Langhorne Creek visit

Today I thought I would just pop out after work, and take my daughter for a drive and walk. I don't often go in the opposite direction from the city, and thought that it  could be fun to go somewhere different. 

Still a part of the wine region of the Adelaide hills, but in the lower, flatter part of the murray plains, Langhorne creek is full of silence, long dirt road, massive views and farmland. 

Sometimes, when your looking for something interesting to capture, you forget to look into the sky for inspiration, as often we photographers don't look towards the sun for our photos, as it can damage the lens...  (Not to mention our eyes! ) But the sun today was incredible. Hidden behind two layers of cloud, one thick, one thin, it was almost misty and golden. Incredible. It made an ordinary scene into something special.

This road has cactus growing along it, that are Huge! Like, I mean H.U.G.E!! Their amazing. I don't think I will be planting anything like these in my garden any time soon! Look at the flower spikes!

End of the day.

A May morning in Balhannah ( In the Adelaide Hills )

It's been raining. I love it. And when it stops, and the sun peeks out while the sky is still moody and black, thats when I love going for a drive in the car, to have a look around for maybe something that tells me a story. This dirt road is out the back of Balhannah, and there are plenty of vines that are colouring up beautifully, all golden and reddish and brown. The air is crisper, the sun, when it sneaks past the clouds for a moment, is still warm and inviting, autunm is here, and winter is just around the corner. 

My favourite of all the seasons...

And in the opposite direction, over looking that view, is this very old house...

So, after enjoying that little walk, I decided to visit the town church. Its a lovely old building, and still well used and loved. I adore the fact that people took such pride in creating something beautiful for their community. These days, many buildings are "slap it up quick" and just don't seem to have the love or attention to detail that these old ones do. 

And while wandering around the grave yard for a bit, I came across this head stone. I love what was written on it.

While mortals mourn and weep and pray,

Around him as he dies,

The angel -watchers sing and say

He soon shall scale the skies.

Just a view.

This is where I come from.

The Adelaide hills. The place is filled with glorious views, rolling hills, bustling places, slow towns and those spots that fit in between. It is a place where I longed to run from, and escape, to the city, in my late teens, and have returned to and have fallen in love with, more and more, as I get older. Deep inside me, it just sings of home. The memories of starry nights, lying in the paddock with the grass gently swaying above me, the silken webs clinging to each blade of golden grass, in the evening twilight, The dirt roads, and bike rides, and the views. Those beautiful views. The ones I now have to stop and breathe in, to fill my eyes with their peaceful wonder... 

Miss Ruby.

 There is something special about this girl. She has that certain charisma about her, which we all wish we were born with. That air of strength and beauty, the certainty of where she is going, how she will do it and why. It is a good quality to have. 

And she has her mothers beautiful eyes, and fine porcelaine skin. Two gorgeous freckles near her nose and a sweetheart face to frame it all with. 

What makes this child special to me is that she is the girl that my son declared was his first love, in the kindergarten room, where I don't think they even held hands! My boy has fabulous taste, don't you think? He got a little quiet and got that glint in his eye when I told him Ruby was coming over to have her picture taken. Never let anyone tell you that little 6 year old boy's don't know the meaning of love. It is absolute rubbish. They feel it, in some small way, I'm sure of it. Just not in the way we understand it to be as adults. 

After all, Love is the most precious and beautiful thing of all. No matter how small or tiny it is....

Had enough of this, just had to go CRAZY!....

(my kinda girl...)

Some girls are just born with glitter in their veins.

- Paris Hilton

Vintage child, in a modern way!

I spend so much of my time looking at old photos. It's a bit of an obsession, because I love the faded colours, and the way they were taken, all still and fancy. I love the old victorian images of children, the way the child was positioned, in their very best clothing, and made to stand oh so very still, because of the long exposure time it took. Sometimes, you can see the image is a bit blurred, or a hand is out of focus, because of the impatient movement of a little person. How those parents managed to keep their children still for long enough, is beyond me! When I look at a golden boy, and see the impish longing to be free in his eyes, or that little girl with her dolly, itching to run away, bows flying as she escapes, it makes me sad and filled with a kind of wonder too. Those little people, all grown up, or passed away, some of their spirit still captured, for the world to see. 

To be remembered.

I love photographing this girl. But she really is so hard to capture! Being 2 and a half, one would expect that, but I love that I can take photos of these children of mine, and have a memory that is so clear, such a realistic and vivid take of their faces and souls.

I've created a photoshop action for these photos. It's called yellow haze. 

 Here she is, my girl, driving me crazy because she wont sit still, and then, looking at the images I took, filling me with love, parental bliss and adoration. Thank goodness I don't have to stress about the long exposure these days, because I would never achieve the photos I catch otherwise!

Playing with colour....

I love how gradients give us endless possibilities with colour in our photos.

Just playing around with an old  photo of my children...

Those eyes....

It took a lot of bribery to get my boy to let me photograph him. 

I guess he is getting older, and mum sticking a camera in his face is far more 

excruciating than it was when he was 2. Poor kid.

But I love remembering him, like this. One day he will be even bigger than he is now,

 and I don't ever want to forget how sweet, serious and lovely he was at 5. 

This is the "do I have to, mum" look....

...fine, Ill look at the camera.

Got it! xxx Love you Tarq.

Little Miss Zel.

Every mother loves her child explicitly. I am no exception. I adore this girl.

 Her innocence, curiosity and her happy nature, expressed in all those funny little ways, 

frowns, smiles and laughter.

All those beautiful things that we love about children.

I have the privilege of watching her growing up. Such a honour and blessing.

These were taken yesterday, on our morning walk.

Just had to share them with the world.

Rose in the Garden.

Just a few photos of a rose in my David Austin section in the garden. I've completely forgotten it's name, but it's delicate smell, and beautiful petals make the straggly bushes worth their while! 

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that we all tend to put off living.

We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden,

over the horizon,

instead of enjoying the roses 

blooming outside our windows TODAY.  -  Dale Carnegie.