In Anno Itinerantur - U is for Up Close

In the past year since  travel opened up for Australians Robert and I have taken several journeys at home and overseas. While I posted many photos of these adventures on Facebook I want to leave a more permanent record of some of our adventures. This challenge provides me with opportunities to share my photos and stories while recording some personal history. 

I plan to share photos and stories from our travels between April 2022 and March 2023.  My theme this year is In Anno Itinerantur. 

On our most recent cruise on the Seven Seas Mariner one of the guest lecturers was English photographer, Benedict Brain. Robert and I were enthusiastic attendees at Benedict's series of lectures and workshops. Ben talked about the Art of Seeing and encouraged us to be mindful of the world around us and the images we record of our environments. We have already taken on board some of Ben's many tips to improve our photography. 

Ben discussed the value of looking closely at the things we see and encouraged us to take close-in shots  of them. I have been doing this for several years, not for any particular purpose other than I find the images visually appealing. Ben's suggestion affirmed my practice. This post is devoted to some of this year's "Up Close" images. 

Rocks - Jar Island, Kimberley Region, Australia

Cliff face - Cone Creek, Kimberley Region, Australia

Eucalypt leaves, Pilliga Forest, Australia

Carpet - Charles Dickens Museum, London, England

Garden - The Swannery, Abbotsbury, England

Garlic in the Market, Millesino, Italy

Chestnuts - Millesino, Italy

Cane chair - Papeete, Tahiti

Coastline, Tahiti

Moss on tree - Teahupoo, Tahiti

Flower - Point Venus, Tahiti

Fabric in market stall - Pago Pago, American Samoa

Flowers in pond - Fiji

Glass screen, Seven Seas Mariner

Coffee connection, Seven Seas Mariner

Pebbles - Norfolk Island

Cactus - Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy

Grapes in a vineyard, Piedmont Region, Italy

Tree bark - Sandstone Caves, NSW

Look closely to see the fish - Alanya, Turkey

Jackfruit - Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Sea - Montgomery Reef, Kimberley Region, Australia

Fossil?? - Edeline Island, Kimberley Region, Australia

Palm tree - Broome, Australia

Flowers - Highclere Castle, England

Outside a florists - Rome, Italy

Paving - Siena, Italy

Roses - Radda in Chianti, Italy

Flowers - Agiosos, Lesbos, Greece

Cliff face - Sandstone Caves, NSW

Choose your own fish - Restaurant, Kusadasi, Turkey

Sea Days

I love cruising for a variety of reasons and have spent more than 500 of my days at sea on various ships.

Most of this time has been spent in recent years on our favourite cruise line. When we were young and single both Robert and I cruised separately around the Pacific. Our cruising today is much more relaxed and comfortable than in last century.

I now find the port intensive cruises where we visit a new site each day are exhausting. I have developed a love of  "Sea Days" that give us a chance to sleep in and recharge our batteries in between our explorations. 

On our recent cruise last month we had about half of our days at sea, we were fully occupied with, games, lectures, leisurely meals and socialising. My favourite activity was a series of workshops/lectures with professional photographer, Benedict Brain who encouraged us not just to take photos but to Make Photos. As well as sharing many practical tips Ben talked philosophically about photography. He made this person who takes snapshots think about taking and making photographs.

I spent much time on those Sea Days experimenting with my phone camera, exploring new apps and thinking about and playing with my photos.

While on board I took many shots of the sea, some of which I put in this collage. Thanks to Ben for encouraging me to try different things.