To the Streets of Sydney by Way of a Bus Ride to the Beach: There are No Accidents in Street Photography

Sideways Eyes (Sydney Australia February 2015)

I have had an aspiration for a long time now to photograph on the streets of Sydney, Australia's largest city. We've been in Sydney for about a week now and we're staying about 30 kilometers from the CBD in an area called the Northern Beaches. Until today, I've been spending a lot of time playing with the little dog we are caring for, gazing at the beautiful view to the sea out the front window of the house, and sorting out and catching up on postings to my site and other bits and pieces. But, today, I ended up on the streets of the city with my camera. But, to tell you the truth, it happened by accident (not that I really believe there is such a thing as an accident when it comes to my work-or in life for that matter). Anyway, here's how it came about that my long held aspiration has come to pass.

I thought I would go out and take the bus part way down the long peninsula that leads from north of the place we're staying in, past stunning beaches, through a dozen or more suburbs and on over the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge into the city. My plan was to jump off and on at a couple of different beaches; I had no plan to head to the city today (being a bit tired and it being a long bus ride).

Anyway, I did get to get off the bus at a beach called Narrabeen. Perfect surfable waves rolling onto a wide expanse of pristine white sand that headed for a kilometer or more in both directions. Really your stereotypical world class Australian beach. And I loved it. But, after a quick walk it was back on the bus for the next segment of my mini adventure.

Not long after taking my seat I overheard a couple behind me talking about buying a van, fitting it out and heading around Australia. As this is a topic and project close to my own heart, I butted in and we were soon into a wide ranging chat about this couple's plans: before the van will happen they are headed to Europe via South East Asia and India for seven months.

Isn't it strange how one can bump into people along the way (or in this case on a bus) who just happen to be thinking things you are thinking, making plans you are making or have made, or who have or are about to go to places you've been or dream of going to yourself?

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the rest of the roughly 90 minute trip vanished in a flash, as did my plan to jump off and on at random beaches. Before we knew it, we were in the city center. So, after saying goodbye and wishing each other bon voyages, I found myself on the sidewalks of Sydney.

Well, I thought, I'm here now, so let's go for it. So, out came the camera and off I went. I walked around for a couple of hours only, and didn't make that many photographs, but still, it's a start. I've been outback for a few weeks and it does take time to get oneself back in the zone, back into the vibe of the street. But, boy oh boy, I did enjoy it.

So, accidentally (not that I believe ... oops, I've said that already) I ended up on the streets of the city I'd aspired to photograph in. Of course, it would have been only a matter of time before I ended up there on purpose, but I know it's not a second guessing kind of game, this street photography caper: it always happens as it's meant to happen.

And, today, it happened as it was meant to happen by way of a very pleasant conversation about mutually shared interest on a bus with two complete strangers.

As I say, there are no accidents.

Peace

Street Photography in the Gardens: The Tree Nurturing Man

The Nurturer (Dubbo Australia December 2014)

One thing among many that I have often noticed about people who work with plants is their passion: they not only ‘like’ their jobs, but are deeply committed in the sense that they truly care for the well being of the plants in their care; for these special people it is a joy to be with and to nurture living things and see them thrive. They also are more than happy to share their passion with others.  

Recently, during our stay in Dubbo, we went for a walk in the local Botanic Gardens. A beautiful oasis in the midst of this really rather remote outback city, which in itself is something of an oasis in the midst of the greater aridness of the country for a few thousand square kilometers around.

There we came upon one of the grounds persons who care for these lovely gardens. This man was standing, slightly precariously it seemed to me, on the rather steep slope, orange watering can in hand, spraying water onto a tree, a baby tree, completely obscured by sack cloth, or as it’s known here, hessian. He made such a lovely sight that I had to photograph him. 

Twice. In the first image he is standing, head down, with his full attention on his task. Then, as I went to make the second image, he looked up at me and smiled. This is the image I’ve chosen to accompany this post. I smiled back and asked him what he was doing. Here i need to confess that at that point I committed a grievous sin that all street photographers will be shocked by: I neglected to ask this man his name. Don’t ask me why; I have no idea. Heat of the moment, distracted by the gardens or the conversation. Whatever the reason, I am sure he would forgive me.

 ‘This one wasn't doing too well,’ he told us. ‘The sun had dried it up.’ He went on to tell us that at first they had no idea what kind of tree they were going to plant there.

‘We had the label in the ground, but no tree,’ he said. ‘Then when it came in we had to do some research to make sure we put the right one in the ground.’ He went on to tell us that they’d had to wrap the little thing up after a while, what with the sun burning the leaves and stunting its growth.

‘That’s why we've planted the wattles here,’ he pointed to a leafy young tree about as tall as he was just to his right that did look like it could give a bit of shade on hot sunny days (which is most days in this neck of the woods as they say). ‘They’re fast growing and easy to look after and they do give a lot of shade.’

Still I neglected to ask his name or give him mine. Later I saw him again and asked him the name of the tree he’d been so lovingly nurturing when we’d talked:

‘It’s a Kurrajong. A Dwarf Kurrajong actually,’ he told me. ‘It’s the same as the other trees in that spot.’ 

Again, for whatever reason I can’t fathom, I forgot to ask his name. But, no matter, it was a pleasant encounter and I think a lovely photograph of a man happy at his work, a man who cares about what he’s doing. Why, he even apologized when he seemed to hesitate for a minute before remembering who I was and our previous conversation.

So, thank you to the Dubbo Botanic Garden tree nurturing man.

BUS STATION MISSIONARY: A man with a message

Bus Station Missionary (Adelaide Australia November 2014)

This is Roger. I made this photograph yesterday at the bus station just near where we are staying. Just after this moment, Roger looked up and waved. So I went up and introduced myself, and asked him what this was all about.
He told me that he spends most of his free time travelling to various parts of the city on a kind of circuit.
"I still work so I don't have a lot of free time," he told me. "But I do what I can." I asked him what kind of reactions he gets from people. Most, it seems just go about their business, while a few choose to connect.
"Everyone's got their own path to follow," was how he answered my questions about why most people just walk on by.
"I have a personal relationship with Jesus and that's my path," he added.
He is on a mission but doesn't preach or shout or even approach people. He is just there with his messages for passersby to read or ignore as they choose.
I told him that there are worse ways to spend one's free time. He is a nice man. I enjoyed talking with him. A gentle man with a message. Not one I would endorse or comment on, but there you are. It's a good thing that we all have paths to follow, and it is a good thing there are people out there to challenge us with their simple presence.
Thanks Roger!
Peace to all

"No photos please," says the dog in the window.

As you may or may not know, my partner and I are in the Australian city of Adelaide for a few weeks. We've been doing a bit of exploring, but it's not been a great street photography destination for me. Whether it's my mood, or the place, I can't say. Nevertheless, I've been out a few times with mixed results

Yesterday we went for a train ride to the nearby town of Gawler. A pretty town: full of Victorian buildings, heaps of flowers and a really lovely stream lined with parkland and big old trees flowing through the middle of town. So, we went for a walk around and my partner did her thing photographing buildings for her own work. I just tagged along camera in hand, just in case.

Anyway, we came upon this cafe, with the people inside and a dog fast asleep at one person's feet. A perfect opportunity for me. Or so you would think. I made this image:

The Doggie in the Window
Gawler Australia November 2014

Then I thought I would get down for a lower point of view, just to focus more on the dog, who as I said, was fast asleep. Well, as soon as I knelt down and pointed the camera, the dog put its head up, looked at me, stood up, shook itself and walked away with his head turned away from me and my camera.

Again, was it me and my mood? Was it the place? Or was it simply that I startled the dog and he just had to get away? Of course I can't say. I mean I wanted some photos from that place, but perhaps the place and/or the dog didn't want to give me photos of themselves.

You see, for me, street photography is very much a process of sharing, of permission granted by those I photograph, and of respect given by me should that permission be denied. And that goes for not only people, but it seems to apply to places and to animals also. It's a hard thing to explain in words.

Normally, if I make a photo, then I realise the person (or in this case animal) objects in any way, I will delete it either then or later. I've only posted this one as an illustration to this commentary. I am sure the doggie doesn't really mind!

Peace to all.

THIS LITTLE DUDE IS LEAVING THE FRAME: Another Oldie but Goodie

This Little Dude is Leaving the Frame

Another Oldie but Goodie from March 2013. Made in Melbourne Australia