Snapping my way

I sometimes list Photography as one of my Hobbies  but that's not really accurate. It's just an activity that, since smartphones came into my life, is a part of my everyday life. 

A photo is an aide-memoire to assist my flagging memory - it may be a photograph, a business card, a memorable meal, a book for the reading list, treasured time with family, the changing moods on our Lake, an offer in a Facebook ad, an idea for a blog post.

For the reading list

A meal to remember - not just for the food

A sensational day out

All of these images or snaps are reviewed regularly and either consigned to the trash (not many) or transferred to my image archive, an external hard disk drive, where I religiously catalogue add metadata: the who, what, why, when and where of the images.

When we are travelling my snapping activity goes into overdrive. I add a small digital camera with a long zoom and several batteries to my arsenal so that I have plenty of juice to get through the day. I try to process these each evening before I forget where they were taken. When I forget this task I create a nightmare for my return home

The result is that I have an external hard drive (and another for backup) with several terabytes of images. Whenever a family member needs a photo of a particular event or a selection to show at family event I can quickly search my collection and come up with the goods.  

Recently I came across and joined a local photography group, Lake Macquarie Area in Photos,  on Facebook that issues a weekly challenge or two to its members. I love a challenge so I very quickly entered some, it is an opportunity to share some of my better snaps. As I am mostly sharing photos of Carey Bay the focus of my One Place Study it may help me to connect with people from the local area. 

I have received lots of positive reinforcement from members of the group and even received an honourable mention for my first entry. Since then I've had a few honourable mentions. 

One of last week's themes was "Shimmer", I was overjoyed when my image of the moon's reflection in our Backyard (The Lake) was chosen as photo of the week. As well as gallons of personal satisfaction I was rewarded with my image being posted as the header image for the week on the Facebook Group.

My winning Image "Shimmer at Carey Bay"

I recently discontinued active participation on Twitter and moved my social media activity from that platform to Bluesky (I am @geniaus.bsky.social). While my main focus there is Family History I have been reading unrelated posts. A weekly challenge from a Scottish Lass, Sheena, appealed so I joined her Alphabet Challenge in which one has to post an image related to a them related to the letter of the week. 

Three weeks in I am enjoying this fun activity as it is helping me to meet new and interesting connections who participate. 

Welcome back Saracen

One of the delights of living on the water is being able to watch the movements of the boats that are moored in our backyard at Carey Bay in Lake Macquarie.

Boats in the Backyard 9 March 2023

There are only a few boats moored close to our home, some rarely move, some go out regularly and some like the catamaran, Saracen, disappear for months at a time. Saracen was bobbing around in March this year but disappeared some time after that. Each year when she disappears (perhaps for a warmer climate) we wonder if she will return. 

On looking out our window this morning my husband spotted Saracen back at her mooring. I grabbed my phone and snapped a few happy shots to record the occasion. 

Boats in the Backyard 8/11/2023

Disembarking

Land Ahoy

Welcome back Saracen. We've missed you. 

Saracen

Up with the Birds

I'm usually in the land of nod when the sun appears, but this morning due to a severe case of jet lag, I found myself awake well before dawn.

That unusual event deserved recognition so I grabbed my phone, popped out on the deck and snapped the scene in our backyard.

The Backyard at Dawn

Robert and I have just returned from a seven week trip in the UK and Northern Europe. In the coming weeks I will post a few photos from our journey here on this blog. 

Where's Paddy?

 Paddy is relaxing by the Lake while his Dad does the hard yards mowing the lawn.

Paddy and his Dad in the backyard

A Family of Five

I was sitting in bed drinking my morning coffee this morning when Robert called me to take a look in the backyard. 

I jumped up, grabbed my phone and went out on the balcony to see that a family of five had landed on our jetty. I started snapping while they enjoyed their sojourn in the morning sun.

It was a glorious calm morning on the lake for our visitors 

I wonder if that chap was looking at his reflection

They wriggled and jiggled as they surveyed the neighbourhood

It appeared to be a Mum, Dad and three kids

Hide and Seek

The moon was playing hide and seek in the clouds tonight.

Moon at Carey Bay

When I went outside to investigate the bright light I found that the water was shimmering and there were some interesting reflections off the Lake. I was rather pleased with the images I captured on my phone, there was just a smidgin of colour in my snaps.

Nautical Neighbour

When I looked out into the backyard this morning I saw some chaps working on a mooring and another fellow in a kayak chatting with them. I thought they were working on the mooring for a little boat named "Pearl" that has been absent for a while.

Man in kayak having a chat with the mooring workers

I went around my business for the rest of the day and didn't venture outside until the late afternoon light created some nice reflections on the Lake. Phone in hand I started taking a few photos and, when I looked right, spotted something that wasn't there this morning.

Something new in the backyard

I spotted something new in the backyard. I realised that the mooring I saw getting attention this morning was a new one, a bit closer to our home than "Pearl's". Attached to the mooring was a new little sailing boat. Perhaps it belongs to the man I saw in the kayak this morning. 

 

Lovely afternoon reflection of our new nautical neighbour

I love watching the comings and goings in our quiet corner of Lake Macquarie. There is something new that attracts my interest each day.

Jetty Makeover

It's great to be home.  Even though the sun isn't shining the backyard looks pretty good. 

Thanks to Kevin and Kath who, in our absence, have given the jetty the makeover it needed after July's storm damage.

The jetty is usable again

Flexible

Just wish my neck was as flexible as this chap who landed in the backyard this morning.

Look right

Look left

Night Mode

When taking photos on my phone I usually just point-and-click. 

This afternoon I went to a session on smartphone photography at my local library and while I didn't learn much I was reminded to slow down before taking photos.

This evening when I walked out onto the balcony I decided to switch my phone over to night mode before I took my shots. The result was most pleasing. 

Maybe I shouldn't be so snap happy and think about the settings before I start taking pics. 

Home again, home again jiggety-jig

It's great to be home again after three weeks away, even on a dismal day that says "Go back to bed.

Reflections

I grabbed the phone and ran out onto our verandah to snap this PaddleBoarder enjoying the calm conditions in the backyard this afternoon.

Crazy Weather Today

I woke to rain then the sun came out.

 

10:55am

11:32am

11:47am Taken through glass door

 It's now pouring again!!

High Tides

We are fortunate that the only damage we have sustained from the flood this week is inconvenience. Our hearts go out to our fellow Australians who have suffered loss and devastation.

As we face Lake Macquarie with its large surface area there is plenty of space for our excess water to go. The level of the water has temporarily risen with the result that we have had a permanent high tide for the past week which completely covered our neighbour's jetty and came close to hiding ours.

High tide

Mother nature made a fool of me

After days of  punk weather I showed off on Facebook with the following snap of this blue sky in our backyard at 12:27pm.  Several of my contacts remarked on our fortune in experiencing such calm conditions. I was thinking that the storms had finally disappeared.

Mother nature made a fool of me!  I later shared a further image of the same scene taken at 3:35pm from inside our home (it was too wet to go out on the balcony). Seems as though the rain is going to be around for a while yet.

A Few Bangs

Life in isolation - Day 6

Last night I had just settled down in bed to watch Alex De Minaur's match at the Ausopen (with my eBook as backup for ad breaks and change of ends).

It was at an exciting time in the match when I heard a few bangs. Curiosity got the better of me so I grabbed the phone and went out on the deck to see what was doing in the backyard.

 
I'd forgotten that the local Australia Day fireworks were on in the backyard (the weekend closest to the day). They aren't as grand as the Sydney NYE display but the excited reactions from children in neighbouring backyards indicate they were well received.

 
It was a nice surprise to relieve the monotony of isolation.

She's a little beauty

A little earlier this morning Robert called to tell me there was a really cute boat in the backyard and to grab my phone and come take a look. I did just that. 

I was so pleased that I heeded the call as the little boat was indeed quaint and beautiful. All on board appeared to enjoy their drifting and fishing before they revved up the motor and moved on. Their dog seemed to enjoy the experience more than our Paddy enjoys his boat rides.

These are a few images I captured on my phone.

She's a little beauty.

Front row seat

 When I looked out the living room yesterday morning I saw a bright splash of colour in the backyard. There was a young and I think very new sailboarder doing battle with his board, he and his family appeared to be visiting some neighbours a few houses up the lake.

The lake was rather choppy so conditions were challenging for a novice but this lad tried valiantly to get his board moving. 

I managed to grab a video of the boy on one of his short runs. After he had probably exhausted himself a young female took her turn with the board. She experienced similar difficulties to the boy.

I also recorded a few minutes of the young girl in action. 

After several turns on the board the girl swam it back to the shore.

I was most impressed by the tenacity and perseverance of these two youngsters, I hope they enjoyed their time at the lake as much as I enjoyed watching from my front row seat.

A New Year

 Wishing all our family and friends a happy and healthy 2022, we hope your year is as bright and calm as our backyard was today.

Morning 

Evening