Change of identity

Byron has had a haircut today. This morning he was a cuddly, fluffy dog but by lunchtime his time with the pretty girls in at the poodle parlour resulted in a change of appearance - and a drastic change in personality. Byron is not in the least fazed by the thought of losing all his woolly coat, he marched through the doors of the salon with so much determination that I felt a wee bit jealous! No shrinking violet, he! In the early days he would have to be towed through the doors and would cry when one of the girls took his lead to take him into the shearing part of the shop - but these days he trots off with anyone with no backward glance. He knows I will be back.
Time for a few photos to show the difference a haircut made to him.
Before . . . . .

and after . . . . .

Now can you see what I am saying? These pictures were taken on the same day, the long hair shot was taken at breakfast time (I replaced the background! it was messy) The second shot was taken about one thirty just as I brought him home. The bandanna makes a colourful touch - that was put on by one of the salon girls. See how Byron's eyes look brighter and his shoulders no longer hunched - this next shot will show you the difference in his stance - he is a young dog again! (Byron is ten going on eleven years old.)

He even looks as if his nose is longer (maybe I brought the wrong dog home!)
When I was paying for his haircut the girl who had looked after him held up a little plastic bag with a round grey coloured insect in it - she had found a tick on Byron's chest. We had chosen to have him clipped at exactly the right time. Another day and that tick would have injected its poison and Byron would have lost the use of his legs then would be unable to swallow and a couple of days later, die. Treatment is hugely expensive but necessary and mostly is successful. (Hundreds of dollars in vet fees).
The clip is our way of being able to watch for these killer insects on Byron. When long, his coat is just too curly and thick to be able to feel a tick on his skin.
AJ

Art in the sand

There is yet another Arts Festival on the Gold Coast of Australia. Over the past couple of years an area of land has been developed into wonderful parkland on the banks of the Broadwater at Southport. Not only is there plenty of lawn and lots of walking tracks but there is so much seating that the place is suitable for people of all ages. The buildings (a stage and buildings for cafes) are modern and the design of the park is not only functional but is pleasant to be within too. It is within this artistic landscape that a new festival has been started. I think that the greatest support for this festival has come from the Sculpture Society and its members. But whoever is responsible I hope that it will develop into something to look forward to each year.
The Festival has been given the name "Bring on Spring" and my photographs of many of the sculptures can be seen HERE.
Fortunately I wandered around the sculpture exhibits during the week because at the weekend I took my young Granddaughter along and she was much more interested in spending time in the children's play park! A different set of photos (not shared with the everyone) were taken there! However . .
There was something happening during the weekend that was not there during the week. A man was busy creating sand sculptures.

f/11   1/80  ISO 800  (very dull light so high ISO)

We happened to arrive soon after he had lit the nostrils of his sand dragon and it was most impressive the way the flames were spouting out of its nose! We were sorry that we had not brought along a spade because we were inspired to try and create our own sandcastle!
Here are a couple more photos of the sand creations - there were two, a dragon and an elephant.

 f/16  1/80  ISO 800

f/16   1/80   ISO 800

While the exhibition was all for free this enterprising fellow had created his sand sculptures with a request for a coin donation to aid his employment! So I presume he was not an authorised participant in the event - but we enjoyed his work and he was a pleasant person willing to talk about his sand sculpting.
The workshops that I had read about and expected to find were not there. Maybe they will be there on Sunday but I am not prepared to return a fourth time to find out. Hopefully next year what is promised will be available at the promised times otherwise the public will not be very forgiving.
AJ

Colourful people

There were two different festivals close to home last weekend and I managed to get along to both of them. I really enjoy the annual Multicultural Festival where people who came from other countries show off their dress, dance, food and customs. There were many stalls - small tents - that offered such a wonderful variety of different foods that it would be easy to spend all one's time eating! My choice was something from the Indian cuisine, spicy and delicious! but that did not stop me from wandering around and enjoying the smells that emanated from the other stalls and their sweet or savoury offerings.

f/5.6  1/200 ISO 650

This group of colourful characters were posing for a photo for the local newspaper (didn't get in the paper though) and I happened to be right there! The tall young man on the right is an Australian Surf Lifesaver. So even people who have a long line of Australians in their ancestry were represented. The three girls are Australians too but they are "first generation Australians".

To see more of my photographs taken at this festival click on this link and you will be able to view them.

The other festival I attended was called a Body Painting Expo. This was inside a very dark pavilion at the show-grounds and I was unable to take any photos inside without the flash. I tried increasing the ISO but if I wanted blurred photos that would have been OK - but I didn't!

I had a flash diffuser in my handbag (I have one of those "everything but the kitchen sink"bags) so was able to make use of the pop up flash. The outdoor shots were taken without the flash even though the sky was covered with cloud and so made the light weak.

f/5.3  1/100  ISO 650   with flash + diffuser

Again, if you would like to see the photos I took at the Body Painting Expo, click on this link and you will be taken there. Incidentally, all the pictures in this blog and earlier blogs, react to a left mouse click!

There are always interesting activities happening in this part of the world. The Gold Coast is a tourist destination and those of us who live here are very fortunate in that we can participate in all these special activities too!

AJ

All a-twitter

Spring has brought forth such a huge number of birds to my back garden that the noise is getting deafening! The lorikeets come in for their breakfast at eight in the mornings and scream in annoyance if their daily fare is ever so slightly late! They scream in delight when it is on time and even louder when it is early - so ear-plugs at eight are recommended! There is screaming whatever I do! These days the numbers of lorikeets have swollen as the chicks have left their hollows in the trees and joined their parents at the feed dish. The size of the juveniles is identical to that of the adult birds but I can tell the newbies because they find it very difficult landing on the round railing on the veranda fence either falling forwards and having to take to the wing again or else slipping backwards and clumsily trying to save themselves with their beaks but usually falling off and flying away to return and land on the feeder cage! They can manage that!
The finches have multiplied too. In fact there are swarms of them. Once the lorikeets have left the feeder the finches move in. They know not to compete for space with the bigger birds when they are pushing and shoving. They will venture in when there are one or two lorikeets still feeding and surprisingly the bigger birds don't pay any attention to them at all.
While the finches are waiting their turn they have taken to using the telephone wire as one of their lookout locations. I never seem to have the camera with me at the breakfast table so one morning I made a point of it and was rewarded with this line up of double bars.

f/9   1/500   ISO200

Mostly we see a maximum of six birds on the wire so this line-up is not usual and I found it quite thrilling. I was quite sneaky - using the 300ml lens at almost its full extension - I didn't want to take the chance of scaring the birds away.

Having taken the shot I wanted I stood up to try and get a different perspective and just as expected, the majority flew away. But not all. A few were grouped together so I isolated them with this next shot.

f/8  1/500  ISO200

My next challenge is to try and get a decent shot of the chestnut breasted finches (alternate name "manikins") as they crowd into the feed dish. They come in such numbers that I have been unable to count them.

AJ

My "super dogs"

Yesterday I showcased a couple of unusual dogs but today I am showing off my own two handsome companions. After spotting a new rose in my garden and grabbing the camera to keep a record of it (It is a lovely orange color) I was confronted by my two hounds who thought I had found something they could eat! Since they had made the effort to come outside into the sunlight I encouraged them to sit so that I could take their portraits!
I still have my 50mm lens on the Nikon D90 and am really enjoying using it. So with this lens I took these two photos

f/6.3   1/125  ISO 200 50mm

f/6.3  1/50 ISO200 50mm

Fortunately for me, I shoot in RAW, which means I can change the exposure if I need to - and I did need to. Aiming the camera at a dark animal - especially black Samson - to focus, the camera interpreted the speed needed incorrectly and my shot was very over exposed. in fact both these pictures were over exposed. Reducing the exposure in ACR I found that none of the detail had been lost.

I replaced the brick background behind Byron with one of my textures. It was a little bit fiddly around his curly locks but I like the way the background sets him off - the colour of the bricks that were behind him didn't suit his colouring! (I know! I cheat!)

AJ

new breeds of dogs - to me

At the Pet Expo that I visited only yesterday I took a couple of pictures that I must share with you - of dogs that I found rather unusual. I had heard of the Chinese Crested Dog but I had never seen one except in cartoons so when I spotted one being pampered and admired in one of the little tents I asked if I could take a photo or two. Most of the body is covered with very short and quite soft hair so that it looks hairless. There are tufts of longer hair on the tail and on the feet and top of the head - so the poor thing looks quite comical. I like this shot because it conveys the character of the animal.

f/7.1  1/250  ISO 200    50mm

The green is a neck scarf advertising a local veterinary group that has been tied around its naked neck. The swish of long hair on its top knot and ears stuck out at right angles make me smile. I am quite happy that I do not have one!

My next dog is one that I could happily own, I thought him so beautiful.

f/8  1/400  ISO 400  50mm

I assumed that this dog was an albino but the owner assured me that his dog was not albino but was a white Swiss Shepherd and that there were approximately 5000 of them in Australia alone.  But this is one gorgeous dog - and during the day at the Expo I saw one other being led around, so maybe there is a club either here on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane.

Finally a really beautiful dog that is easily recognised. A golden retriever - a lovely pale colour! I want one!

f/8 1/800 ISO 400 50mm

AJ

A strawberry treat

One of the not so well known delights of this holiday destination, the Gold Coast, is the "Strawberry Farm". When we first moved here to live it really was a strawberry farm with a small shed from which visitors could purchase a "strawberry cone" or they could pay to pick themselves a few strawberries. Today the strawberry fields have gone and the shed has expanded to provide not only the delicious and quite decadent "Strawberry cone" but hot snacks and the usual chocolate bars and things.

When Colin and I explored the district two Sundays ago we ended our excursion by stopping here at Pimpama (the name of the district) to remind ourselves of how these ice-creams tasted! It has been a long while since we were here.

These very large ice-creams have chopped strawberries in the bottom then a squirt of fresh cream then heaps of ice-cream that has had fresh chopped strawberries mixed through. Topped with more fresh cream and half a strawberry.

Come with us on one of our trips and I will 'shout' you one!

AJ