Australia bike shoot/tourist time

So I'm back from Australia. Wow it was hot 37 degrees compared from a snowy Queenstown. I was over there to shoot some mountain biking which was super fun. I also had a few days to go after to get pictures of the city.

Sydney Harbour bridge

Arriving in Sydney the humidity and tropical smells of palms and Australian air hit me. The birds We drove a few hours down to Bundanoon. A very small railroad town surrounded by bush and rolling fields.

Driving and driving.

Waking up in the morning was great to hear such an orchestra of birds chirping and singing. Every morning I was up with sun and well past the midnight news. Not having been to Aussie in 10 years I was keen to see wildlife in their own habitat not just in the zoo. Step out the door and 100m down the road, two kangaroos jumping around. Ran back for the camera and then onwards started my list of wildlife to shoot. We set out to scout locations.

Nice billabong with what looked like platypus mounds/burrows on the far side.

For all the Wombat holes I fell in, I didn't see a single one. A lot of my list contained animals that were actually on the other side of Aussie but I still covered a heap.

Kangaroo with joey in her pouch

Red-Bellied Black Snake

After some grueling days in the bush shooting bikers I was back to Sydney for time off and get my tourist on. Having lost my lists of 'to-dos' I made my way through the city and famous spots. Went into a Sydney camera shop to check out the newest 300mm f/2.8L II but they wouldn't let me see it out of the cabinet or touch it. Weird having a backpack full of L lenses and several thousand dollars of camera equipment and still not have the trust to see the lens. Thought that's why you go into a shop, see it in real life. That's my rant for the day.

Did my fair share of shopping checking out Gucci, Chanel and what not... just so the butlers can open the door. Sadly they didn't have drinks on hand to quench my thirst. I did though go check out the Ferrari showroom and take a test drive. I think I'll stick to my Lambo.

Ferrari and Maserati Showroom

What's a photo blog about the a city without photos of pigeons.

Good effort.

Having google mapped my foot travel through the city I'd walked 30km with my camera gear, I'd had enough of the city. It started to all look the same after awhile. This is when 37 degrees started to take its effect. I needed my dosage of the beach, time for the Bondi sunset!

Amazing sunset

Was my favourite night, beach, fish'n'chips, relax in the sun, explore the cliffs and top it off seeing a whale... the animal in the ocean...

All of the lights, cop lights, flash lights, spot lights, strobe lights, street lights - Kanye West.

Shooting the city at night was amazing, at sunset would have be even more amazing. Recommended if your over that way!

Sunrise towards Bondi

Off to Bondi again for sunrise, Got to say there's more 'larger' sized runners than tourists at the Opera house, at least at Bondi they're hot haha. The place is alive with joggers in the morning then as the heat sets in the beach is smothered with bathers.

Beat the crowds

Chch home boy going big in a HUGE bowl.

As I walked home down Burke Street I meet up with an Aboriginal homeless guy. We walked and talked for ages, he told me about his drug addiction and problems in life. Really cool to see another side and not just the stuff tourists see, he said I've got a great set of ears as he told me his life stories. I wanted to take his picture, he had an emotionally stern look with age and eyes that told many more stories. I figured it was best to hear out what he had to say and help him. In the end he showed me a handshake from his aboriginal tribe and we parted ways. 

Sydney Opera House

Now I'm back in Queenstown, sorting through the emails and ready for the summer heat.

Hope ya enjoyed the tourist shots. Too many more!

Stefan Haworth