Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia
G'day steemies
I fell in love with Cairns the moment i stepped of the plane, leaving the moderately cold climate of NSW for the hot and sunny tropics, i was finally responding to the call of adventure that was ever so haunting me from 2500km away.
This is where i bought my first camera to learn photography, not having much to spare working part-time at Woolworths i put away $50 a week whilst i shopped around.
Browsing ebay.com.au led me to purchasing a Sony a300 12mp DSLR for $250 In the box with less than 1000 counts on the shutter and the stock tele-lens. Having $50 left over from the $300 i had saved i looked around for a lens, after all the articles and book i had read it was clear that i needed a 50mm prime, the lower the f-stop the better, well at least that's how i saw it at the time and after purchasing a mint japanese Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f/1.7 i did take some great photos with it.
As the months progressed i purchased a Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD SP AF lens with my tax return for $450, it only lasted a week, my friend thought it would be a good idea to try and a cartwheel, kicking my camera to the concrete, my heart shattered like the peices of Sony and Tamron that lay at my feet.
Its been few years since i hopped off that hes since reimbursed me a fraction of the damages by replacing it with a slightly better model (A3000) in the same price range and a few extras, he was forgiven as i don't know many people that would replace something of yours if they broke it.
Oh well what can you do but move on and start again.
Below is my Digital Art Gallery titled: The Cairns Collection
It's a selection of the best work i have done in my travels to cairns over the last five years with the two cameras mentioned above.
Divine Sunset
Cairns Esplanade Sunset - "I had my camera over my shoulder, no tripod in hand, unforeseeable the beauty i was about to witness" - My point being is that some opportunities for amazing photographs begin with being in the right place at the right time, Take your camera everywhere.
Funset
Cairns Inlet Sunset - "Chasing Barramundi and Mackerel had come to a finish, beers cracked open and a beautiful sunset to enjoy, what a way to end your day". - Enjoy the simple things in life ???????
Georges Rainy Day
Backyard St Georges Cross spider - "Its 6am, babes in the bathroom and i really need to pee, grabbing my camera of the dining table on the way i embraced the morning dew on my feet as proceeded to the backyard for quick wizz." - My point being once again is that some opportunities for amazing photographs begin with being in the right place at the right time, Take your camera everywhere..
Sneaky Surprise
Juvenile Brown Tree Python - "Drenched in sweat and ready to turn around from a 10km expedition up the Barron Gorge, i begin the descent, nearly stepping on this poor bugger on the way" - They are not highly venomous, but can make you quite ill if bitten. Beautiful creatures snakes.
Orchidstrated
Captain Haydon's Orchid - "Spending the day on this property was a great opportunity to snap up some pics, after finishing the web design consult i asked permission and off i went to give my shutter a workout" - Always ask permission to film on somebody else's land, its the legal and polite way, and you might just get access to something that could see you some real winners.
Self-Portrait
Langan St Self Portrait - "I am not a man, I am Dynamite" - Unknown
Telegraph Mountain
Rex Range, Mossman - "Driving through the countryside, fixing and installing a failed yet improving system of monetary transfer and arguing with the banks about their failed hardware. I would park atop this range and stare out at my office, and scream a whole vocabulary of adjectives.
Total Solar Eclipse Sunrise
10 minutes before the eclipse - "On Wednesday, November 14, 2012 a total solar eclipse was visible in Northern Australia and the Pacific Islands. Thousands of people in North Queensland had the opportunity to view the rare spectacle of a total solar eclipse when the moon covers the entire face of the sun." - eclipsecairns.com
OTIS
Otis Irwin - "Otis, its photo time" - Possibly one of the most photogenic pupper doggos i have ever met.
Geoffrey The Tree Frog
Green Tree Frog- "With the amount of mosquitos and threat of dengue/ross river fever that comes associated with them, it doesn't hurt to have a few of these creatures around" - Whats your local frog species?
Neonturbulence
Cairns International Airport - "Now's my chance, i thought, patiently waiting for a break in air traffic.
The previous Boeing's thundering presence diminishing by the second." - This Part of the runway crosses a large river(Barron River). The area was made highly restricted shortly after this photo was taken possibly due to the threat of terrorism. All adjoining land to the runway has now been purchased and fenced off to the general public.
Stoneheart
Captain Haydon's Creek - "He told me it was natural, i rolled my eyes in disbelief" - Always ask permission to film on somebody else's land, its the legal and polite way, and you might just get access to something that could see you some real winners.
The Bridge to the Orchid
Captain Haydon's Bridge - "It was as if the lens was calling out to me to take this shot in B&W" - Always ask permission to film on somebody else's land, its the legal and polite way, and you might just get access to something that could see you some real winners.
The Vibrant Pest
Unknown introduced species - "I see the beauty that others can not" - It might be a weed, but a weed can have its uses.
Notch
Tree Trunk - "As i was taking this photo i stepped back, tripping over a metal ammunition case. Upon opening i soon discover that it was a geocache, introducing yet another hobby" - If you find one, write your name on the paper provided and don't take anything unless you put something back in.
The firebug
Holloway's Beach -
"Four great logs had he for firewood,
One for each moon of the winter,
And for food the fishes served him.
By his blazing fire he sat there,
Warm and merry, eating, laughing,
Singing, "O Kabibonokka"
-Henry .W. Longfellow
The Ferry Cable
The Daintree Ferry - "The ferry has no propellers instead it uses a giant cable that sinks behind it so other boats can pass" - RiP to the man who's life was was taken as he forgot to engage his parking brake a few years ago.
Lillith
Waterlily - "Surrounded by wilting plants of all variety, this lily managed to stay quite healthy" - Did you notice the BEE?
Hello Yellow
Sunflower - "Stand Fast, Stand Tall, Stand Proud" - Sunflowers are very easy to grow, they can be a project for children or a food source for your pet birds or hamster.
Cyclone Proof Tree
Restrained Palm - "A trees strength is defined from the depth of its roots, not the thickness of its trunk" - Tis tree needed a stainless steel wire to support it during severe weather.
Georges Uncle
St Georges Cross spider - "Hes gonna be one dizzy spidey" - It had set its web up on an excavator wheel, found on a trip to Bloomfield. The place is as beautiful as it sounds
I hope you enjoyed this post, ill be happy to answer any questions you have about Cairns or the photos listed here.
Have a great day steemians
@themda