From 2009 until now, I have posted many series of wide-ranging photo essays. A total of 72 of these essays - surreal and otherwise, and consisting of just over 1,000 photographs - were devoted to Western Australia. Another 58 photo photo essays - surreal and non-surreal, and comprised of some 1,800 images - focused on America.
I reckoned that for a while people have seen enough of my take on slivers of experiencing life in Western Australia and North America. As a complete change, therefore, 18 photo essays - consisting of some 634 images - then engaged in what I somewhat loosely termed the Surreal English & French experience.
A consequence is that it has been quite some time since I have posted anything at all about Western Australia - too, long, perhaps. So methinks it timely to post ten new photo essays, entitled Western Australia Surreal, comprised of 358 photographs. Each image has been altered, mainly accomplished by using Picasabut sometimes by also using Microsoft Paint as well to manipulate the images. Not a single image is as the eye would ordinarily see it.
Do bear with me - my dreadful drivel is almost over and henceforth I promise to do my best to keep my pathetic remarks to the bare minimum. However, I really must point out a few facts. Let's try the following for size. Perth is the capital city of Western Australia, which occupies approximately one-third of the whole of Australia - an island and a continent in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the fabled Land Down Under where the seasons are opposite to those of the Northern Hemisphere and where it is broad daylight when night grips north of the equator.
Here is another fact, according to doddering Professor Wikipedia: Oz is some 7,741,220 square kilometers, whereas the total area of the US is 9,629,630 square kilometers. The good professor also reckons that Kings Park, the destination of our very first excursion, is some 4.06-square-kilometre (1,003-acre) in size,making it arguably the largest inner city park in the world. In comparison, New York's Central Park is only 3.41 square kilometers.
But what the hell! Our outing to Kings Park was followed by a relaxed meandering through parts of the Darling Range of hills that hem in Perth on the coastal plain. What is officially called the Perth Hills is just known as The Hills by locals. Our third outing was an exploration of the urban scene - of Fremantle, located just a very short drive from Perth. This port city fronts the Indian Ocean, and straddles the mouth of the Swan River as it empties into the sea. For many years Fremantle was the gateway of Western Australia, and it still is for much of the shipping.
And since we were already right near the Indian Ocean, on the following excursion we took the opportunity to check out a few of the beaches that attract families residing in the greater Perth metropolitan area. Given that we were already seaside, we also took the opportunity to check out the once per year event, Sculpture by the Sea. It is held at one of Western Australia's long-time favourite beaches: Cottesloe Beach.
After that we decided to give the seaside a miss for a while to go and meander through leafy Hyde Park, located within the inner city. And with today's excursion we're yet again going to do something entirely different .... we 're going for a relaxed ninety minutes or so drive out of the metropolitan area to the Avon Valley. In the first instance we're going to the historic town of York, the oldest inland town in Western Australia. It was first settled in 1831, a mere two years after Perth, then known as the Swan River Settlement.
Image 01
Ah, this scene is so indicative of farming in the wheat belt of Western Australia.
Image 02
Out of the past.
Image 03
Ah, the home of fruit and veg seems to be a historic attraction. Must check it out.
Image 04
A school excursion strung out like a fence.
Image 05
A suspension footbridge across the Avon River.
Image 06
I feel ill .... don't have a head for heights. Not even little ones.
Image 07
If I could draw, the result might be something like this to depict the old flour mill.
Image 08
Or like this, sketching the town.
Image 09
Here it is, folks, the motor museum - it is said to house the largest collection of historic vehicles in the Southern Hemisphere.
Image 10
Two wanderers staring forlornly from the fruit and veg joint. Note the two historic carrots.
Image 11
Not a courthouse but the post office.
Image 12
The magnificent town hall outdoes even the triumph of ice cold beer in capturing my eye and camera.
Image 13
These colonial buildings also attract the camera.
Image 14
Something almost straight out of yesterday.
Image 15
Two pre-loved ghosts hanging about.
Image 16
I love it!
Image 17
We also love coffee, no matter the setting.
Image 18
Ah, two big Aussie breakfasts just for us, with a coffee refill on the way.
Image 19
To hell with the diet!
Image 20
A bridge too far alongside a side road, hidden somewhere in the Avon Valley.
Image 21
Bob following the golden light.
Image 22
Ah, the Avon River in limpid pools awaiting rain.
Image 23
Another bridge - almost too far but not quite.
Image 24
Toodyay, an Avon Valley town that time forgot.
Image 25
Modern art hanging on the outside wall of a pub. This depiction of a dead cow and drover should perhaps be entitled: Died of Thirst.
Image 26
Where's the odd fellow? Ask the herald.
Image 27
Bleary eyes staring at yet another old colonial pub.
Image 28
Cool dudes rumbling along the main street.
Image 29
And yet another imposing old post office - sketched just for you.
Image 30
Moonlight view.
Image 31
Not a yellow submarine - but far better. And I want one!
Image 32
One coke too many is affecting my vision.
Image 33
A cool dudette named Bob ... inverted.
Image 34
Did I mention that I like motorbikes? It's black and white, really, that I do.
Image 35
Browsing history.
Image 36
The outlaw escape artist that the law found almost impossible to keep locked up.
See also:
Western Australia Surreal
001 Kings Park Views
002 The Perth Hills
003 Fremantle
004 Perth Beaches
005 Cottesloe Beach Sculpturing
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Comments: 40
Thank you for submitting to: Not Gathering Dust!
It looks like you didn't let Bob get bored while visiting Down Under, Magi.
Cool photos & effects.
He told me that it needed a new front tire. He said, "Come back Thursday at 10 AM and I'll let you see if you can ride it. If you can ride it, you may borrow it but I won't rent it to you.
When I returned, he was finishing putting the solid rubber tire on the front wheel, compressing it so that he could twist and bury the wire than runs through the rubber. Then he took it out onto the street, told me to give it a push, then step up onto the step half way between the rear wheel and the seat, then up onto the seat and start pedaling. I did, and found it not difficult to ride, so I was allowed to ride it for our campaign. I got so that I could turn 180 degrees within the narrow campus sidewalks.
So the answer to your question: yes.
I've idly wondered how difficult it is to ride a penny farthing bike ... now I know.
Don't the colonial buildings - really, most of the architecture remind you of say, Boston?
I think Montreal, NY, Boston, and what I've seen of Oz, have a lot in common re: architecture, due to the ages of when a lot of architecture went up - 1750-1900, esp. 1800-1920.
The western US is simply different, since it was not founded before 1850 and the influences are mainly Spanish, rather than European.
And the materials are different. Less granite, for one thing.
And Spanish tile, instead of brick.
Featured in York on Avon on The Triple Name Club.
Although I did invert some images, in Australia cars drive on the left hand side of the road, just like in England. Live and learn. :)
When were you in Oz, and where?
Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Featured.
The drawing feature of Picasa is a beauty that I'm going to play with a lot more.
Thanks for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
Your captions bring the whole piece together perfectly.
This time #34 - LOVED.
I love motorbikes ... riding one is now a passion laid to rest in the past ... sigh.