and I spent quite some time making sense of all the documents and photos that came into my possession over the years. Now that I am retired, I want to house these more professionally so that they can be viewed and yet also saved for future generations.

Nichola gave the first presentation on the pitfalls of document storage. I recognised many of the pits!

Peter 064 - Murray

2009-11-30T06:00:00.000+11:00

Murray is no stranger, we are both creatures of habit.

For half a dozen years or so we have met at the Gabba on the first day of the first Cricket Test of the new summer.

This year, he drove me to the match, and armed with such familiarity, I didn't ask him if it was OK to take his photo.

Peter 063 - Didier

2009-11-29T12:22:00.003+11:00

For four months I wondered why I couldn't summon the energy to photograph people. It wasn't because there was a lack of opportunity, more I think that every time we met someone they became lifelong friends and the question never arose!

Didier was one of them, although neither of us spoke a word of each other's language at the time. We chatted for twenty minutes or so after he caught me photographing his corn stash. He lives in the little village of Choisey, in the manner of his forebears, with neither heating or ill humour.

I should have concentrated more on this photo, I wanted to reflect the animation of our conversation, and the nature of it, but I tried to hard at a shutter speed that was too ambitious. He told us of the centuries it took to build the church in the village, and of how many generations had lived in his house before him, but we didn't understand enough to make sense of the conversation, any more than he will make sense of the Christmas Card from Australia when it arrives.

Ann - Zambia/Botswana

2009-11-27T08:00:00.000+11:00

Ann - Zambia/Botswana

2009-11-26T08:00:00.000+11:00

Ferry across noman's land to Botswana.

Ann - Zambia/Botswana

2009-11-25T08:00:00.000+11:00

At the border.

Ann - Zambia - Skull, skull, skull

2009-11-24T08:00:00.000+11:00

Kathy celebrates her birthday.

Ann - Zambia - Lion Walk (3)

2009-11-23T08:00:00.000+11:00

Little man, big gun.

Ann - Zambia - Lion Walk (2)

2009-11-20T08:00:00.000+11:00

Ann - Zambia - Lion Walk (1)

2009-11-19T08:00:00.000+11:00

The lion walk has to be one of the most amazing things I've ever done. My group walked with two 13 months old females and you had to keep reminding yourself they were wild animals as they were exhibiting normal cat behaviour and wanted to flop down in the shade and sleep or play with each other, just like big pussy cats. Then you looked at their paws and teeth and reminded yourself that, playing or not, they could still take your face off with one swipe.

If you want to read more about the Lion Walk, volunteer work or lion conservation and release program have a look here - Lion ALERT. The walk I did was the recently established one in Livingstone, Zambia.

Ann - Namibia

2009-11-17T08:00:00.002+11:00

The cook at Ngepi Camp in the Caprivi Strip cooks up a storm on an open fire.

Ann - Adam

2009-11-16T08:00:00.002+11:00

Our driver/guide.

Ann - Namibia - Himba Girl

2009-11-14T08:00:00.003+11:00

I couldn't choose between these two shots of the same girl. Take your pick.

Ann - Namibia - Herero Woman (4)

2009-11-13T08:00:00.002+11:00

This woman was one of only two or three in the village wearing non traditional clothing. We were told she is Herero, not Himba.

Ann - Namibia - Himba Queen

2009-11-12T08:00:00.003+11:00

This is the Queen of the village - the Chief's first wife and a very important person judging by the way she was treated.

Cara (044) Karen and (045) Jane

2009-11-11T21:38:00.003+11:00

Karen on the left, Jane on the right. Taken at Easter this year, they were actually on their way out and I hadn't gotten round to meeting them while they were staying there... so it was a very hurried introduction, 3 snaps, nice to meet you and then they were gone.

Ann - Namibia - Himba King

2009-11-11T08:00:00.003+11:00

This man is the village Chief who was described to us as the King. I don't know if these are his kids or some of the orphans that have been taken in and are being raised by the village.

Julie (222) - John

2009-11-11T07:00:00.000+11:00

John was the chap I featured on Sydney Eye for Melbourne Cup Day. This is the end of this series. Now, I will try to snap the removalists on Thursday. They moved me last time, but I reckon they count as strangers. I will pay in the asking, though. They are great tricksters!

Ann - Namibia - Himba Boy

2009-11-10T08:00:00.002+11:00

The boys and young men wear western clothes, rather than traditional garb.

Julie (221) - Ellie

2009-11-10T07:00:00.002+11:00

Eleanor spends most of her day sleeping in a chair in the Eastern lounge which has the gold fish tank. However, on Melbourne Cup day she joined us in the Western lounge which has the television. Ellie walks with the aid of a stick. She is not talkative but takes note of what is going on around her. She surprised me by agreeing to a photograph. She even smiled which she has not done to me before this.

Cara (043) Sam

2009-11-10T07:00:00.000+11:00

Sam came to Christmas Creek with his family but when they were going, he decided to stick around for a day or two with the rest of us. I didn't get a chance to sample any of his sarcastic services although my sources tell me he was actually on his best behaviour.

Ann - Namibia - Himba Woman (2)

2009-11-09T08:00:00.002+11:00

Julie(220) - Hetty

2009-11-09T07:00:00.003+11:00

Hard to believe that Hetty is one little dynamo! She walks with a firm tread, although her shoulders are heavily stooped. She is quick and definite with her opinions. She does not like that there are too many NZ and Irish horses in the Melbourne Cup. Hetty is well under 5' tall.

Cara (042) Jan

2009-11-09T07:00:00.000+11:00

It was great meeting Jan in September. She'd heard of me and I'd heard of her. I think we both lived up to our reputations!

Ann - Namibia - Himba Woman (1)

2009-11-08T08:00:00.005+11:00

The Himba are a semi-nomadic tribe from the desert area in the far north of Namibia. This group are the most southerly, having relocated to just outside Khamanjab in the south of Damaraland. Unlike other "tourist" villages such as the Masai villages in Kenya, the Himba still dress and live traditionally. Obviously they make money by welcoming tourists but it does feel authentic and they don't put on anything special (like dancing) for visitors, they just go about their daily work in the village. They do, of course, try and sell you things but its not a hard sell.

Although happy to have her photo taken, this woman obviously felt underdressed. She disappeared into her hut and returned shortly after properly attired.

Cara (041) Laurie

2009-11-08T07:00:00.000+11:00

I have only met Laurie this one time at Easter this year but she let me take pictures of her for ages. This was one of my favourites.

Steve McCurry's thoughts on portraiture.

2009-11-07T11:16:00.002+11:00

Some thoughs on portraiture by possibly my favourite photographer, certainly my favourite portrait photographer.

Thought's on Portraiture

Ann - Namibia - Charles

2009-11-07T08:00:00.003+11:00

Cara (040) Chester

2009-11-07T07:00:00.001+11:00

Chester came to Australia as an American soldier in World War 2, met a lovely Aussie girl and never went back. He and his wife watched their kids grow up and then jumped on a small sailing boat and sailed around the world for 13 years ending up in the Torres Strait. He continues to have a wonderful life, now in Christmas Creek, counting the kids that come and swim in his pool (of which there are many). Me and Chester have since become friends.
Taken Spring 2008.

Julie (219) - Brenda

2009-11-06T08:46:00.004+11:00

Brenda was concerned. She had just had her hair cut and she did not have any money. She continually raised herself to a tottering standing in her wheel-chair. Each time, I went over and eased her down again. I tried to reassure her that the cost would go on her monthly bill. When this fell on fallow ground, I told her it had already been paid. She asked me how I knew that! Brian told me ...

Brian is actually the head day-time nurse, but the expression linked in nicely with the legendary Brian Henderson reading the Channel 9 news at 6pm.

Ann - Namibia - Herero Woman (3)

2009-11-06T08:00:00.003+11:00

Cara (039) Peter

2009-11-06T07:00:00.000+11:00

Here's the guitarist. Another one I haven't seen since.
I think my photography has improved a bit since then. Things I would do differently: focus properly for a start...either on the hands or the face.

Julie (218) - Julia

2009-11-05T09:13:00.004+11:00

Sometimes I wonder why some folk are in assisted living: this is one of those occasions. Her mind is sharp, she is interested and alert. However, she uses a zimmer. I took about 5 photos of Julia as we watched the big race together. She chose this one as her favourite because she was smiling.

Ann - Namibia - Herero Woman (2)

2009-11-05T08:00:00.005+11:00

Cara (038) Clare

2009-11-05T07:00:00.000+11:00

This is one of the first portraits I took at Christmas Creek in 2007. I don't believe I have met Clare since. It was a hot Sunday afternoon and there was a group of us sitting under the trees listening to a guy play guitar.

Julie (217) - Barry

2009-11-04T11:52:00.005+11:00

Barry assists at the nursing home where my father has a place. Yesterday, he cheered everyone up with his joie de vivre.

Ann - Namibia - Herero Woman (1)

2009-11-04T08:00:00.002+11:00

Herero women have a distinctive style of dress and make money by selling Herero dolls to passing tourists from roadside stalls.

Ann - Glen

2009-11-03T08:00:00.003+11:00

Lens envy - it zooms to 400mm.

Ann - South Africa

2009-11-02T08:00:00.004+11:00

Old friends argue over a coffee in Hout Bay.

Ann - Cape Town

2009-11-01T08:00:00.002+11:00

Another Khayelitsha shot. Got caught by this one - after I took the shot he demanded money, no doubt to spend in the nearby bar.