This is the 26m Telescope, built in 1965 by NASA, and originally installed near Canberra.  When it became surplus to NASAs requirements, it was donated to UTAS and moved here in 1985/86.  If you ever get a chance to go have a look at it, you should.  Even if you don’t understand what anything is, it is very cool.

I looked straight down from where I stood against the fence, and it is really a very deep hole.  There were markings on the ground leading to a manhole shaft so I guess they are going to be adding some drainage.  Will be interesting to watch.

After I turned to leave I noticed something very cool.  Someone had come along and inserted a heap of plastic cups into the fence, and spelt out the words “I FEEL EMPTY”.

Both photos taken with the Hipstamatic camera app on an iPhone 4.

This was the first time Lucas, our three year old, had seen the snow.  He really loved it. This is is first ever snowman, who he was very very sad to have to leave behind when we left…

This is another snowman I found, he was actually pretty tall, and was standing just off the side of the road near the observation deck.

Just a quick post today, of the grass seeds blowing around in the wind on the side of the road.

Love the natural vignette in this shot.

I took this shot this afternoon around the back of Brighton, the sun hitting the dry hill juxtaposed nicely with the dark storm clouds forming overhead .

Working on some exciting things too and hope to have an update on that real soon!

On a different note, I thought I might put up a few images from a trip into Tasmania’s south west I made a couple of months ago with good photographer friends Andrew Skegg and Alex Wise.

Bushy Park

Westerway Station had a very nostalgic feel about it.

An old railway signpost. I guess this means 49 miles to Hobart?

This old abandoned property is around the back of Maydeena.

And of course we stopped at Mt Field National Park. The shot of Russell Falls particularly hard to grab due to the wind spraying my lens with a fine mist which was visible in most of the shots I took of the falls.

The South West is only a short drive from Hobart and very very worth it. There is lots of ecotourism planned for the Maydeena area, not to mention the National Park, lakes, mountains, and little townships. Spend a day or a weekend and explore!

A large procession of drummers, and people with large penguin shaped lanterns left the wharf near the School of Arts, in Hunter St, and headed around to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, where those that got there early enough could see some fire twirling and fire eating. It was a bit of a battle to get through the crowd to get a few shots, but I got there and thanks to the low light ability of the Canon 5D MarkII I grabbed a couple of shots and got out of the way of the crowd I had pushed through to get to the front of.

After this, the show moved into the courtyard at the museum but we could not stay as the large animal costumes were scaring Lucas. Was certainly a different way to spend a Friday evening.

Many of you will know that I am a coffee lover, coffee geek even. I have spent the last year or so trying various coffee varieties from different roasters both locally here in Tasmania, and from interstate. I have found some good stuff, but recently I was put onto a company called Roast and Post by fellow OzPhotoWrap podcaster and freelance photographer Cameron Laird.

Well Tuesday morning I ran out of beans, which naturally caused a degree of panic and stress for me, so I jumped onto the website and put an order in.  My beans were personally roasted just for me, and labeled with my name and roasting time and date, and sent on the next express post to Tasmania!

I selected the sample pack which contained the above four varieties, I just opened the Indian Tiger Mountain and it has blown me away!  Delicious! The espresso has blown me away, so much flavor and quite a good kick, and real coffee flavors, not burnt or smokey flavors.

Yes it is better than my previous favorites, by far.

I’ll make you some when you come to chat with me about your photography!