it is hot

The day dawned warm and bright. I was down at the jetty area by 6.15am, but the light was already intense, even though the sun had just risen above the hills. The wind was warm rather than cool. The day promised to be unpleasantly hot.

So I just sat on the edge of the jetty and made some sea abstracts, with both digital and medium format film cameras:

sea abstract #1, American River
sea abstract #1, American River

I gave up after 20 minutes as the light was becoming too harsh. It was a pity because the rocks, seagrass and the strong tidal current were providing good possibilities for abstractions.

at Redbank, American River

We returned to Redbanks, the cliffs on the Kangaroo Island side of Backstairs Passage, tonight for a 5×4 shoot along the cliffs. Though it was a 5×4 shoot we turned it into a bit of a picnic–wine and nibbles—whilst I waited for the light to soften.

Suzanne, Redbank, American River
Suzanne, Redbank, American River

It was very pleasant watching the dolphins cruise by, waiting for the light and soaking up the moment, knowing that the heat will return tomorrow.

bird sanctuary walk

American River is charming as well as picturesque and peaceful. It teems with bird life and has interesting, low profile walks along the edge of Eastern Cove. Both the northern (Red Bank) and southern sides (Pennington Beach) of the island are easily accessible.

bird sanctuary walk, American River
bird sanctuary walk, American River

It is a little world unto itself that allows one to relax and unwind. It’s a gem of a place. Yet Kingscote, the main main town, is close by, if and when you need household supplies.

at Kangaroo Island

Our 8 day holiday at Kangaroo Island started yesterday. We left Victor Harbor for Cape Jervis late morning to catch the Sealink ferry over to Kangaroo Island, and we arrived at American River in the mid- afternoon.

Sealink ferry
Sealink ferry

American River, which is on Eastern Cove, is very quiet and laid back. It is a fishing spot (recreational boating and fishing) that is still unspoilt by development. The houses (holiday homes and fishing shacks) are unpretentious, and the place is teeming with bird life–both seashore birds (eg., pelicans) and bush birds (eg. black cockatoos).

plugging away

We returned to Kings Head for yesterdays poodlewalk so that could make more photos. It was overcast and cool, but the south westerly was still blowing too hard. I could only work in sheltered areas–behind a rock formation that protected me from the wind.

rock detail, Kings Head
rock detail, Kings Head

Mine is such a different approach to this DSLR style of landscape photography that relies on extensive post-processing. I am also much more interested in the detail of the landscape rather than the landscape itself.

rocks + twig

The temperatures have cooled and it is possible to start a poodlewalk around 5.30-6pm, walk to a location and take some photos. Ari and I walked to Kings Head yesterday afternoon, and I took a few snaps— plus some studies for large format photography.

rocks + twig
rocks + twig

It’s a favourite section of the coastline of the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula, and I have made a number of photographs there. There is something about the location that keeps drawing me back, but I am not sure what that something is.

Kings Beach: early morning

I was up early this morning–around 4.30 am. I uploaded a photograph for the sea abstraction book that I’m working on, then went out to make some studies for a large format shoot. I was on location at the rocks at the end of Kings Beach Rd by 6am. It was a brilliant morning.

Kings Beach 6am
Kings Beach 6am

I had around 2 minutes to work in before the shadows disappeared from the shoreline and the scene went flat. I also had about an hour or so to do photography as the coolness of the morning and the slight sea breeze were to be replaced by a hot north wind and temperatures in the high 30’s.

Esplanade, Victor Harbor

Our holiday at Victor Harbor started today with Suzanne and Ari walking around Petrel Cove and Rosetta Head whilst I did an early morning walk in the township with a camera. I was waiting for the Farmers Market to open at 7.30am so that I could buy some fresh vegetables and fruit.

Beach house, Esplanade
Beach house, Esplanade

This style of beachside house–from the 1940s or earlier?— will soon be history. It will eventually be pulled down to make way for a beachside style McMansion that will probably be rented out.

rock abstract

My 8×10 black and white negatives arrived today from Sydney, just before I was to leave Adelaide for Victor Harbor for the weekend. Several negatives have light leaks (damaged dark slides) or are fogged (dunno why) but most look okay. I’ll scan them tomorrow.

It was very still and muggy along the coast around Kings Head which is where we went for our evening walk. The rain had passed, the sticky flies were everywhere, and there was no cooling wind amongst the rocks. But the tide was low, lower than I’d ever seen it. So I was able to get amongst rocks that would normally be surrounded by surging water:

rock abstract
rock abstract

Ari and I were quite distressed by the heat so we returned to Kings Beach where we were able to cool off by paddling in the sea. Low tide means that I can take the 5×4 Linhof and the heavy duty tripod to this spot over the weekend.

small gestures in specific places

Ari and I have come down to Victor Harbor to escape the Adelaide heat and to scan a 5×7 negative for a print that has been selected for the Adelaide City Council’s Snap Your City competition. It is refreshingly cool and pleasant on the coast. Summer has arrived in South Australia.

monolith, Victor Harbor

This seascape work is topographical in that represents the surface of a landscape and a place–topographical in the sense of place (topos) and modes of perception (tropos). These are small gestures in a specific place.

Gestures in the way of a map that is not ‘mimetic’ – ie., will not straightforwardly represent the actual space, but one that reflects or expresses the distortions and omissions of the individual’s personal experience of living in this place now being affected by climate change.