Queen Victoria Building or the QVB

If my previous posts and images have failed to highlight something, let me spell it out right here and now. I love Sydney! I love the harbour and look forward to the day when I can afford to live on it! I can't say from the number of times I go there that I have ever not enjoyed it. Being that I live in the "burbs", I am very proud of the city and it's colourful history.

I wanted to share some more of my shots of Sydney and also my favourite building and shopping place in the city, the Queen Victoria Building affectionately known now as the QVB. You saw one of my pictures of it late one Sunday night from the outside, but here are a few more showing the architecture of this great building. As the picture to the left shows, you can see 4 of the 5 levels in this one shot, it is a beautiful building that commands respect and admiration for the artisans and craftsmen who have laboured here. What a wonderful building. If only these walls could talk. What would they say, what stories would they tell. I photographed Naomi Campbell here once and went back and she autographed one of my pictures I took. She signed "Perfect Love, Naomi Campbell"!




I am including a brief excerpt of the buildings history as quoted on the website. I commend a visit there, simply click on the link below.

The Queen Victoria Building, now affectionately known as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen – stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. Originally, a concert hall, coffee shops, offices, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople, such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers and florists, were accommodated.

Over many decades, change saw the concert hall become the city library, offices proliferate and more tenants move in, including piano tuners, palmists and clairvoyants. Drastic 'remodelling' occurred during the austere 1930s and the main occupant was the Sydney City Council. As recently as 1959 the Queen Victoria Building was threatened with demolition. As it stands now, in all its glory. It is testimony to the original vision for the building and the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who put it all back together again.

The QVB fills an entire city block bound by George, Market, York and Druitt Streets. The dominant feature is the mighty centre dome, consisting of an inner glass dome and an exterior copper- sheathed dome. Glorious stained glass windows and splendid
architecture endure throughout the building and an original 19th century staircase sits alongside the dome. Every detail has been faithfully restored, including arches, pillars, balustrades and the intricate tiled floors thus maintaining the integrity of the building.
The visual message of Sydney's coat of arms, on the cartwheel stained glass window, is that the beehive depicts business, the sailing ship - trade, and the dolphins - the harbour. Panel 1, on the left hand side, represents the Council of the City of Sydney, and symbols of architecture, while the letters I.G.B. on panel 3, on the right, represent Ipoh Gardens Berhad, the Malaysian company who restored the QVB.

The symbols are of property developers - the builders. The bottom central panel represents the heraldic symbol of a finished building and the joining of two hands denotes the fusing of two cultures. There are many interesting and charming exhibitions and attractions throughout the building, along with portraits of the Queen. There is also a letter from Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of Sydney to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in the year 2085. Outside the QVB, on Town Hall Place, facing The Town Hall are the Royal Wishing Well and Queen Victoria's statue.

http://www.qvb.com.au/IPOH/QVB/me.get?site.sectionshow&PAGE360

Have a good day everyone.

Wanting to be Somebody

I was in the city today, Tuesday, visiting some clients and getting a few things done. I parked in at Wynyard and walked up to Martin Place, thence to Town Hall and then, because I had a lunch appointment back near the Rocks, I caught a train back from Town Hall on Sydney's underground rail network. What a wonderful experience. It has been years since I caught a train. I stood and as you will see I took a couple of pictures of the train arriving on the platform and the underground car parking station. Things we take for granted normally I try not hard not to.

Yes there was far too much graffitti that didn't exude an air of creativity it just exuded trash and abuse, however, I enjoyed the experience all the same. I used to be a commuter many years ago when I worked for Citibank in the Money market operations area, and it used to be an hour and a bit there and back each day. It was a "mugs game". Then when in the summer the air conditioning on the train breaks down and someone who chooses not to wear deoderant would stand next to me for most of the journey. eeeuuuwww! I was filled with a great amount of gratitude for my car as I recalled the down side of train commuting daily. Though the $53 parking fee for for the few hours I was there was a pain in the butt!

My happiest recollections of training was of a man who I always stood near at Wynyard railway station and at central as the doors of the train would open, he would open his arms, as his daughter meeting him from school, would run and jump into his arms. literally. It was at those times when I saw the look in his eyes and the young girl would say "Dad!" in a breathless, I just ran and jumped into your arms kind of way. I wanted a baby girl from that day on. Though unless we adopt, will not happen now. I wasn't thrilled at the news there was a boy in utero when I found out, but I have come to love my boy as much as I love life itself and then some. I think if I had a girl she would hate me as if any guy would approach I would want to give them a hard time.

I saw this portion online from a new book by Mary Ellen Edmunds called MEE Speaks. I know nothing of the author or her book, but I certainly like her message, which essentially says if you want to be A somebody, be THE somebody listed below. Timely advice and a beautiful reminder for me. I will quote this small section of a chapter that I thought appropriate.

"I was thinking that somewhere in this big world this morning, a woman is praying for her mother, who’s now living in an assisted care place and spends so much time alone. She’s praying that SOMEBODY will notice her mother, will touch her, be kind to her, make sure she’s all right.

And somewhere in the world there’s a father whose boy is going to start in the “regular” school class next week after being in special ed for several years. Oh, how he’s hoping that SOMEBODY will reach out to his little boy and build trust and friendship with him.

There’s a daughter somewhere who knows her dad should quit driving, but she hasn’t been able to stop him yet. He’s careful and doesn’t go far from home, but he drives so slowly. And she’s hoping that SOMEBODY will be patient with him as he’s holding on tightly to one of his last sources of independence.

In an apartment building there’s an older woman living alone who doesn’t have any family living nearby, and it’s too cold and snowy for her to go out much. She’s wishing SOMEBODY would stop by to visit with her and perhaps help her with a couple of things she hasn’t been able to do
.
In a home not too far away there’s a wonderful man caring for his wife who has Alzheimer’s, and it’s almost to the point where he can’t do it alone anymore. He’d love to have SOMEBODY come by and help him make some extremely difficult decisions.

There’s a single mom in the neighborhood who’s feeling completely overwhelmed with trying to put together a wonderful Christmas for her children, not knowing how she’s going to pay for it all along with the many regular bills. She’s desperate for SOMEBODY to help in some way but doesn’t know whom to ask and is not even quite sure what she needs.

Well, I didn’t mean to have quite that many examples, but I hope you get the idea. I want to be SOMEBODY. "

I find that with the happenings of today, and the reflections I have been pondering on of late, it is a gentle reminder for me to place things into some sort of perspective. As stated previously on my blog I am so far from the ideal, or from the person I would like to be, but I am endeavouring to be better tomorrow than I was today. Sometimes I am successful.

Lastly, all the pictures taken today listed above, are taken on a Kodak small compact camera as I am going back on Foxtel TV this week selling cameras for Kodak. So I am familiarising myself with the features and looking at what they can do. You must remember that this camera is selling in a retail store for $299. The photos are great!! for the little unit it is. Today I also went and held in my hands, the next camera I am going to get. It sells for just a few dollars more than the aforementioned one. $10,700 more to be exact. the magnificent 21.2 Mega pixel, dual processor Canon 1DS MK III. I felt like a culmination of Tim the Toolman from Televisions "Home Improvement" and Homer Simpson from the "Simpsons" when they express their complete approval of something. A combination of hoo hoo hoo and Hmmmm! I will show it below. hmmmmmmm. The picture is a press release picture. Not mine.

Lightning bolts & Balloons at dawn

A little while ago there was a lightning storm outside my front door. I have never had any success with this previously. I stood on someone's roof, at their approval of course, in the middle of a thunder and rain storm to capture the lightning. All I caught was a cold. Their roof was also an entertaining area and hence provided what I thought to be a good backdrop. I have tried several times all with little or no success. Now I would like to have taken these lightening shots with Sydney or a cavern as a backdrop but, hey who am I to tell the lightening come back when I am at a better geographic location! So I have captured these couple of shots and was so pleased. The shots are not doctored or created in photoshop, they are real! The two things I have never captured to my satisfaction and high standards are lightning, and the big yellow moons that look like a planet. I don't know what they are called eg New Moon....or whatever. I have never seemed to be in the right place when I saw them with a camera. The last shot is of a balloon I saw taking off earlier as the dawn broke at Parramatta Park. I could feel the warmth of the flame and it was beautiful! Have a great day everyone. It is cold and very fresh here at present, and I must be getting a bit older as I am feeling the cold a little more, but I am loving it. The change of seasons is beautiful, and as Autumn is my favourite season of the year I am on cloud 9.

Darling Harbour under lights

Well there wasn't much of a sunset yesterday, in fact, it was more like a fleeting glow and then the clouds set in again for a light dusting of rain. I was able to take some images of Sydney from Darling Harbour toward the city of Sydney itself. I was there to take the last few shots of the Author and her daughter and after that I snapped off these couple of pictures. I couldn't resist one of the indoor pool at the top of the hotel either. It was wonderful. Too bad I was there only for a short while. I wanted to share the pictures I took with you all. An interesting week ahead this week. The act of biting off more than you can chew is starting to catch up with me and I am finding I have to do more work to satisfy the things I have undertaken. But it is all fun and exciting. Have a good week everyone.

Beauty in Simplicity

Outside on the nature strip of my home a little while ago there is a tree and I happened to be walking past and noticed a cluster of bees, at first fearing they would sting, I approached to confirm they were bees and were friendly. I bounded inside the house, grabbed my 50mm Macro lens and dashed back to the tree and captured some pictures of the sleeping bee cluster. 2 of which I have posted here, I love them. Isn't nature and it's simplicity beautiful?

Missy Higgins Rocks

I can't count how many times I have heard this song from Australia's Missy Higgins. It has been out for some time and I still love it. She is one talented lady. There is lots of international artisits in town at present for the MTV music awards, Juliet Lewis and her band Wycliffe John and fiddy (50) cent, kd Lang, Michael Buble and a host of others. But Missy still stacks up and then some! You go girl!



The words

(Verse 1)
Feel it falling off like clothing
Taste it rolling on your tongue
See the lights above you glowing
Oh and breathe them deep into your lungs

(Bridge 1)
It was always simple
Not hidden hard
You've been pulling at the strings
Playing puppeteer for kings
And you've had enough

(Chorus)
But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know
That you control where you go..you can Steer

(Verse 2)
So hold this feeling like a newborn
Oh and freedom surging through your veins
You have opened up a new door
So bring on the wind, fire and rain

(Bridge 2)
It was always simple
Not hidden hard
You've been playing at a game
Called Remembering Your Name
And you've stuffed it up

((CHORUS))

Ohh..
And now you finally know
That you control where you go..you can Steer

Cause you've been listening for answers
Oh but the city screams
And all your dreams go unheard

((CHORUS))

Ohh..
Get out of the box
And step into the clear

Ohh..
So now you finally know you can.. Steer

ANZAC DAY

It is ANZAC Day here in Australia and New Zealand. For the benefit of the international visitors to this blog, the 25th of April 1915 was a day when these two small, but great, nations lost many of their sons on the foreign soil of Turkey. An extract from Wikipedia relates Anzac day as the following.

"The Battle of Gallipoli took place at Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey from 25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916, during the First World War. A joint British Empire and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Istanbul, and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, with heavy casualties on both sides. In Turkey, the campaign is known as the Çanakkale Savaşları, after the province of Çanakkale. In the United Kingdom, it is called the Dardanelles Campaign or Gallipoli. In France it is called Les Dardanelles. In Australia,New Zealand, and Newfoundland, it is known as the Gallipoli Campaign or simply as Gallipoli. The Gallipoli campaign resonated profoundly among all nations involved. In Turkey, the battle is perceived as a defining moment in the history of the Turkish people—a final surge in the defense of the motherland as the centuries-old Ottoman Empire was crumbling. The struggle laid the grounds for the Turkish War of Independence and the foundation of the Turkish Republic eight years later under Atatürk, himself a commander at Gallipoli. In Australia and New Zealand, the campaign was the first major battle undertaken by a joint military formation, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), and is often considered to mark the birth of national consciousness in both of these countries. Anzac Day (April 25) remains the most significant commemoration of military casualties and veterans in Australia and New Zealand, surpassing Armistice Day/Remembrance Day."

Richard Reid wrote the following in his book A Duty Clear Before Us:
"The words ‘Anzac’ and ‘Gallipoli’ are part of the Australian and New Zealand heritage. They bring to mind thoughts of young men who fought and died far from their homes and families, and the values that we hold dear—courage, mateship and determination. The Anzac landings on 25 April 1915 led to the tragedy of the Gallipoli campaign and a generation of young lives lost. But they also epitomised commitment to duty in the face of appalling odds and conditions and heroism of an extraordinary nature. On a small peninsula, a force of almost 500 000 men, drawn from 14 nations, came against a similar number of Turkish soldiers determined to defend their homeland. The casualties sustained by both sides during the eight-month campaign totalled more than 400 000, of whom some 130 000 were killed. Yet, as the title of this book suggests, the Anzacs who served at Gallipoli willingly embraced their “duty". They thought of loved ones, they sought wisdom from their leaders and nothing could deter them from their commitment to duty."

I wanted to include a post on this important topic as my own personal memorial to those fallen men and women who paid the ultimate price for their countries. I have not yet been to Gallipoli, and feel that I have a destiny to visit there in a coming day and year. I have been to the dawn memorial services over a number of years and am humbled by the feeling that seems to gently caress the soul as the sun arises and we remember those who lost their lives. It is a powerful and emotive time. I don't know any of those people, nor do I know what they went through, but I feel for them, and feel to live each day more fully and purposefully in my silent tribute.



The picture below is of one of the actual vessels that lies silent in the hall of orientation, at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, our Nations Capitol. I looked upon the seats that spread across the boat and wondered at the silence and reflection the men would have had as they were rowed ashore with bullets raining down upon them and the lapping of waves on the bow of the boat. The boat lies empty now, but I sense the presence of many who once sat where I stood recently. I ponder and am grateful for much on this day.



Another picture is of the women waving the men goodbye as they set sail from Australia to a land that they would never have before known, it is as powerful an image as I have ever seen. The hopes, the fears, the expectations and the tears. All of which are now stilled, but not forgotten.



The next picture is of a diorama at the War Memorial depicting the mud and treacherous conditions the soldiers faced in the fighting. The next image is a life size effigy of a man sitting in the middle of the mud and when you see it, one senses the hopelessness, the heartache and futility of conflict on such a huge scale.





The Cross above is an actual cross created and used at Gallipoli before the soldier was reinterred and given a fitting headstone and is now housed in the War memorial. I marvel also at the hands that fashioned the metal to emboss the soldiers name. It is a testament to the man over whom it once identified, and also the man who created it. I wonder what went through his mind as he did so. I am keenly aware of life's fragility on days such as these.

I was in the company of a retired US Air Force General one time who made the observation to someone in the small group of 5-6 of which I was one, that "should a world war ever occur again, that the terms of surrender and cessation of war will never be possible anymore." The question was asked of him, "what do you mean? " His answer was met with a silence and hopelessness, he said simply, "that we are rapidly losing the ability to tell who the enemy is anymore. It is unlikely that we will ever really know who the perpetrators actually are to engage in dialogue with."

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lest We Forget.

Sydney in cloud

Sydney has experienced a great amount of rainfall in the last couple of weeks, a wonderful thing for me, however the grey from the heavens seems to be a tad gloomy to some I associate with, who have imbued the same feeling into their day to day. Almost as my way of rebelling the feeling and in my quest to look for the beautiful amidst the grey, I thought it would be wonderful to show some images I shot that still whisper of the beauty and joy in this place that I call home. I have thought about hopping on a plane and going back to the lights of Vegas or the ambience of Paris, but today, I am here and happy that I am.

The Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the roof a building in the Rocks part of Sydney city.

View of Lavender Bay from the boardwalk next to Luna Park

A fountain in Martin Place made famous by the film the Matrix.

The El Alamein fountain in the famous red light district of Sydney called Kings Cross

A famous Meat pie stand on the side of the road in ritzy Woolloomooloo on the harbour called Harry's Cafe de Wheels People who have eaten here include Elton John, Richard Branson, Colonel Harland Sanders, U2, Russell Crowe and many many others...and even little ole un-famous me!
looking forward to another sunset - hopefully by Sunday night when I will be on top of a building in the city to hopefully capture another panoramic like this one I shot a while ago.

A thought....

Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying what you think yourself.

James Stephens

I love it! and to that end I shall remain original.

Fusion Flowers, Difficult Children and Belly Dancing!

I received a couple of publications this past week which had images I took in them, which I am proud of. Primarily because it allowed me to get creatively involved into new things. Small though they were, I enjoyed it. First up is a series of pictures that were published in the UK last month for Fusion Flowers. Through a series of serendipitous introductions i became friends with a wonderful lady called Gail Anderson, a florist of some distinction internationally who enlisted my photographic talents to produce some images highlighting what she does with Floral Art. What an amazing art form which had previously been off my radar. It shall not be again. They spelled my name incorrectly, but I can live with that, especially when they did put Timeline Photography in Sydney Australia.


The second is from a book that is now housed in the National Library of Australia on raising difficult children. I simply took the picture of Dr. Powell and his lovely wife Brenda at a wedding I photographed last year. They notified me they needed a couple of images taken for a book and this is the result. Lastly, this is the cover for Jrisi the Belly dancer whom I photographed. The images on the cover and disc are mine. I love the variety. That's all just thought I would share some small and seemingly insignificant things that to me are lovely to have been a small part of. I will share some of the CD covers I designed soon.

Still Busy .... and loving it!

So much for a relaxing weekend! After traveling away the other day, I had the opportunity to go to the wine country of NSW at Pokolbin to photograph the wedding of Claire & Simon. They are a great couple and it is the second wedding I have done for this family of 4 daughters and it would appear that there will be 2-3 more including a son from what mum Michelle said to me at the wedding. I enjoyed getting to capture the happenings on their special day. The wedding was at the Tamburlaine Members Lodge and Function Centre, and was just as beautiful as the service. I got to meet the owners and their staff. As a photographer having been to hundreds of receptions, good service of this standard for a "worker" is rare, but this place would rank very highly on my list if not the highest. Thanks everyone, you were wonderful! What a great venue. It is perhaps appropriate to mention here that Springfield House in Dural is another venue that I did not list in the previous post of this article, that also fit the bill. I never mentioned them largely because I feel like one of the family there, and never a worker. I will put their website address below as well.

http://www.springfieldhouse.com.au/

Tamburlaine even had fireworks going off while the couple were cutting the cake on the balcony. It was a little hard to capture it fully as the rain was coming down as well, as we stayed under the awning to shield the couple and the cake but I got a shot off you can see below.
Tamburlaines & Springfields details are here if any of you are interested. Contact them, you won't be disappointed. (copy url and paste to your browser)

http://www.mywinery.com/tamburlaine-organic/public/welcome.asp

Claire and Simon got ready at and were staying at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley at Lovedale, past Cessnock, where I happened to see the entourage of the band Matchbox 20 who appeared to be at the same hotel ready for their open air concert at one of the wineries around the corner.

Just prior to me going up the coast I had a phone call from a worried man called Gavin, who shared a story with me that he was getting married on the weekend and had a phone call just two days before the wedding saying the photographer couldn't do the wedding, he had double booked. There are a couple of things that can crop up and certainly there are instances where difficulties can arise, though two days before the wedding to advise your client is really in poor form. So with some degree of distress, they had asked a couple of people and their enquiries led to me. So whilst I had originally thought I would have a day in the weekend to myself, I was doing another wedding. Whilst I was tired and sore from aches and pains and that, I loved it all.

A post script to the wedding of Claire and Simon, as I left the Cessnock area it "bucketed" down with rain, here I was at 12:10 am or thereabouts on a fairly remote road and I am driving through a massive downpour and I hit a small dip in the surface of the road and I aqua planed in the car and it was a little scary as my car started to veer into the other lane, it was at this moment of distress I could feel that electronically, things were coming into play without my instigation with car and then instantly the car's handling changed and I felt and exclaimed WOW! I was in the Audi A6 and I am so grateful for engineers and people whom to me are faceless and nameless, who have created so many safety aspects to a vehicle that in no small measure saved my life, or at least, saved me from a serious accident that loomed with a large and ominous tree I saw approaching through the windscreen. I don't know if Toyota can claim absolute ownership of the statement "Oh What a Feeling" slogan but the feeling I had was pretty sobering and amazing I don't mind saying.

I got home at 2:15am and then had to transfer all my files and images to a bigger hard drive and charge the batteries, clean the camera, get the shirts and trousers ready for the next wedding and pre-arranged photo shoot for an Author I had to do in 6 hours time. So after what appeared to be 5 mins of sleep I arose and prepared for the shoot of the Author in the city with her daughter Sydney, named after the city! Claudia is a German author who travels the world and meets with a host of interesting people. She resides at the Mecure in Darling Harbour when she is in Sydney and numbers my hero Nelson Mandela amongst her acquaintances and spent Tuesday last with Keanu Reeves. What a lovely brief hour I spent with her and her daughter.

Then I went to the next wedding for Gavin and Joanne. Gavin was getting ready at Windsor a little over 40 mins drive from the city now thanks to the M7, and then Joanne was getting ready at the Crowne Plaza in Castle Hill. You might say it was a royal weekend with two Crowne's involved. It went very well and inspite of the downpour, good that I take a few changes of clothes, it went off without a hitch. It was quite thrilling to be a part of their special day, and I really came to know that they loved what I did by their numerous comments and rapturous expressions of praise at the reception. The thing I felt most grateful for, is that just hours before, I had not known them and at the end of the wedding I felt we became dear friends. A wonderful feeling. It is an honour and a satisfying experience to say the least.

Joanne & Gavin's pics