 |
| Compilation of Photographs from 8km Walk, Kookaburras, Flowers, moss, Autumn leaves, Parakeets, trees, duck, Cockatoos. Photographs by Andrea George taken using a Nikon Coolpix P520 |
 |
| Kookaburra's in a Gum Tree. Photographs taken by Andrea George using a Nikon Coolpix P520 |
After I had written my long blog post: :- "Bastardom! Remaining authentic, aware and connected. Observations from within." I felt physically drained and yes, I also accept, I too was being judgemental. I was in a quandary, on one hand I felt like doona (duvet) diving and closing the world off altogether and on the other, I also felt like going for a walk. I was considering going along the track, I had been on when I swore all the time, as mentioned in my post "Touched by Nature." I ummed and arggh about it for about an hour. I hit the bed but I was unsettled, I heard an inner voice saying, "Get up Woman! Go out and Walk! You need to get out and be in nature! It will do your soul some good!" So, I dragged myself out from under the doona (duvet), threw myself in the shower, got dressed, grabbed my camera and tripod.
It was a nice day, the sun was out for a change. We had, had a few wet days and as I can't drive because of my epilepsy being uncontrolled, looking like a drowned rat, as you know, is not my preferred option! When I got to the walking trail, the mushrooms from the last visit had diminished. This walk was just about enjoying the walk, I didn't care about taking photographs.
This time, was about walking as far as I could go and back again, to go slow, to listen, to be, silent in nature and enjoy whatever, I discovered along the way. Well, two minutes into my walk, I heard the familiar cackle of the Kookaburra. Where were they? I slowed down even more and then I saw them. I pleaded silently with the Kookaburra's, 'Please I'm getting my camera out. Stay where you are and pose. Pose for my Camera, you know you want to!'
Yes! They stayed and they posed, albeit slightly obstructed by a tree branch but the fact they stayed and let me capture them with my camera made my heart sing. I had the biggest grin ever on my face. I am quite the excitable twitcher, I love seeing and hearing birds, watching them fly, rest, and land etc. Today, was going to be a 'bird' day!
As these Kookaburra's were slightly obstructed, I decided to be thankful I had seen them and that it didn't matter if the photographs were good or not. Today was simply about going slow and enjoying the sights and sounds. Great photography was not my goal, today it was about enjoying the peace and tranquillity, being out in nature, no expectations, just breathing, just being, connecting, just listening and bringing it all into my awareness.
I continued on my walk, observing the joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, families on bikes and other walkers, all going at a much faster pace than me. It was good to see so many people out and about. Last time, I walked this track, it was very much male dominated, today there was a good mix of all ages and genders.
I noted I was smiling, as I walked, I was in my happy place, in nature listening to the most beautiful birdsong that was surrounding me and trickling of water, nothing else mattered. A little further down the track, by a huge lake, not only were there ducks but also some more Kookaburra's sitting in a gum tree. These two were unobstructed, unlike the last two. I smiled and got my camera out. These two were huge posers and ensured I got some awesome photographs of the day.
For those of you that don't know, I am gravitationally challenged, I stand all of 4ft 11 inches and this can cause angles and proximity of camera lens to the subject troublesome at times. I recall a time I was with friends in Port Macquarie awaiting for the moon to rise above the trees. After a small wait, everyone was telling me they could see the moon clearly above the trees. I was puzzled, I couldn't. Then I noted they were standing further back, so I went over to where they were, nope I still couldn't see the moon over the trees, then I hit the deck laughing. I realised my height was obscuring the view my friends were seeing of the moon. It then dawned on them and they grabbed a step ladder so I could have their view - yes my friends love to point out how short I am, it gave us all a good laugh. Five minutes after they had seen the moon over the trees I got to see it clearly, it was worth the wait, as you can see from the photographs below:
So, when I am out and about, even though my beautiful hybrid Nikon Coolpix P520 camera has an amazing 42x wide optical zoom, my height can interfere with the angles and positioning to get some truly awesome photographs. I am learning to work with that and adapt accordingly and at the same time, to be happy that I have seen or heard something worth shooting, even if I didn't get the shot I wanted. However, this pair of Kookaburra's were in a good spot for me and my gravitationally challenged body.
As, I moved through the trail, listening to sounds, going slow as I can, more and more of the birds in the trees were being revealed to me; Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Lorikeets, Parakeets, Swallows, Ducks, Magpies, Rosellas, Gallahs and Ibis, some I photographed, others I just chose to observe. I also observed the people on my walk, it's just an observation of mine but on a walking trail like this, it amazes me how many people are in such a rush to keep moving and don't get to see, the birds, flaura and fauna I have. Even when I am standing photographing them, no one stops and stares in wonderment, they keep moving. I guess we have different agendas for being on the trail but it did bring into my awareness how much we can miss in our lives. Observing rather than taking photographs on this walk was bringing so many smiles to my face. My smiles started becoming infectious, others were beaming back at me, some stopped and chatted to me, whilst others made remarks as they flew past on their cycles. Yes, my vibrational energy was very different to my "Bastardom!" and "Touched by Nature" posts and yes, it was having a different affect on those around me.
I was still being true to the depths of me in that moment, it was exactly how I felt, what I was aware of, it was where I wanted to be there and then and it was good to have that awesome connection with nature. Yes, a cathartic shift from within was running its natural course, I had managed to disperse the negativity and negative feelings by bringing them into my awareness and moving them through, letting them go and now, just like any storm, the calm and clarity was shinning through. I was slowly opening up to other opportunities, looking at moving onto the next chapter and finalising the last few left-over actions.
I had been through some tough moments, facing old issues and whilst they haven't gone completely and I was getting flashbacks from them, they were becoming more manageable for me and so next steps were becoming a vivid reality. Getting out in nature, as I have eluded to in my previous posts, enables me to help the huge transformation I have been going through to keep moving, to become aware of where I am at in any given moment and to face some harsh realities and truths. Facing those truths has been quite an eye opener and they really have stripped me back to the core, helping me realise what I have needed to change, grasp hold of and to remain humble by the lessons and blessings, I have received throughout.
This walk in nature was no different, except the vibrational energy was much gentler, than previous walks. I also didn't crave or felt I needed to be here, I was happy to just simply be there. The air and energy was clean and fresh, it wasn't cold, simply cleansing and refreshing, like it was sweeping away old energy and replenishing it with new energised vibrations. I kept walking and walking, wanting to see more and more. I got fairly close to the foot of the Dandenong ranges. I can remember a while back, that this was a small goal I had in the back of my mind, to reach the foot of the Dandenong ranges. At that time it seemed like a huge undertaking but one I felt, I would eventually do. This day, I was close to achieving that, I had come a long way, I had got back to walking more regularly, getting out, setting goals, feeling good.
I was so absorbed by the walk and enjoying it, I hadn't noticed the sun was beginning to set, time to say thank you for today and make the return journey. By the time, I got back to where I was staying, I had roughly walked 8km. That was a great walk for me, so many beautiful connections, happy moments, sights and sounds.
Feeling blessed by the green spaces we have in the State of Victoria and that I can go out and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Photographs taken by Andrea George using a Nikon Coolpix P520
It was a nice day, the sun was out for a change. We had, had a few wet days and as I can't drive because of my epilepsy being uncontrolled, looking like a drowned rat, as you know, is not my preferred option! When I got to the walking trail, the mushrooms from the last visit had diminished. This walk was just about enjoying the walk, I didn't care about taking photographs.
This time, was about walking as far as I could go and back again, to go slow, to listen, to be, silent in nature and enjoy whatever, I discovered along the way. Well, two minutes into my walk, I heard the familiar cackle of the Kookaburra. Where were they? I slowed down even more and then I saw them. I pleaded silently with the Kookaburra's, 'Please I'm getting my camera out. Stay where you are and pose. Pose for my Camera, you know you want to!'
Yes! They stayed and they posed, albeit slightly obstructed by a tree branch but the fact they stayed and let me capture them with my camera made my heart sing. I had the biggest grin ever on my face. I am quite the excitable twitcher, I love seeing and hearing birds, watching them fly, rest, and land etc. Today, was going to be a 'bird' day!
As these Kookaburra's were slightly obstructed, I decided to be thankful I had seen them and that it didn't matter if the photographs were good or not. Today was simply about going slow and enjoying the sights and sounds. Great photography was not my goal, today it was about enjoying the peace and tranquillity, being out in nature, no expectations, just breathing, just being, connecting, just listening and bringing it all into my awareness.
I continued on my walk, observing the joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, families on bikes and other walkers, all going at a much faster pace than me. It was good to see so many people out and about. Last time, I walked this track, it was very much male dominated, today there was a good mix of all ages and genders.
I noted I was smiling, as I walked, I was in my happy place, in nature listening to the most beautiful birdsong that was surrounding me and trickling of water, nothing else mattered. A little further down the track, by a huge lake, not only were there ducks but also some more Kookaburra's sitting in a gum tree. These two were unobstructed, unlike the last two. I smiled and got my camera out. These two were huge posers and ensured I got some awesome photographs of the day.
For those of you that don't know, I am gravitationally challenged, I stand all of 4ft 11 inches and this can cause angles and proximity of camera lens to the subject troublesome at times. I recall a time I was with friends in Port Macquarie awaiting for the moon to rise above the trees. After a small wait, everyone was telling me they could see the moon clearly above the trees. I was puzzled, I couldn't. Then I noted they were standing further back, so I went over to where they were, nope I still couldn't see the moon over the trees, then I hit the deck laughing. I realised my height was obscuring the view my friends were seeing of the moon. It then dawned on them and they grabbed a step ladder so I could have their view - yes my friends love to point out how short I am, it gave us all a good laugh. Five minutes after they had seen the moon over the trees I got to see it clearly, it was worth the wait, as you can see from the photographs below:
 |
| Photographs showing the moon in April 2014, Port Macquarie. Photographs by Andrea George taken using a Nikon Coolpix P520 |
So, when I am out and about, even though my beautiful hybrid Nikon Coolpix P520 camera has an amazing 42x wide optical zoom, my height can interfere with the angles and positioning to get some truly awesome photographs. I am learning to work with that and adapt accordingly and at the same time, to be happy that I have seen or heard something worth shooting, even if I didn't get the shot I wanted. However, this pair of Kookaburra's were in a good spot for me and my gravitationally challenged body.
As, I moved through the trail, listening to sounds, going slow as I can, more and more of the birds in the trees were being revealed to me; Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Lorikeets, Parakeets, Swallows, Ducks, Magpies, Rosellas, Gallahs and Ibis, some I photographed, others I just chose to observe. I also observed the people on my walk, it's just an observation of mine but on a walking trail like this, it amazes me how many people are in such a rush to keep moving and don't get to see, the birds, flaura and fauna I have. Even when I am standing photographing them, no one stops and stares in wonderment, they keep moving. I guess we have different agendas for being on the trail but it did bring into my awareness how much we can miss in our lives. Observing rather than taking photographs on this walk was bringing so many smiles to my face. My smiles started becoming infectious, others were beaming back at me, some stopped and chatted to me, whilst others made remarks as they flew past on their cycles. Yes, my vibrational energy was very different to my "Bastardom!" and "Touched by Nature" posts and yes, it was having a different affect on those around me.
I was still being true to the depths of me in that moment, it was exactly how I felt, what I was aware of, it was where I wanted to be there and then and it was good to have that awesome connection with nature. Yes, a cathartic shift from within was running its natural course, I had managed to disperse the negativity and negative feelings by bringing them into my awareness and moving them through, letting them go and now, just like any storm, the calm and clarity was shinning through. I was slowly opening up to other opportunities, looking at moving onto the next chapter and finalising the last few left-over actions.
I had been through some tough moments, facing old issues and whilst they haven't gone completely and I was getting flashbacks from them, they were becoming more manageable for me and so next steps were becoming a vivid reality. Getting out in nature, as I have eluded to in my previous posts, enables me to help the huge transformation I have been going through to keep moving, to become aware of where I am at in any given moment and to face some harsh realities and truths. Facing those truths has been quite an eye opener and they really have stripped me back to the core, helping me realise what I have needed to change, grasp hold of and to remain humble by the lessons and blessings, I have received throughout.
This walk in nature was no different, except the vibrational energy was much gentler, than previous walks. I also didn't crave or felt I needed to be here, I was happy to just simply be there. The air and energy was clean and fresh, it wasn't cold, simply cleansing and refreshing, like it was sweeping away old energy and replenishing it with new energised vibrations. I kept walking and walking, wanting to see more and more. I got fairly close to the foot of the Dandenong ranges. I can remember a while back, that this was a small goal I had in the back of my mind, to reach the foot of the Dandenong ranges. At that time it seemed like a huge undertaking but one I felt, I would eventually do. This day, I was close to achieving that, I had come a long way, I had got back to walking more regularly, getting out, setting goals, feeling good.
I was so absorbed by the walk and enjoying it, I hadn't noticed the sun was beginning to set, time to say thank you for today and make the return journey. By the time, I got back to where I was staying, I had roughly walked 8km. That was a great walk for me, so many beautiful connections, happy moments, sights and sounds.
Feeling blessed by the green spaces we have in the State of Victoria and that I can go out and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Photographs taken by Andrea George using a Nikon Coolpix P520
No comments:
Post a Comment